Press Release
Donation Fund – Tairawhiti Weather Event (TWE)
This fund is administered by Toitu Ngāti Porou Charitable Trust.
Funds will be used and distributed for those impacted by the Tairāwhiti Weather Event in January 2026.
If you would like to donate, please ensure you enter the correct bank account number given below and provide a reference.
Thank you
On behalf of Te Rūnanganui o Ngāti Porou, we acknowledge the outstanding efforts of our hapū leads, local response teams, marae committees, schools, kaimahi, and volunteers across our rohe who responded with clear and decisive leadership during the recent severe weather event impacting Te Tairāwhiti.
Some Ngāti Porou communities have been hit particularly hard and continue to manage and coordinate response efforts on the ground. Other local response teams have since stood down after assessing that their communities are safe and the environment is stable. We especially acknowledge and support our Te Araroa and Wharekahika communities, and surrounding areas.
“The welfare centres across Ngāti Porou were, and continue to be, outstanding. Marae, schools, and centres from Pōtaka to Uawa were set up swiftly, and the call for whānau needing to evacuate was made without hesitation. All of Ngāti Porou would be proud of these grassroots efforts,” said Patrick Tangaere, Chairman, Te Rūnanganui o Ngāti Porou.
Our sincere thanks are extended to the Civil Defence Emergency Management (CDEM) Incident Management Team (IMT), emergency services, local authorities, lifeline utilities, and community organisations for their hard work, coordination, and collaboration during our state of emergency. The collective effort between iwi, hapū, community providers, and emergency response agencies was essential in navigating the complexity of the situation and responding effectively to needs on the ground.
Last but not least, we also thank our kaimahi across the Te Rūnanganui o Ngāti Porou Group, who worked under sustained pressure to support coordination, communications, welfare, logistics, and liaison with partner agencies. Many kaimahi balanced response responsibilities alongside impacts on their own whānau, demonstrating extraordinary dedication and professionalism.
Our region remains in a declared state of emergency, and while the worst of the weather appears to have passed, we encourage whānau to take extreme care, particularly on our roads. Please continue to follow advice from Tairāwhiti Civil Defence, and emergency services.
Te Rūnanganui o Ngāti Porou
Thursday 22 January 2026
