Recovery

As Te Tairāwhiti transitions from emergency response into recovery, Te Rūnanganui o Ngāti Porou (TRONPnui) has established a dedicated Response and Recovery Team to coordinate iwi activity and ensure whānau, hapū and marae continue to receive the right support at the right time.
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During the declared state of emergency, central and local government agencies were heavily deployed across affected communities. As that immediate response phase scales back, the focus now shifts to structured recovery — restoring wellbeing, strengthening local capability, and planning for long-term resilience.
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Recovery is not a single event or a quick return to “normal.” It is a coordinated process that supports whānau, restores confidence, and strengthens Ngāti Porou systems for the future.
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This page outlines the purpose of our Response and Recovery Team, how we are working, and how you can stay informed.

Response and Recovery Team

The Response and Recovery Team has been established to identify recovery gaps and coordinate Ngāti Porou activity across our rohe.

The team provides a single point of coordination across iwi services, hapū and marae leadership, government agencies and external partners. Its role is to ensure recovery efforts are aligned, informed by whānau needs, and delivered in a way that reflects Ngāti Porou values and priorities.

As government support transitions and adapts, our team works to:

Maintain visibility of whānau and community needs
Advocate for sustained recovery support
Coordinate services and resources without duplicating Civil Defence functions
Ensure TRONPnui recovery planning is evidence-based, disciplined and locally led

Recovery is collective. While each team member brings specialist expertise, all functions operate together to support whānau, community-led recovery, and integrated service delivery.

Natalia Whangapirita

Response and Recovery Co-ordinator

Lisa Whakataka

Needs and Support Lead (Hauora, Social Services, Housing and Economic)

Denice Bennett

Finance Lead

Ata Rameka

Intelligence and Needs Assessment Lead

Jayde Kanuta

Intelligence and Needs Assessment Lead

Richard Whangapirita

Logistics Lead

Dorina Paenga

Communications and Engagement Lead

How We Are Working

Our recovery approach is grounded in three core principles:

‍Whānau-centred
Whānau needs and lived experience inform planning and decision-making.

‍Community-led
Hapū and marae leadership are central to recovery conversations and local solutions.

‍Integrated delivery
Services, partners and resources are aligned to avoid duplication and gaps. Recovery is coordinated through a dedicated Recovery Coordinator, supported by specialist functional leads across operations, health and wellbeing, housing and infrastructure, intelligence and communications.

The Team does not:

Replace Tairawhiti Civil Defence
Deliver all government services directly
Override agency mandates

The Response and Recovery Team does:

Coordinate iwi recovery efforts
Advocate with agencies and funders
Share clear information about available support
Support hapū and marae engagement

Organisational Structure

Te Runanganui o Ngāti Porou Trustee Limited