Environmental leaders gathered in Tairāwhiti to explore practical ways to improve biodiversity to encourage healthier soils, a more resilient community and long-term taiao outcomes for the region at this year’s Future Whenua Summit.
Hosted by Tairāwhiti Environment Centre (TEC) and Future Whenua Trust, the summit brought together local farmers, iwi, community leaders, national speakers and researchers.
“We have many organisations and individuals doing mahi in Tairāwhiti that move us towards better taiao outcomes. This event was made for them. It created a space where we could come together, connect and share,” says TEC general manager, Sam Rowland.
Attendees shared kōrero and ideas on restoring biodiversity, strengthening soil health, supporting local food systems such as maara kai, and creating new opportunities through regenerative land use.
“At the field day, I saw real examples of how our people were regenerating the whenua to see Tairāwhiti flourish for generations to come.
“All the field trips had a common theme, despite being across a regeneration project, nursery and working farm, and that was that the land managers made decisions with long-term outcomes in mind. They didn’t think in the next ten years; they thought in the next 100. That fundamentally changed the way they managed the land,” said Sam.
Discussions also focused on how diverse land practices can build resilience, reduce risk and strengthen Māori land stewardship.
“What stood out most from the summit was the depth of lived experience. Far from being abstract ideas, these were real stories from people actively working the land, navigating complexity and finding pathways forward,” says Sam.
Hosting the event in Tairāwhiti was particularly relevant this year, as the region is planning the transition of around 100,000 hectares of pasture and forestry land into native vegetation.
“Our next steps are to follow up on the connections we made and turn the ideas shared into action.”
Trust Tairāwhiti supported TEC with $12k towards the Future Whenua Summit 2026.
