The organisation’s work is inspired by Tāne Mahuta, the atua of forests and lands, emphasising the customary right of Māori to work on their ancestral lands. Tāne Mahuta Aotearoa partners with iwi, hapū, marae, community, and government agencies to create meaningful employment opportunities for rangatahi within their local areas, aligning with Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles.
Their core program, LWYE™ (Learn While You Earn™), offers career pathways in primary industries and other trades through a Kaupapa Māori framework. A crucial aspect of their success is the Kaihautū Pastoral Care service, which addresses the Hauora Oranganui (health and well-being) of tauira and kaimahi. This service removes barriers to learning and employment, enabling Tāne Mahuta to effectively support rangatahi facing educational and employment challenges.
Wini Geddes, with her diverse qualifications in psychology, business, education, and Māori studies and Simon Geddes, with his extensive forestry and business ownership experience, provides strategic direction and shape the organisation’s comprehensive approach. Together, they have expanded Tāne Mahuta’s offerings beyond forestry, empowering rangatahi and uplifting communities through culturally grounded training and employment initiatives.
Tāne Mahuta has a clear vision: “to train, qualify and employ rangatahi to work on their whenua”. This aspiration is deeply interwoven into their approach to pastoral care, a philosophy rooted in the fundamental Māori principles of whakapapa (genealogy and interconnectedness), aroha (love, compassion, empathy), and whanaungatanga (kinship and a sense of belonging). “Our approach to caring for our kaimahi is based on how we were brought up, simple as that. We looked after all our kaumātua and kuia, pakeke, rangatahi, tamariki and mokopuna, so it’s no different for us at mahi. The wellbeing of our people is our paramount concern,” says (Name and Job Title) This sentiment encapsulates the whānau atmosphere that permeates the organisation.
At the heart of these pastoral care services is Kaihautū Marama Moses. Marama carries the full weight of responsibility for the health and wellbeing of all kaimahi at Tāne Mahuta. Her own life journey is a testament to the principle of tiaki tangata – caring for people. From her formative years teaching in the local kōhanga reo, to earning a degree in Māori visual arts, specialising in weaving, and her dedicated service to her marae as a kaikaranga, ringa wera, and Marae chairperson, Marama embodies the spirit of Kaitiakitanga, a guardian of her people.
Fate intervened one day while Marama was white baiting at Thorndon River. Winnie and Simon recognised her deep-seated connection to community, culture, and whānau, andknew she was the perfect person to champion their pastoral care initiative. Growing up in a large family of eighteen siblings and a life deeply rooted in the marae, Marama brought a wealth of lived experience that naturally fostered connection and built trust with the rangatahi and their whanau. In her characteristic humility, Marama simply states, “there’s no magic wand or secret to looking after them, I just look after them the way I was taught.”
Tāne Mahuta faced significant challenges within their local community. The growing disconnection of rangatahi from their whānau, and a complex web of interconnected challenges including intergenerational dysfunction, drug and alcohol misuse, violence and trauma, the unique challenges faced by teenage parents, chronic unemployment, and the often-unseen burden of mental health
struggles. “These rangatahi aren’t inherently problematic; rather, they are wairua ora – vibrant spirits – yearning for connection, support, and a sense of purpose.” As one insightful voice within the organisation notes, “They’re not naughty or bad people. They’re just little rascals, so we take them no matter what. If we don’t look after them, no one will.” This understanding underscores their unwavering commitment.
Their solutions weren’t simply about providing jobs. Kaimahi needed a full wraparound support system infused with aroha. There was no quick fix, no magic wand, just deep, genuine care and hard work. “We developed a comprehensive support package that underscored our belief that holistic health and wellbeing of the whānau is paramount.”
This wraparound support system includes:
Tāne Mahuta’s approach to overcoming these challenges was multifaceted and deeply human. They conducted group-based interviews to alleviate stress and foster confidence. They invited whānau to be part of the onboarding process to establish clear expectations and foster collective support. Their deep community connections provided a strong foundation of trust and familiarity. Crucially, they prioritised listening to each rangatahi story and walked alongside them on their journey. “We didn’t just turn up at the door, we went inside and sat at the table”
Through their unwavering commitment, Tāne Mahuta achieved remarkable success. Recognising the importance of lifelong learning, they offered second-chance education to the wider community, opening doors to more meaningful employment pathways. They successfully trained and qualified over 800 kaimahi, many of whom received their very first formal qualification and imparted essential soft skills and valuable technical skills. Their holistic approach has improved the overall health and wellbeing of whānau, created sustainable employment pathways, and fostered a culture of self-respect and mutual respect among their wider community.
In reflecting on their journey, the “Tanemahuta way” has served them well. It is:
“This journey has not been without its challenges. We have been tested physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. Yet, through unwavering resilience, steadfast commitment, dedicated effort, and an unshakeable belief in our values, we have stood strong. We look back, not with arrogance but a profound sense of pride, humility and content for the whānau we have served”
“To us, pastoral care is a holistic approach, encompassing not just the visible successes but also the unseen hard work. It’s not just the glamorous stuff—it’s the hard stuff as well. It was fundamentally about whakapapa, and the interconnectedness of whānau, hapu and Iwi.
Finally in a powerful affirmation of their core values, they echo the timeless Māori proverb: “He aha te mea nui o te ao? He tangata, he tangata, he tangata.” What is the most important thing in the world? It is people, it is people, it is people.
