Our Aspirations | Nga Moemoea

“We are committed to breathing life into the aspirations of our tīpuna by fostering the resilience, confidence, and growth of rangatahi. Our kaupapa is unapologetically dedicated to the restoration of our communities and the holistic wellbeing of our uri whakatipu. With unwavering loyalty, we will play our part in building the future our tīpuna envisioned and dreamed of”

Nā Te Rika Temara-Benfell

Te Kaihautū o Te Puna Ariki

Dante (left) and Gabriel (right) are dedicated, up-and-coming athletes who have discovered their passion for skateboarding

About us

Te Puna Ariki is a kaupapa Māori charitable trust that is inspired, led, and driven by rangatahi. We specialise in rangatahi growth and development, nurturing rangatahi leadership, by and for rangatahi initiatives, and future focused strategy.

Our Mission is simple: to equip rangatahi with the confidence, skills and vision to shape their own futures and carve their own paths. We create the right conditions by providing opportunities to develop the natural attributes and leadership qualities of our rangatahi. Through our programmes, initiatives and partnerships, we nurture an environment where rangatahi can thrive and make meaningful contributions to their whānau, hapu and wider communities.

Our Story:

Te Puna Ariki’s story is one that was written in the stars generations before the inception of our trust. Our ingoa honours the light that was brought to the world and the journey of Tamarēreti, who took Tāne on a revolutionary voyage to set the sun, moon and stars into the sky.

The story of Tāne, Tamarēreti, and Te Puna Ariki:

According to the traditions of Mataatua, upon the separation of Ranginui and Papatuanuku the world remained in absolute darkness. Many of the Atua discussed how they would bring light to the world, and it was agreed that they would create three celestial baskets. The first basket contained Tama-nui-te-rā, the second contained Te Marama, and the third contained ngā whetū me ngā hinatore. Tāne, the most senior of the Atua, sought help from his descendent Tamarereti to affix these taonga to the chest of Ranginui. Tamarereti was a renowned rangatira, navigator, and captain of the Puna Ariki vessel. With the assistance of Tamarereti and his Waka, Tāne was able to adorn the chest of Ranginui with the various forms of light.

Nā Professor Rangi Matamua ēnei kōrero

Our Journey

Te Puna Ariki was founded by four families, the Benfells, Temaras, Bakers, and McCleans. After a series of wānanga held with the shared purpose of addressing the inequities faced by rangatahi, the trust was formally established in June 2023. The trust was born out of a collective desire to find solutions at the whānau, hapū, and community level. Its mission is to empower rangatahi, taiohi, and tamariki across our rohe, helping them break through barriers and reach their full potential.

As a trust and whānau, we are committed to:

Facilitating educational programmes, development opportunities, and kaupapa that support the growth and development of our rangatahi;
Providing guidance, building resilience, and fostering confidence within our rangatahi and wider community; and
Offering financial support and sponsorship to Māori groups, entities, whānau, hapū, iwi, and any other organisations that share the values and mission of the trust.

Te Waka Maumahara o Te Puna Ariki

(Our brand and logo)

Our logo is called Te Waka Maumahara o Te Puna Ariki. Waka Maumahara are utilised to immortalise significant events. The wheku in the center represents the tipuna Tamarereti, the captain of the Te Puna Ariki vessel. The spheres in the center represent the three baskets of light. Te Kete o Hina, Te Kete o ngā whetu me ngā hinātore, me Te Kete o Tamanuiterā. The pūhoro design in the background represent the journey of our trust and people.

Our Ringatoi:

Te Puna Ariki would like to give our sincere thanks and gratitude to Te Arawa artists Sharma Waiomio and Dallas Hawe of Makoirangi Arts. Together, they were able to bring our aspirations, values and story to life through our tohu.

Our Strategic Partners | Te Hunga Tautoko