As founding director of Tinaku Ltd, Donna Takitimu (Te Whānau a Apanui, Ngāti Porou, Te Aitanga a Hauiti, Te Aitanga a Mahaki) has a background in Botany, and Permaculture and a career in Māori environmental education & te reo Maori reclamation. She has a resilience to keep going and going, and flatly refuses to conform to any system that she doesn’t believe whole heartedly in. She lives behind her Marae in Whitianga, Te Whānau a Apanui, is currently on the Marae committee and the Hapu Chair for Te Whānau a Tutawake. She also travels to support staff delivering Food Sovereignty programmes.

Matt Te Pou (Ngai Tūhoe, Te Arawa, Tapuika, Te Whānau a Apanui) is the operational energy in this team, he’s organized and practical. He’s has a quiet way of breaking down whimsical ideas into action plans, with steps and targets, and then systematically knocking them out. He’s the consistency who looks after the kanga kōpiro, the chooks, the fruit tree nursery and about to put down the pārekereke for thousands of kumara tipu. He’s had a background nationally and internationally in professional rugby playing and coaching. He lives with his partner Donna at Whitianga and on the road running this business.

Ron is a humble Jedi- working within Polytechnic system. He wrote Mahinga Kai L3 programme, got it approved with NZQA.  He’s worked with Donna for a number of years. He has taught and managed various horticultural & permacultural programmes  at tertiary level.  He has fingers in lots of pies, doing Native

The piloting cohorts for Mahinga Kai in it’s first year, are being taught by amazing Kaiako in these regions:

·        Maraenui, Te Whanau a Apanui

·        Gisborne, EIT

·        Te Aitanga a Mahaki

·        Ruatorea, Ngati Porou

·        Kauaetangohia, Te Whānau a Apanui

·        Tautoro

·        Wairoa, EIT

·        Raupunga

·        Hawkes Bay