For Cherie Seamark, the spirit of giving is in her DNA. With her much-loved grandmother playing a prominent role within Te Ātiawa ki Whakarongotai, the importance of community, whānau and fostering a sense of belonging is intrinsic to her identity.

Founded in 2006 with the goal of promoting the social, economic, political and environmental interests of Te Ātiawa iwi, Te Ātiawa ki Whakarongotai Charitable Trust also focuses on fostering a sense of kinship and connectedness within the community.

“The instinct to look after people is innate and is reflected in everything the Trust does. “He aha te mea nui o te ao. He tāngata, he tāngata, he tāngata”. What is the most important thing in the world? It is people, it is people, it is people.” People are the most important thing, so the projects we work on really vary – it’s all about assessing where needs lie and how we can support the individual and collective growth of our community” says Cherie.

Supporting the community in many ways.

The Trust is involved in many parts of the Kāpiti community. From helping to secure employment opportunities for Te Ātiawa iwi to ensuring that new infrastructure projects consider the unique history of the region, the Trust’s holistic approach ensures that the community is supported in many ways.

As a practice manager at Hora Te Pai Health Services, the only Māori health provider on the Kāpiti Coast, Cherie was well aware of the implications of COVID-19 and the impact it could have on members of the community. So, when the lockdown did eventuate, Te Ātiawa ki Whakarongotai sprang into action, implementing its COVID-19 collaborative response between Hora Te Pai and Te Ātiawa ki Whakarongotai.

“Kia haumaru te iwi,” Cherie says. “Our strategy was to think not only about the physical needs of individuals, such as adequate food and warmth, but also what was needed to foster a sense of connection while people were isolated in lockdown.”

The grant, courtesy of the Tindall Foundation, provided funding for kai parcels that were put together and distributed throughout the community. “This period really highlighted that this is not a COVID-specific issue – these struggles existed prior to lockdown and will continue to affect communities in future,” says Cherie. With this in mind, Te Ātiawa ki Whakarongotai plans to continue valuable outreach initiatives, launching a community Kai whanaungatanga evening to sustain a sense of community connectedness after lockdown lifted.

A bright future

Cherie doesn’t have many opportunities to reflect on the many successes of Te Ātiawa ki Whakarongotai and the impact they make, there is one moment she fondly refers to as a standout. Helping to deliver kai and hygiene packs on one of many house calls during the lockdown period, Cherie’s teenage son and his cousin saw how meaningful community outreach can be first-hand and can’t wait to help out more in future.

As it was when Cherie saw her grandmother giving back, the seed for giving has been sown for the next generation of Te Ātiawa iwi. The future of Te Ātiawa ki Whakarongotai Charitable Trust looks bright.