Awhi Tu Collective is located on the Awhitu Peninsula which is situated along the west coast of New Zealand. Its western boundary runs from the mouth of the Waikato River to the entrance of the Manukau Harbour.

Small rural communities are dotted around the peninsula offering the country lifestyle many of us enjoy. The scenery out this way is spectacular and only a short drive from Auckland city.

Our group came together thanks to Covid lockdowns. We played with various names over the past three years – 123 Social, Awhitu Roopu, Back to the Future and New Earth. We settled on Awhi Tu Collective, a play on the name given to the area we call home. Our name means to stand and assist.

Many of us knew instinctively that there was a better way to do things than the current and previous governments have been promoting.  Although individually some of us were protesting mandates and others were members of groups like VFF, Health Forum NZ, we were all searching for that ‘better way’.

And then we learned about He wakaputanga.

Tangata Whenua presented a series of excellent wānanga that opened our eyes to the real history of this country and the relationship/covenant between Maori and the Crown. He wakaputanga and Te Tiriti o Waitangi are documents that are of special importance to this country and its people.

Thanks to those wananga Awhi Tu has been through the process to stand as a Collective, aligned with and under the korowai of the Hapu Nga Tapuwae o Muriwai O Nu Tireni

We also learned about the process to proclaim our self-determination and individual sovereignty. A number of our group have embraced He wakaputanga and done just that – Proclaimed. To date we have 22 Proclaimed and 2 interim members from various parts of the peninsula with a few joining us from further afield.

Anyone can participate in activities and projects carried out by Awhi Tu Collective, you do not have to be a proclaimed member to do so. However, if you wish to become a proclaimed member and enjoy all the benefits that come with this, there is a process for you to go through which we are more than happy to talk with you about. Simply send us an email from our Contact page.

We have Charitable status under the name of Awhi Tu Collective Charitable Trust. As per our Trust Deed, our purposes come under the headings of Hauora, Education and Support.

Meeting these purposes comes with an expectation that our members will not only participate in, but will put their hand up and lead some of the activities and projects. However, the nature of our group means that the load is always shared.

Hauora is the health and wellbeing of people and care of the environment, to that end we are in the process of setting up a Hauora Wellbeing Center.

Education covers such things as rights and responsibilities which is a large part of being sovereign.

Support is for those who need practical help and assistance.

To date we have collectively learned to construct Holz Hausen, how to make cheese, and how to care for ourselves and whanau through the use of homeopathy. Mental and emotional well-being is important, especially in isolated country areas, so some of our gatherings are around art workshops and learning waiata.

Our main project is Cafe 123 which is very well supported by our local community. It is also our main fundraiser so that we can fund various other projects that help us meet our commitments to the community.

We may be a small and relatively new group, but Awhi Tu is a Collective making great things happen.

Nga mihi