Rautāpatu Foundation

The Rautāpatu Foundation is an indigenous Māori-led charitable trust at Katere ki te Moana Marae, Taranaki. Guided by our healing framework, He Kawa Ora, we reclaim the tools of production, distribution, and data for community thrivance. Our work is driven by our parent Te Taiao Strategy, under which sits 5 key pathways for systemic disruption- including our Circular Kai System Strategy—a bio-regional food blueprint framing marae as essential infrastructure. Our flagship site, Te Moeone, is the live testing ground. Here, we have revitalised tūpuna(ancestral) kūmara (sweet potato) trial to test new climate smart ag, generate industrial soil and safeguard endangered genetics, transforming raw data into mobilised action with: Bioeconomy Science Institute NZ, Pūrangakura, and University of Auckland Business School. Governance: Co-Chairs Bry Kopu and Glen Skipper, alongside Trustees Steph Julian and Professor Ngataiharuru Taepa.