Ake Projects · For whānau, hapū, Ahu Whenua Trusts and marae
Big plans for your whenua? Let’s make them stack up.
We help Trusts, marae and hapū move from kōrero to a practical, funded plan, with chartered accountants making sure the numbers hold.
Chartered accountants · Trustees on the team · Working throughout Aotearoa
Most Trusts already have something worth building on.
Land, people, and a vision that’s been talked about at hui for years. What’s usually missing is the time, a clear plan, and someone to do the heavy lifting with funders, councils and the numbers.
That’s what our projects team is for. We’re chartered accountants, and several of us sit on Trust and marae boards ourselves. We know what it takes to get a proposal past trustees, beneficiaries and a funder.
Where are you at?
Pick the line that sounds most like your Trust. We’ll take it from there.
- “Whānau aren’t on the same page yet.”Strategic Planning Wānanga
- “We’ve got land, but no clear plan for it.”Māori Land Utilisation Studies
- “We know the project. We need the money.”Funding Applications & Reporting
- “We want to bring whānau home.”Papakāinga & Māori Housing
- “Our trustees are new, or the board needs a refresh.”Governance Training
Ngā Ratonga | Our Services
From the first hui to a finished project
Most Trusts move through these in order. Start wherever you are.
01 · Govern
Governance Training
Strong projects need confident trustees. For many Trusts, our Governance Fundamentals workshop is where the next project starts.
Explore governance training02 · Plan
Strategic Planning Wānanga
One or two facilitated days, grounded in tikanga, to suit your Trust. You leave with an agreed vision and a 3–5 year plan: who does what, by when, with what resources.
Explore the wānanga03 · Explore
Māori Land Utilisation Studies
What could your whenua become? We weigh the cultural, economic, environmental and technical options, test the ones you’re keen on, and recommend a way forward.
Explore land studies04 · Fund
Funding Applications & Reporting
We find the funding you’re eligible for, build the cash flows and forecasts funders ask for, write the application, and handle the reporting once the money lands.
Explore funding support05 · Build
Papakāinga & Māori Housing
Feasibility studies, funding applications, resource consents and full project management for housing on your whenua.
Explore papakāinga supportHow we work
You get a plan your board can act on, not an 80-page report that lives in a drawer.
Kōrero
Fifteen minutes with Erin to understand where you’re at. No cost, no obligation.
Scope and fixed quote
What we’ll do, by when and for how much, written up so you can take it to your trustees.
The mahi
Hui, research, analysis and applications, with regular check-ins so nothing goes quiet.
What’s next
A plan your board can act on, and us alongside for the next step if you want us.
Nā tō rourou, nā taku rourou, ka ora ai te iwi.
With your food basket and my food basket, the people will thrive.
Our mahi
Real projects. Real whenua.
Land utilisation · Funding
Te Waimana Kaaku Trust: what next for Matahi Forest?
Matahi Forest covers more than 2,000 hectares, about half in production forestry. The Trust needed to know what the land could become after harvest. Ake Projects led a best land use assessment, funded through MPI’s Māori agribusiness funding, and built digital tools so options could be shared openly with the wider tribal community.
- 2,000+ hectares
- MPI-funded study
- Weighted decision matrix
Venture development · Funding
Ōmataroa Rangitāiki No. 2 Trust: Ōmataroa Eco Tours
The Trust represents around 12,000 beneficiaries and runs a successful kiwi recovery programme. Ake Projects worked with the Trust to develop Ōmataroa Eco Tours, a Māori-led eco-tourism venture co-funded through the Provincial Growth Fund and Whenua Māori funding.
- About 12,000 beneficiaries
- Co-funded venture
- Māori-led eco-tourism
Governance training, by the numbers
- attendances
- 150+
- would recommend it
- 100%
- felt much more confident as trustees
- 84%
Ake governance sessions, March to December 2025. 43 post-session surveys.
“The depth of expertise in the room was exceptional – I’ll be actively recommending your workshops to others.”
- Chartered Accountants ANZ
- Xero Platinum Champion Partner
- Amotai registered Māori business
- Emerging Advisory Firm of the Year · AIM26 Awards
The people on your project
Erin Wirihana
Projects Team Leader
Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Rauru
A trustee of her marae with board experience across Maniapoto, and a background in HR, education and governance.
Tania-Rose Tamati
Tumu Whakarae (CEO) and Chartered Accountant
Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Te Atihaunui-a-Pāpārangi
Sits on several governance boards and is a trustee of her own whenua.
Questions trustees ask us
Straight answers before you book.
What does a project cost?
It depends on the scope, so we won’t guess. After a 15-minute kōrero we scope the work and give you a fixed quote you can take to your trustees.
How long does it take?
A Strategic Planning Wānanga runs over one or two days, depending on what suits your Trust. Studies, funding applications and housing projects take longer, and we’ll set out the timeline with your quote.
Do you work outside the Bay of Plenty?
Yes. We’re based in Whakatāne and Pukekohe and work with Trusts and marae throughout Aotearoa, kanohi ki te kanohi where it matters and online when that’s easier.
Do we need to use Ake for our accounts?
No. Our projects team works with Trusts whoever does their accounts. If you’d like us to look after those too, we can talk about it.
What should we bring to the first kōrero?
Just an idea of what you’re hoping to do. If you have your trust order, a strategic plan or recent accounts, have them handy.
Kōrero mai
Let’s talk about your whenua.
Book 15 minutes with Erin. Tell us what you’re thinking about, and we’ll tell you straight whether we’re the right fit and what a sensible first step looks like.
Book a 15-minute kōrero with ErinDownload the Strategic Planning Wānanga brochure (PDF)Based in Whakatāne and Pukekohe, working with Trusts and marae throughout Aotearoa. Kanohi ki te kanohi where it matters, online when that’s easier.
Not ready to book? Tell us about your project.
Leave your details and Erin will be in touch.