Meet the Team
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Lee Rauhina-August
KAIWHAKAHAERE
Taranaki nui tonu | Ngāti Te Kōhera | Te Taoū
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Māia-te-oho Holman-Wharehoka
KAIMANGA
Taranaki | Te Ātiawa | Ngāti Whakaue
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Tina Walker-Ferguson
KAIĀRAHI
Rongomaiwahine | Ngāti Kahungunu | Ngati Porou | Taranaki Tuturu | Kai Tahu
Ko Wai Mātou
Ahumai Ltd is a Māori led taiao consultancy based in Te Whanganui a Tara – Wellington.
Our work focuses on taiao - natural environment - matters that concern tāngata whenua, particularly in our region and for our Taranaki Whānui ki te Upoko o te Ika people.
Ahumai Paerata te tupuna
Te whakamarama o te ingoa Ahumai – where our name comes from
“Ka tū ana ngā tāne, ka tū ano nga wahine me nga tamariki” - if the men are to stand and fight, so will the women and children
Ahumai Paerata or Te Paerata as she was sometimes known, is a renowned wahine of Ngāti Te Kōhera descent. Ahumai was active in the battle of Ōrākau, where she stood and stated “Ka tū ana ngā tane, ka tū anō ngā wāhine me ngā tamariki” - “if the men are to stand and fight, so will the women and children”. She fought hard, and then was said to have tended to wounded soldiers on the battlefield. An aspect of her story is featured in the 2024 film Ka Whawhai Tonu.
Ahumai was the older sister of Hitiri Te Paerata, who was regarded as the leader of Ngāti Te Kōhera, who were closely related to Ngāti Raukawa. She lived into her nineties and was well known across Taupōnuiatia. The sentiments of Ahumai to fight on together, apply across Aotearoa more than ever. Ka whawhai tonu mātou!
Ahumai Limited’s tohu
The colour palette used for the tohu was taken from the picture. The tāniko pattern on the top band of the korowai is seen in Ahumai Limited's tohu. The koru at the base of the capital A represents Ki Uta, Ki Tai – from the mountains to the sea. These ideas were creatively woven into the design by wahine Māori artist Bridgette Kiel of Koukou Designs. They came together beautifully and strongly represented the idea of Ahumai Paerata, our tupuna Kuia.
The work of Ahumai Limited is guided by the courage, strength and kitenga of Ahumai Paerata, the tupuna kuia of Lisa Ahumai (Lee) Rauhina-August, Ahumai Limited’s Kaiwhakahaere and founder.
