“Ko Trent Hohaia tōku ingoa. He uri tēnei nō Te Atiawa. He hononga ano ki Ngāti Maniapoto.
E noho ana au ki ngāmotu i tēnei wā tōnu.
I’m a youth worker and I also run rangatahi wānanga nationally.
I first participated in the Ka Uruora kaupapa through completing the Sorted Kāinga Ora programme in April of this year. As a result of that my partner Grace and I are currently in the process of purchasing one of the whare being sold by Te Kotahitanga o Te Atiawa..”
This story delves a little bit into Trent’s journey – the story of his whānau hononga to this rohe began with limited knowledge, but it blossomed into a journey of reconnection starting with the Ka Uruora kaupapa. Not only did it bring him closer to understanding his connection to Taranaki, but it also presented a path to homeownership that once seemed beyond reach for him and his partner Grace.
The loss of ancestral knowledge is common among many Māori, a sad reality as a result of historical events such as the land wars. Trent’s pursuit to reconnect with his whakapapa began when he and Grace were deciding where they were wanting to move so they could live together for the first time, with their whakapapa guiding their decision-making process. For Trent, moving to Taranaki was a way to follow his whānau whakapapa lines and seek answers to lost connections in the rohe.
The turning point in Trent’s journey came through engaging with Ka Uruora, as being a registered member of one of our partnering iwi is a prerequisite to home ownership opportunities. Through research and collaboration with both Te Atiawa and Parininihi ki Waitotara, Trent unveiled crucial, previously unknown information about his whakapapa. This discovery marked the first tangible link to his Te Atiawatanga, a paper trail that his whānau had been searching for. The unwavering support from Te Atiawa Iwi kaimahi in reviewing his registration application and assisting him on this journey was monumental, turning what initially was just a path to homeownership into a deeply personal achievement of reconnection.
Prior to Ka Uruora, Trent and Grace could not fathom being homeowners in the foreseeable future. However, the program’s financial literacy component and the unwavering support of its team infused them with newfound hope and clarity. With the once-distant dream of homeownership now within reach, they found themselves on a path they had previously deemed unattainable. Ka Uruora are proud to say that Trent and Grace are in the final stages of purchasing a whare offered by Ka Uruora and are nearing move in day, we couldn’t be more proud of them and the mahi they put in to get to where they are now.
Beyond the physical attributes of their new home, for Trent and Grace their whare is far more than a financial investment; it symbolises establishing roots, a sense of security, and personal pride. It’s a legacy they will pass down to future generations, a stepping stone towards an intergenerational foundation of stability and prosperity.
Trent’s journey of homeownership showcases the transformative impact of a deep and meaningful connection to whakapapa. Empowered by the financial literacy wānanga offered by Ka Uruora, Trent and Grace now envision a future they once thought was nearly a decade away.