POU TAHUA
Housing, Infrastructure & Economics Symposium
September 9th-10th, 2025
Te Wharewaka o Poneke, Wellington
About the Symposium
Called by the National Iwi Chairs Forum, this Pou Tahua Symposium is a platform to bring together Iwi committed to driving outcomes for Māori in housing, infrastructure, and reimagining indigenous economics.
Expert panels will be followed by small group "Ask Me Anything" sessions, where attendees can sit and ask patai to the panellists directly.
Sharing key lessons and experiences from practitioners, attendees will acquire the knowledge they need to move closer to execution and collectivisation, using live case studies that focus on practical solutions and execution.
Tickets are $200 for both days, including a three course dinner and breakfast.
11:30am | Small group registrations
12:00pm | Small group Lunch
1:00pm | Openstar Presentation
1:30pm | Site Visit to Openstar
3:30pm | Return to Symposium
Be part of a small group lunch and tour of Aotearoa's most exciting startups, Openstar Technologies.
Join Māui Toa and Openstar Founder Ratu Mataira to hear about this world challenging company as they look to bring the power of fusion energy to the world. Would ideally suit Iwi who are actively considering investment in early stage companies.
Please opt in via your ticket registration.
First In First Served, max 70 people.
DAY 1: 9th September
4:00pm | Registrations Open
5:00pm | Whakatau
5:10pm | Māori Economic Futures
Hon Nanaia Mahuta, Dr Ganesh Nana, Dr Hillmare Schulze (facilitated by Boyd Scirkovich)
What next for the fast-growing taniwha that is Te Ōhanga Māori? Are we measuring the right things, and are we being deliberate not just in how it grows, but what defines it in the future? This panel will explore where Te Ōhanga Māori is headed, and opportunities to reshape Aotearoa's economic landscape for a more prosperous future.
6:00pm | Indigenising Economics
June McCabe, Donna Flavell, Cain Kerehoma, Dr Matt Roskrudge (facilitated by Glenda Taituha-Toka)
What do new models of economics look like? How can we reshape our approach? This panel aims to interrogate applications of Māori principles into our economic activity in a practical sense, looking to community and collectivity for inspiration.
7:00pm | Dinner
Three course meal provided by our Hosts, Te Wharewaka o Poneke
Evening entertainment by Ngāti Toa musician, Aja
DAY 2: 10th September
7:00am | Breakfast
8:30am | Doors open
9:00am | Iwi Housing Models
Tammy Tauroa, Annette Wehi, Jamie Tuuta, James Te Puni (facilitated by Jodi Hayward)
Deep dive into the various approaches Iwi are taking to housing development across the country, identify enablers and barriers, and to share their experiences.
10:00am | Housing Capital Solutions
Sam Stubbs, Roy Thompson, Alex Dallas (facilitated by Aayden Clarke)
Explore innovative capital solutions for housing developments. Experts from Simplicity Living, Bay of Plenty Housing Equity Fund, and Soul Capital discuss their diverse funding models from small-scale papa kainga to housing bonds.
11:00am | International Investment: reflections with Waikato Tainui
Waikato-Tainui and Tainui Group Holdings (facilitated by Rangi Ririnui)
Waikato-Tainui reflect on their approach to international investment. How deals are sourced, negotiatied, key considerations, and what makes the process unique from an Iwi perspective.
12:00pm | Lunch
1:00pm | Totara Investments: Pioneer Energy Deal
Jamie Rihia, Mahina Puketapu, Toni Kerr, Jamie Newth (facilitated by Te Puoho Katene)
Dive into the recently transacted Totara Investment deal where six Māori Trusts and three impact-focussed investment firms acquired 30% of Pioneer Energy Ltd, beating out international bidders to take part-ownership in critical renewable energy infrastructure.
2:00pm | Foreign Direct Investment
Matanuku Mahuika, Roimata Ah Sam (facilitated by Bronson Marshall)
Hear from groups with joint ventures with foreign investors, as they reflect on their experiences, pre- and post deal, including opportunities and gaps that need to be considered and what FDI means in a practical sense.
3:00pm | Closing Summary
Pou Tahua to provide closing comments.
Panel Facilitators
Our panels are facilitated by leaders within our Iwi landscape with deep and relevant expertise. Their insights and lived experience help ensure the kōrero is grounded, forward-focused and relevant to our Iwi audience.
Small group lunch: Openstar Technologies
Māui Toa are hosting a Lunch, kōrero and site visit to Māori founded fusion startup, Openstar Technologies. This visit will be most valuable for Iwi who are actively considering early-stage investments or interested in technology-focussed opportunities with global impact. Ratu Mataira will talk through the science of fusion and his company Openstar Technologies then buses will take participants to their site in Ngauranga Gorge.
Panel: Māori Economic Futures
What next for the fast-growing taniwha that is Te Ōhanga Māori? Are we measuring the right things, and are we being deliberate not just in how it grows, but what defines it in the future? This panel will explore where Te Ōhanga Māori is headed, and opportunities to reshape Aotearoa's economic landscape for a more prosperous future.
Panel: Indigenising Economics
What do new models of economics look like? How can we reshape our approach? This panel aims to interrogate applications of Māori principles into our economic activity in a practical sense, looking to community and collectivity for inspiration.
_JPG.jpg)
Panel: Iwi Housing Models
This panel aims to deep dive into the various approaches Iwi are taking to housing development across the country, identify enablers and barriers, and to share their experiences.
Panel: Housing Capital Solutions
This panel presents innovative capital solutions for housing developments. Experts from Simplicity Living, Bay of Plenty Housing Equity Fund, and Soul Capital discuss their diverse funding models from small-scale papa kainga to housing bonds. Attendees will gain critical insights to ease funding barriers and secure sustainable capital to support their housing aspirations.
Panel: International Investment with Waikato-Tainui
Waikato-Tainui reflect on their international investment approach - how deals are sourced, key considerations, and what makes the process unique from an Iwi perspective.
Totara Investment: Pioneer Energy Deal
This panel dives into the recently transacted deal where Tōtara Energy LP (six Māori Trusts and three impact-focussed investment firms) acquired 30% of Pioneer Energy Ltd, beating out international bidders to take part-ownership in critical renewable energy infrastructure. The panel has perspectives from multiple angles, including how the deal was originated, negotiated, and how participating groups were able to make decisions at speed to execute.
Panel: Foreign Direct Investment
This panel talks to groups who have joint ventures with foreign investors, and reflects on their experiences, pre- and post deal, including opportunities and gaps that need to be considered and what FDI means in a practical sense. From negotiations, to Overseas Investment Office, to the ongoing working relationship, discourse will be guided by their lived experience and what we are seeing internationally in terms of interest.
