Tairāwhiti REAP

TĀIRAWHITI REAP RESETS

Tairāwhiti REAP has been in the business of supporting rural community development through quality lifelong education, from Kotemaori to Pōtaka for over 40 years. As REAPers, we like to say we are here for everyone from 'twinkle to wrinkle.’

Recently we have been reviewing how effectively we connect with our communities. Our kaupapa is to use local knowledge and relationships to connect, to broker and to partner inside a Tiriti ō Waitangi framework. We are not here to tell communities what to think or do- we aim to be responsive and collaborative and relevant because we believe that sustainable development has to be community led.

As a result of our review, we are resetting our approach. That reset began 2 months ago with the appointment of new trustees to the Tairāwhiti REAP Board of Trustees.

Long standing trustee, Arihia Matahiki has been joined by Lauren Jones, who lives in Wairoa, Wirihana Raihania, who lives in Hastings and has strong whakapapa connections to Tairāwhiti, Charissa Waerea, who lives in Taupo and is of Rongomaiwahine and Kahungungu, Kaaterina Kerekere of Te Aitanga a Hauiti, Ngai Tamanuhiri and Rongowhakaata, Jen Miller who lives and works in Gisborne, and myself - Kàren Johansen of Rongowhakaata, Ngai Tamanuhiri and Te Aitanga a Mahaki, who is the current Board Chair.

 We will shortly be advertising for a trustee with strong early childhood, primary, secondary school or tertiary experience.

The Interim Tumuaki/Chief executive is Claire Chapman. Claire is the former General Manager of Tararua REAP, and a former REAP Aotearoa board member. She has been leading the team for almost 2 months and will finish at the end of January 2026. We will miss her astute leadership- she leads with head, heart and hand and we will also miss her love of Paua pies!

Currently we are advertising for a Tumuaki/ Chief Executive and for an Education Manager. We expect to fill both positions early in the new year.

Tairāwhiti REAP is well known and valued for its driver licensing instruction and testing programmes and we are very proud not only of our highly professional and experienced team who all have strong connections to our local communities but also with the outcomes of these programmes. 2025 stats so for are of the 1100 lessons and tests: 190 learners have earned a pass, 221 have achieved a restricted pass and 150 locals have earned their full driver’s licence. These results are life changing for the new drivers and their whānau and communities. This is what we do as a REAP – playing a part in changing lives.

Whilst we will continue with driving training and instructing services, we are truly saddened that we cannot offer driver testing.  We are in deep conversations with Waka Kotahi and other testing providers here in Tairāwhiti to create a way forward to ensure community members do not miss out on opportunities; however, a solution may not be in place prior to February 2026. 

Of course, Tairāwhiti REAP is about more than that place where you learn to drive and get your licence!

In 2026, our (yet to be appointed) Education Manager will be out and about connecting with early childhood groups / organisations, schools and our Adult Community Education tutors and learners (existing and potential) to understand need and how we can best support rural Tairāwhiti and Wairoa district.  We are excited to be introducing a financial mentoring programme called Building Financial Capability in Wairoa.  This is a wonderful opportunity for one on one, or group, support in managing struggling finances – free, no judgement, skilled support.  In addition to the Ruakituri and Matawai Playgroups, a new playgroup will open early in the new year, in Ruatoria.

Once our new Tumuaki has been appointed, the plan is to get out and around our rohe to ask questions and to listen and then deliver alongside our whānau and local organisations.

Tēnei mātou, Taiako Taiwhenua ki Tairāwhiti e – This is us, united as Tairāwhiti REAP