The intergenerational Tautoru Mautai partnership between Orion and Wairewa Rūnanga has been named Community Initiative of the Year at the 2026 New Zealand Energy Excellence Awards, held in Wellington last week.
Tautoru Mautai is a partnership between Orion and Wairewa Rūnanga to restore whenua at Te Kaio/Tumbledown Bay on Banks Peninsula, transforming former farmland that was returned to the Rūnanga by the previous landowner back into thriving native forest.
Grounded in mana whenua-led stewardship, the kaupapa combines traditional Māori knowledge with contemporary environmental practice to regenerate the natural cloak and ecological resilience of the area. More than 200,000 seedlings have been planted so far, alongside extensive pest control and restoration mahi.
“It’s really encouraging to see Tautoru Mautai recognised in this way, and a nice acknowledgement that we’re on the right track. There is still a long way to go, but it’s a moment to recognise the mahi of everyone who has helped get the kaupapa to where it is today,” says Tautoru Mautai Steering Group member Ana Gray.
The partnership was up against strong community-focused projects from Contact Energy and Reefton Powerhouse Charitable Trust in the category.
The award organisers, Freeman Media, said: “The judges were impressed by Orion’s enduring partnership with Mana Whenua, delivering lasting benefits through carbon sequestration, habitat restoration and biodiversity enhancement. More than an environmental project, it is a powerful model of community partnership, fostering mutual learning, cultural understanding and positive outcomes for generations to come.”
“This recognition means a huge amount because Tautoru Mautai has always been about much more than planting trees. It is about honouring the vision of Wairewa Rūnanga, restoring the whenua for future generations, and building a partnership based on trust, persistence and shared purpose,” says Orion Forest Partnerships Lead and Tautoru Mautai Project Manager Clayton Wallwork.
“For Orion, it shows what is possible when we work alongside mana whenua in a way that supports their aspirations. This is creating lasting benefits for the communities we serve, and that’s what we’re all about.”