Sophia Olo-Whaanga
Taiao Regeneration Advisor
Kia ora, I’m Sophia, and I walk proudly as Te Pu-a Nga Maara’s Taiao Regeneration Advisor. My heart beats for the whenua, the wai, and the Taiao, our sacred environment that holds the stories of our tūpuna and the promise of our mokopuna.
I dream of a taiao restored through a holistic lens, where healing the land and waters goes hand in hand with nurturing the wairua of our communities. It’s not enough to plant trees or reduce risks; we must weave a thriving Taiao that breathes life for at least the next 20 generations, 500 years of abundance, balance, and connection. I envision a future where our tamariki inherit a healthier, living environment, grounded in the wisdom of our ancestors and the strength of our collective kaitiakitanga.
The pulse of our work lies in weaving tikanga, mātauranga Māori, and pūrākau into every step of Taiao restoration. It’s about rooting our efforts in who we are, our identity, our history, and the ancestral knowledge that guides us. Every project feels like a homecoming, a chance to honour the past while building a legacy for the future. This is more than restoration; it’s a reawakening of the whenua and the people who belong to it.
TAIAO ORA : MAURI ORA