Waikato Regional Council | Tiakina Kauri Team

This engagement is super special as it was our very first official client at AraHina.

Kauri Pou Tiaki is an immersive virtual reality experience designed to deepen understanding of the cultural, ecological, and spiritual significance of Rākau Kauri. The project was led by Waikato Regional Council in partnership with iwi representatives from Waikato Tainui and creative agency Waxeye.

My role was to facilitate the process of interweaving Mātauranga Māori and modern science into a compelling storyboard that shaped the virtual reality experience. The result was an interactive journey that has now been experienced by more than 1,000 school students across the Waikato region, inspiring the next generation to protect our precious Kauri forests.

The team selected a Bespoke Package, tailored specifically to their needs. This included a series of online sessions to build connection and context, followed by a face-to-face wānanga to design the storyline. It’s an ideal option for partnerships with tangata whenua that sit outside our core Strategy Services.