Noaia

New Noaia Board Member

The Noaia Board Trust is thrilled to announce the appointment of Esme Dawson Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāpuhi to our Board of Directors.

Esme brings over 30 years of exceptional experience working within financial, legal, and regulatory frameworks within both the private and public sectors, including time with Paerangi Limited, the Māori Boarding Schools. She has worked in a specialised leadership role within the Inland Revenue in the area of tax investigation for the past 24 years. Esme brings the following key capabilities to the board.

Governance & Financial Oversight - Extensive experience bridging operational delivery and governance, ensuring processes and decisions strictly align with statutory obligations and financial controls.

Risk Mitigation & Compliance - A proven track record in complex risk assessment, audit processes, and the lawful handling of public funds.

Financial Literacy - Strong analytical capability to interpret complex information, identify operational anomalies, and to translate strategic insights into clear guidance.

Cultural & Community Alignment - Deep commitment to embedding manaakitangaand whānau connection into leadership decisions.

In her spare time, Esme is a well known New Zealand home baker who achieved national prominence as the runner up on the third season of TV3’s reality TV show Chelsea New Zealand’s Hottest Home Baker.

Nau mai haere mai Esme.

Big mihi to Ngāi Tahu Farming for supporting our kaupapa with 10 of the prettiest calves we’ve ever laid eyes on 🐮😍

We really appreciate the support and look forward to seeing our tauira get stuck in and learn alongside these beauties 🙌🏽🌱.

He aituā, he aituā!It is with deep sadness and heavy hearts that we share the passing of our beloved kaumātua, Poua Kevin Hopkinson (Hoppy) A dedicated pillar of our Noaia whānau and a fierce guardian of our kaupapa.Haere atu rā e te rangatira, kua hinga te tāraka i te wao nui a Tāne. Moe mai rā i te kapua o te pō.

He Pānui Tangihanga – Kevin Bari Ngāi Tahu Hopkinson
Mai i ngā mauka whakahī ki ngā hāpua o te tai,
kua roroku te rākau o te mahika kai.
Kua riro atu rā tō tātou taonga a Kevin Hopkinson.
He uri rangatira nō Ngāi Tahu - Ngāi Tūāhuriri,
Ngāti Huikai, Ngāi Te Ruahikihiki ki Ōtākou,
Ngāti Mutunga o Wharekauri, Ngāti Mutunga ki Taranaki,
Ngāti Toa Rangatira, Te Atiawa me Rangitāne.

Mā te hau o te uru koe e arahi ki te kāika puremu. From the proud mountains to the coastal lagoons,
Pōua Kevin Hopkinson, the tree of our seasonal gathering has fallen, may the western breeze guide you home.
Loved son of the late Tahu and Joy Hopkinson. Beloved father of Nicola and Richard Boyle, Antony and Lizzy Hopkinson, adored Grandad of Shinia and Phife and, great grandfather of Taruhae and Āwhina. Matamua of Gloria and Gordon, Gaye and Wayne, Elizabeth and Barry, Cathy and Gregg, the late Bill, Carol and Garry, Mariane and Greg and, Rahera and Phil. Grandpa Kev of Tom, Emma, Millie and Felix, Milo, Mika, Maisie, Angus and Ted and, Max Boyle.

Home is the sailor, home from the sea, and the hunter home from the hill "Robert Louis Stevenson"

Kevin will be at home from Monday afternoon and visitors are welcome to come and pay their respects. He will travel to Tuahiwi marae on Wednesday arriving at 2pm. The funeral service will be held at 11am on Thursday 27th August.

It was a privilege tonight to represent Noaia at the Rata Foundation Canterbury Grants Function 2026 we are very grateful to Rata Foundation for their ongoing support of the Noaia kaupapa.

Visit from Rōpū Te Waharoa

Nothing like jumping straight in the deep end! 🙌🏽

Our manuhiri from Rōpū Te Waharoa got amongst it, joining in with our Noaia haka practice before our tauira took the lead on a site hīkoi, showing them around and sharing what’s on offer here at Noaia. 💪🏽

Awesome to have you with us and share a bit of the Noaia experience! 🤝🏽

Mauri Tū, Mauri Ora! 🔥

Started Term 3 with a bang! ❗️🔥

He mihi nui ki a Naylor Love me VIP Trade mō tō koutou tautoko nui. Our community project was absolutely buzzing, and our organisation feels overwhelmed with gratitude after such an awesome day. 🙌🏽

Ki ngā kaimahi katoa o Naylor Love who showed up and got stuck in, ngā mihi nui ki a koutou for helping us frame our deck, plant native trees, and move and split firewood at our second site, Te Waka a Rangi. Your mahi made a real difference. 💪🏽🌿

Koinei te tino kaupapa: working together through collaboration, partnership, and a shared commitment to our community.

Mā tini, mā mano, ka rapa te whai.
Many hands make light work.

Kotahitanga in action. 💪🏽

20 young calves to start off our cattle farming arm! Our tauira are doing awesome learning to look after the stock and run the day to day tasks of it all. WATCH THIS SPACE! 🙏🏽