Panapa Ehau
Building economic resilience: Hapū-led development on the East Coast
Panapa Ehau founded Hikurangi Enterprises as a direct response to community-identified needs, emerging from a Hapū cluster economic development plan designed to revitalise the Waiapu area. The organisation represents a community-led approach to economic development, focusing on creating sustainable growth and employment opportunities in a region that has faced significant economic challenges.
Hikurangi Enterprises's vision extends across the East Coast, supporting whānau, hapū clusters, landowners, and the wider community from Waipiro Bay through to Rangitukia. This geographic reach reflects a commitment to inclusive development that honours traditional structures whilst building economic resilience. The organisation demonstrates how indigenous-led economic initiatives can drive meaningful change when rooted in authentic community planning and collective aspirations.
