Kaingaroa Community Development Project

Kaingaroa Village is situated in the Kaingaroa Forest between Rotorua and Taupō on the volcanic plateau of the Central North Island. It has 435 residents, with 98% being Māori.

In 1987, the NZ Forest Service closed its operations in Kaingaroa, and through parliamentary decision, the land was returned to Ngāti Manawa. This marked an important milestone for the village but also resulted in a huge undertaking to upgrade the village’s facilities and infrastructure.

The village is now owned by an Ahu Whenua Trust and managed by the Kaingaroa Forest Village Council. The Ahu Whenua Trust comprises representatives from Ngāti Manawa and residents of the village which is surrounded by one of the largest planted forests in the Southern Hemisphere.

As the village is self-governed, there has been a limited supply of funding for maintenance and new infrastructure to revitalise it over the years.

Completing the implementation of the Kaingaroa Village Community Development Plan enabled the community to realise its aspirations to grow and thrive.

All these improvements were supported by $7.2 million in regional development funding. The project also received co-investment totalling $3.9 million from Te Puni Kōkiri, Te Tumu Paeroa (Office of the Māori Trustee), and the Ministry of Health. Co-funding from local business K.L.C Limited was also crucial to the completion of the wider project.

Revitalising Kaingaroa Village

Over five years, from 2019 to 2024, key development projects in Kaingaroa Village were completed. This included drilling a new water bore, putting in new underground infrastructure and resurfacing roads.

New streetlights were installed as well as Te Pūmanawa, a new community playground. Other improvements included renovating marae and creating a new community centre.

The new modern community centre, opened in July 2024, marked the completion of the Kaingaroa Village Community Development Plan. The community centre houses a medical centre, kaumātua and rangatahi space, as well as meeting and training rooms. The centre includes a digital hub to improve internet access and connectivity in the community.

Community benefits

The Kaingaroa Village Community Development Project and its planned actions have delivered a range of community benefits alongside new and upgraded infrastructure and facilities for the village.

These include:

• opportunities for the 17 businesses from across the local district that supported the delivery of the project, including project management from He Ira Kāhui Anamata (HIKA) Trust, a Māori owned business.
• 306 full time equivalent jobs over the term of the construction of various works, many taken up by Kaingaroa residents.

Beyond the physical improvements, the project has had a positive impact on the local economy and brought about renewed community pride.

This uplift has contributed to employment creation and supported local industry stimulation, particularly in construction and critical services such as electrical and plumbing. They have adopted a locals-first recruitment policy and have been committed to facilitating access to training and upskilling opportunities to better equip locals for available job opportunities.

The project has not only delivered much-needed employment for those in Kaingaroa but also to neighbouring towns like Murupara, Rerewhakaaitu, and Waiohau.