The Tawhai whānau has come a long way to realising the dreams of their parents Te Hore and Ngaikiha Tawhai, by developing a legacy for more than 100 tamariki and mokopuna.

What started from a small 2-bedroom home where the couple’s 14 children were raised is now 11 bedrooms, three bathrooms and five wharepaku across three buildings that to the whānau feels like one big whare. The Taiwhai papakainga.

It meant lots of work, hui and changes, but it also brought the whānau together over a shared goal for the future.

“Mum and dad have left their footprints on the whenua with over 100 descendants continuing to return to their kāinga to stand, share and listen,” said Ruruhira.

Te Hore and Ngaikiha would be grateful and proud.