
Auckland Co-design Lab, Auckland Council
Eruini Hawke
- 2025
- Digital Kick-Off Day
Tirohia atu te Pane-o-Horoiwi
Whakapukepuke whakatikitiki ki waho rā.
He Tikitiki he Kawau, he Kawau he Tikitiki
Ka heke ki Tahuna Torea
He Tikitiki he Kawau he Tikitiki
Ka eke, ka eke ki te Waitematā
Tihei Mauri Ora!
Eruini was raised on his ancestral lands in Tāmaki Makaurau – on a little slice of heaven known as Takaparawhau, Bastion Point.
He spent his childhood years under the watchful eyes of his grandparents Rene and Joseph Hawke. As a mokopuna of Māori land activists, Eruini inherited the profound role of being a kaitiaki (cultural guardian) of his whenua, moana, and taiao.
With over twenty years of experience in environmental spaces – his career reflects his personal commitment to protecting te mauri o te taiao. His expertise is in native forestry, ecological restoration, and conservation, rongoā Māori, resource management, para kore, ecotourism, and biodiversity care.
He has a strong foundation in Te Ao Māori – inclusive of te reo me ōna tikanga, kōrero tuku iho and mātauranga ā-iwi. His inherent connection to the taiao is what drives him, and he ensures that his work is always guided and informed by the teachings of his tūpuna. He is also deeply committed to the service of his people and has worked closely with his own iwi and communities. A true child of Tāne Mahuta, he is happiest when his hands are in the soil.
Eruini is a proud father of two and has iwi affiliations to Ngāti Whātua, Ngāti Mahuta, Ngāti Ranginui, Ngāti Awa