REFLECTIVE INSIGHT #068 – KO WAI AU: STEPPING OUT TO BUILD TAITOKERAU HEMP

Kia ora koutou e te whānau,

Since I started the Quantum Whakapapa Project in December 2025, I've intentionally stayed fairly anonymous. My "ko wai au" is on the website, which I point people to if they ask, but I've avoided being the "face" of Quantum Whakapapa. That's partly because I felt the kaupapa's not about me, I'm just a mouthpiece. But also because I work behind the scenes and that's how I like it. I've supported several businesses and community organisations, and have been building skills including finance and admin, governance, supply chain and operational management.

But now that I'm building a company and will be asking people around Te Tai Tokerau to trust me with their land, income needs and housing needs, that needs to shift.

So I just wanted to share a bit about my background and relevant experience, how I came to start Taitokerau Hemp, and my vision for the future.