Achieving Living Building status for Tūhoe's headquarters in Tāneatua has been a long and arduous road. But the tribe's chairman, Tamati Kruger, says the outcome has been worth it. First raised by Tūhoe Establishment Trust, the idea was to build a modern headquarters after the trible settled its Treaty grievances with the Government. The forerunner to the tribe's post-settlement governance body, Te Uru Taumatua, the establishment trust is comprised of kaumatua, respected elders, who acted as representatives for the areas within Tuhoe's tribal boundaries. Tamati says it was these kaumatua who wanted to build a modern tribal headquarters.
