Pungapunga Auaha | Te Pūmautanga o Te Arawa - Low-Carbon Materials Enterprise

Te Tirohanga | Vision

Building Prosperity for Future Generations

Our Vision

"To establish a thriving, Māori-owned materials industry that accelerates Aotearoa's transition to a low-carbon future, protects the taonga of Te Arawa, and demonstrates how indigenous stewardship and world-class science can work in partnership to build prosperity for future generations."

Our Purpose

"To commercialise central North Island iwi pumice resources through a business model that blends kaitiakitanga, tikanga, and technical excellence, delivering measurable economic, environmental, and social returns for iwi shareholders and for New Zealand's construction sector."

Strategic Objectives

Industry Leadership

Position Te Pūmautanga as first-mover Māori enterprise in green materials manufacturing.

Employment Creation

Build training and apprenticeship pipelines for rangatahi through university and industry partnerships.

IP Sovereignty

Maintain ownership and control of research outputs through Knowledge-Translation Agreements.

Investment Attraction

Secure capital from MDF, MBIE, EECA, and private-sector partners for staged development.

Governance Excellence

Prove iwi governance can operate at commercial scale while achieving emissions reduction.

Tikanga Integration

Apply tikanga from resource extraction to end-use certification across all operations.

Intergenerational Returns

Create financial and cultural dividends through education, housing, and environmental restoration.

Replicable Model

Establish framework for future Māori-owned, low-carbon industries across Aotearoa.

Te Rangahau | Research

Science-Validated Foundation

Built on $7.98 million of MBIE Endeavour research validating Te Arawa pumice as a high-performance supplementary cementitious material.

Vision Matauranga Programme (2019-2022)

Lead: Te Pūmautanga o Te Arawa with Massey University

Key Activities:

Geological and geospatial mapping of pumice deposits
Laboratory analyses confirming pozzolanic activity
Iwi researcher involvement in environmental impact assessment
Capability building for Māori scientists and technicians

Outcomes:

Validated pumice as promising SCM and filtration material
Established knowledge relationships for national research partnerships
Created intellectual property frameworks recognizing iwi custodianship

MBIE Endeavour Programme (2023-2028)

Funding: NZ $7.98 million

"Pungapunga Auaha: Partnering with Tangata Whenua to Develop a Low-Carbon Pumice Sector"

Lead Research Partners:

Massey University - Materials science, geotechnical engineering
University of Auckland - Advanced concrete technology, durability testing
AgResearch - Soil science, land-use analysis

Research Validated Performance

79-84% combined SiO2 + Al2O3 content
>75% pozzolanic reactivity at 28 days
Up to 40% cement replacement possible
35% CO2 reduction per tonne concrete

Map showing Kaharoa and Taupo pumice deposits in New Zealand

Geological cross-section showing layered pumice deposits

Left: Kaharoa and Taupo pumice deposit locations across the Central North Island. Right: Geological cross-section showing layered pumice deposits ideal for extraction.

Research Architecture

Research Area	Focus	Commercial Relevance
RA 1 - Māori Circular Economy Framework	Embedding tikanga into low-carbon manufacturing	Provides ethical governance framework
RA 2 - Data and Decision-Support Tools	Geospatial, environmental, supply-chain databases	Enables commercial planning and forecasting
RA 3 - Product Development and Testing	Laboratory and field trials on SCM performance	Confirms market-ready technical standards
RA 4 - Resource Characterisation	Mineralogical and geochemical testing	Establishes proven feedstock base

Te Maakete | Market

Critical Market Opportunity

Global SCM supply crisis creates urgent demand for domestic alternatives. New Zealand currently imports >95% of SCM feedstock.

A Net-Zero Carbon Concrete Industry for Aotearoa New Zealand - Roadmap to 2050

Construction workers pouring concrete on residential site

Modern concrete processing plant in New Zealand

300%

Fly Ash Price Rise 2020-24

40%

European GGBFS Contraction

95%

NZ SCM Import Dependence

1.8M

Tonnes Cement/Year NZ

New Zealand Market Context

Approximately 1.8 million tonnes of cement consumed annually
Responsible for roughly 1.5% of national greenhouse gas emissions
100% reliance on imported SCMs - critical vulnerability
Multi-month wait times reported for slag and fly ash

Policy Drivers

Emissions Reduction Plan (2022): 30% reduction in industrial emissions by 2035
Building for Climate Change (2021): Whole-of-life carbon assessments mandated
Industrial Decarbonisation Roadmap: Cement/concrete priority sector
Māori Economic Strategy: Iwi-led resource development emphasis

Market Opportunity Quantification

Domestic Market (New Zealand)

Annual cement consumption: 1.8M tonnes
Potential SCM substitution: 360-720k tonnes
Target market share (Year 5): 15-20%
Revenue potential: $6M - $15M annually

Export Markets

Australia: 10M tonnes cement/year, declining domestic fly ash
Pacific Islands: Infrastructure boom, no local SCM
Export Target: 50-150k tonnes annually (Years 7-10)
Port of Tauranga: 80km proximity for efficient shipping

Competitive Positioning

Material Type	Availability	Cost Stability	Carbon Footprint	Local Content
Te Arawa Pumice	Abundant (50+ years)	Stable	Very Low	100% NZ
Imported Fly Ash	Declining	Volatile (+300%)	Moderate (shipping)	0% NZ
Imported Slag	Declining	Volatile	Moderate (shipping)	0% NZ
Calcined Clays	Variable	Unknown	High Energy	Potential

Te Huarahi | Pathway

Three-Stage Development Pathway

From MDF investment readiness to 600,000 tonne/year export-scale production.

1

Active - 2025-2026

MDF Investment Readiness

$1.4 - 1.6M

Complete business case, pilot plant design, resource consents, commercial partnerships, workforce training programmes, and governance structure.

Investment-grade business plan
Signed LOIs from major producers
Finalized tikanga framework

2

2027-2029

180,000 Tonne Plant

$8 - 15M

Construct 180,000 tonne/year production facility, establish supply chain, achieve NZS 3122 certification, train initial workforce of 45-55 FTE.

Full-scale domestic production
Commercial sales to Holcim, Allied, Firth
EBITDA positive by Year 2

3

2030+

600,000 Tonne Export Scale

$25 - 40M

Expand to 600,000 tonnes/year, establish export channels to Australia and Pacific, launch advanced products, scale workforce to 60-75+ FTE.

Export revenues 20-30% of sales
>50,000 t CO2 avoided/year
Full commercial profitability

Stage 1: MDF Investment Requirements

Activity	Timeline	Investment
Complete Business Case & Financial Model	3-4 months	$150,000
Plant Design and Engineering	6-9 months	$400,000
Resource Consents & Approvals	9-12 months	$250,000
Commercial Partnership Development	6-9 months	$200,000
Workforce Development Planning	6-12 months	$180,000
Site Selection & Infrastructure	4-6 months	$220,000
Total Stage 1 Investment	18-24 months	$1.4-1.6M

Funding Mix (Stage 1)

MDF: 50%
Iwi co-investment: 25%
MBIE Endeavour: 25%

De-Risking Strategy

Technical Risk Mitigation

$7.98M MBIE research validates performance; third-party engineering reviews; field trials with industry partners.

Market Risk Mitigation

LOIs from major concrete producers secured; phased capacity expansion; diversified customer base.

Financial Risk Mitigation

Staged investment limits exposure; grant funding reduces early-stage requirements; strong iwi balance sheet.

Environmental & Social Risk

Tikanga framework embeds cultural oversight; environmental monitoring exceeds regulatory requirements.

Strategic Milestones

2026

Investment readiness achieved, plant design complete

2028

First commercial SCM deliveries to major producers

2030

Export markets established, advanced products launched

2033

Full-scale operation achieving target outcomes

Te Hangarau | Technical

Technical & Operational Framework

World-class processing specifications validated by $7.98M research programme.

Chemical Composition

Te Arawa pumice exhibits exceptionally high silica-alumina content ideal for pozzolanic reactivity.

Property	Value
SiO2 (Silica)	71-76%
Al2O3 (Alumina)	12-14%
Combined SiO2 + Al2O3	79-84%
Reactivity Index	>75% at 28 days
Loss on Ignition	<3%

Processing Specifications

Parameter	Target
Fineness (Blaine)	4000-4500 cm2/g
Particle Size D50	8-12 microns
Specific Gravity	2.3-2.5
Moisture Content	<0.5% after processing

Strength Development vs Control

Test	Pumice 30%	Fly Ash 30%	Control
7-day strength	28-32 MPa	26-30 MPa	32-36 MPa
28-day strength	42-48 MPa	40-45 MPa	45-50 MPa
90-day strength	52-58 MPa	50-56 MPa	50-55 MPa
Chloride Penetration	Low	Low	Moderate

Stage 2 Plant Specifications (180K)

180K t/yr

Design Capacity

250 days

Operating Days/Year

720 t/day

Daily Throughput

80-100 kWh

Energy per Tonne

Product Portfolio

Standard SCM Grade

Primary volume product - 60-70% of production

Fineness: 4000 cm2/g (Blaine)
Replacement: 20-30%
Standard: NZS 3122 Type A
Application: General construction
Price: $110-130/tonne

High-Performance Grade

Premium positioning - 20-25% of production

Fineness: 4500 cm2/g (Blaine)
Replacement: 30-40%
Standard: NZS 3122 Type B
Application: Infrastructure, marine
Price: $140-170/tonne

Specialty Applications

High-margin niche - 10-15% of production

Sizing: Custom particle sizing
Products: Geopolymer precursors
Standard: Custom specifications
Application: Specialty blends, filtration
Price: $180-250/tonne

Processing Flow

                        Raw Material
Stockpile
                    
→
                        Primary Crushing
Jaw crusher, <50mm
                    
→
                        Drying
Rotary dryer, <1%
                    
→
                        Fine Grinding
Ball mill, 4000-4500
                    
→
                        Classification
Air classifier
                    
→
                        Quality Control
Testing, cert
                    
→
                        Dispatch
Bulk/bags
                    

Te Putea | Financial

Financial & Economic Model

Conservative projections with strong returns at scale.

$25-35M

Annual Revenue at Scale

>22%

EBITDA Margin

<6 yrs

Payback Period

>14%

Internal Rate of Return

Stage 2 Capital Investment (180K Plant)

Category	Investment	% of Total
Equipment & Machinery	$4.5-6.0M	45-50%
Site Preparation & Buildings	$1.5-2.0M	15%
Utilities & Infrastructure	$1.0-1.5M	11%
Engineering & Commissioning	$0.8-1.2M	10%
Contingency (15%)	$1.2-1.8M	15%
Total Capital Required	$9.0-12.5M	100%

Capital Deployment Progress

Equipment & Machinery 45-50%

Site & Buildings 15%

Infrastructure 11%

Revenue Projections (Stage 2 - 180K)

Metric	Year 1	Year 2	Year 3	Year 5
Production (tonnes)	60,000	120,000	180,000	180,000
Capacity Utilization	33%	67%	100%	100%
Revenue	$7.5M	$15.6M	$24.3M	$30M+
EBITDA	$0.5M	$3.1M	$5.8M	$7M+
EBITDA Margin	7%	20%	24%	>22%
Direct Employment	25-30	35-45	45-55	55-60

Revenue Model at Full Scale (Year 5)

Domestic Sales (80K @ $130/t): $10.4M
Export Sales (20K @ $150/t): $3.0M
Specialty Products (10K @ $200/t): $2.0M
Technical Services & Licensing: $0.8M

Investment Principles - Tikanga

Kaitiakitanga

Stewardship of land, water and people

Kotahitanga

Unity of purpose across iwi, industry, investors

Puataata

Transparent governance, reporting, accountability

Whai Rawa Tonui

Reinvestment in whānau and environment

Te Paanga | Impact

Quadruple Bottom Line Impact

Measurable returns across economic, environmental, cultural, and social dimensions.

Economic Returns

$25-35M

Annual Revenue

60-75

Direct Jobs

$50M+

Regional Uplift/Year

$8-12M

Export Earnings/Year

EBITDA margin: 22-28%
Iwi dividend potential: $3-5M/year
15-20% domestic market share target

Environmental Returns

70K t

CO2 Avoided/Year

40%

Cement Substitution

70-80%

Water Recycling

100%

Land Rehabilitation

60% lower energy than calcined SCMs
Zero process water discharge
Carbon neutral operations by 2030

Cultural Returns

Rangatiratanga: Iwi economic sovereignty demonstrated
Kaitiakitanga: Tikanga-based environmental stewardship
Matauranga: Knowledge sovereignty protected
Whanaungatanga: Community strengthened
Te Reo Māori: Workplace language integration
Intergenerational: Capability building for future generations

Social Returns

Rangatahi employment: 30+ apprenticeships created
Skills training: Engineering, operations, management pathways
Education partnerships: Universities and wananga collaboration
Health & wellbeing: Community investment from dividends
Housing support: Iwi dividend allocation
Regional leadership: Innovation showcase for Aotearoa

Impact Summary - Full Scale Operations

Category	Metric	Stage 2 (180K)	Stage 3 (600K)
Climate	CO2 Avoided Annually	25,000 tonnes	70,000 tonnes
Economic	Annual Revenue	$15-24M	$25-35M
Employment	Direct Jobs Created	45-55	60-75
Regional	Economic Multiplier	$30M/year	$50M+/year
Iwi	Annual Dividend	$1-2M	$3-5M

Te Whakahaere | Governance

Governance & Ownership Structure

Dual-governance model honoring both scientific rigour and cultural integrity.

"Ko te pae tawhiti whaia kia tata, ko te pae tawhiti whakamaua kia tina."

Seek the distant horizons so they may become close; hold fast to what is near and make it secure.

Four-Layer Ownership Model

Entity	Ownership	Function
Pumice Resource Partnership LP	100% Māori owned	Resource rights, extraction royalties, land stewardship
Processing SPV (OpCo)	40-50% Māori minimum	Plant operations, production, commercial activities
Geothermal Heat Supply JV	Partnership structure	Low-carbon energy supply via Contact Energy
Te Pūmautanga o Te Arawa	Strategic governance	Iwi oversight, cultural governance, long-term stewardship

Tikanga-Based Governance

Kaitiakitanga

All field work incorporates environmental monitoring and restoration protocols designed by kaitiaki.

Whanaungatanga

Research teams include Te Arawa members at all levels, building relationships and capability.

Rangatiratanga

Te Pūmautanga maintains decision-making authority over research priorities, resource access, and knowledge dissemination.

Matauranga

Traditional knowledge about land, waterways, and resource management integrated with scientific methodologies.

Knowledge & IP Protection

Knowledge Translation Framework

Te Arawa retains intellectual property ownership
Data sovereignty maintained under iwi control
Matauranga Māori safeguarded from exploitation
Commercial control preserved for iwi benefit
Academic publication rights under agreed terms

Te Pūmautanga o Te Arawa

Represents 11 Te Arawa iwi and hapū with cultural governance integrated at all operational levels, ensuring intergenerational benefit flows to iwi members.

Reporting Cadence

Monthly: Operational metrics, safety, production
Quarterly: Financial performance, environmental compliance
Annually: Comprehensive impact report
Biannually: Cultural audit and tikanga review

Te Tukunga | Risk & KPIs

Risk Assessment & Performance Indicators

Risk Mitigation Matrix

Risk	L	I	Mitigation Strategy
Technical	Med	High	$7.98M MBIE research validates; staged commissioning
Market	Low	Med	LOIs from Holcim, Allied, Firth secured
Financial	Med	Med	15% contingency; multiple funding sources
Resource	Low	High	50+ million tonne resource base
Energy	Low	Med	Contact Energy partnership; renewable-ready
Regulatory	Low	Med	Early Standards NZ engagement; NZS 3122 pathway

Key Performance Indicators

Financial KPIs

Indicator	Year 1	Year 3	Year 5
Revenue	$7.5M	$24M	$30M+
EBITDA Margin	7%	24%	>22%
Market Share	3%	10%	20%

Social & Cultural KPIs

Indicator	Target
Māori Employment	>60% workforce
Rangatahi Training	>30 apprentices
Tikanga Compliance	>90%
CO2 Reduction	>50,000 t/yr by Year 3

Strategic Partners

Holcim NZ - New Zealand's largest cement producer and confirmed offtake partner

Funding Partners

Kanoa - Regional development funding
Climate Fund - Carbon reduction investment
MBIE Endeavour - Research programme ($7.98M)
Te Pūmautanga - Iwi co-investment

Commercial Partners

Holcim NZ - LOI secured (NZ's largest)
Allied Concrete - LOI secured
Firth Industries - LOI secured
Contact Energy - Geothermal partnership

Research Partners

Massey University - Materials science lead
University of Auckland - Concrete technology
AgResearch - Soil science

Te Whakatau | Investment Decision

Join Us in Building a Low-Carbon Future

Pungapunga Auaha stands at the intersection of mātauranga Māori, cutting-edge science, and national economic opportunity. This initiative demonstrates how indigenous leadership can drive climate action, shape sustainable industries, and create prosperity while protecting the mauri of the whenua.

$1.4-1.6M

Stage 1 Investment

180K t/yr

Stage 2 Capacity

600K t/yr

Stage 3 Export Scale

$0

Ongoing Govt Subsidy

"This is the moment when years of research translate into regional economic transformation."