At the heart of every thriving pakihi Māori is a story grounded in whakapapa, driven by purpose, and fuelled by aroha. For Tainui Harris, founder of Stryder Eco Village (StryderHQ), business is not just about building homes, it’s about building people, healing whenua, and uplifting the collective.

Based in Te Tai Tokerau beneath Pūhanga Tohorā maunga, Tainui and her husband (Ngāpuhi, Waikato-Tainui, Ngāti Maniapoto) began their business as teenage parents, with a desire to create a better future.

“Our system wasn’t made for us,” Tainui shares. “But that never stopped us.”

What began with solar installs and roofing slowly grew into something greater, a kaupapa that reflects te ao Māori, powered by whānau, resilience, and a yearning to create change.

Stryder is a legacy, born from the dreams of Tainui’s late brother Whitinga, Stryder represents unity, strength, and aroha. It’s a promise to carry his wairua forward by serving the people. “We turned our grief into something beautiful,” says Tainui. “Now, every whare we build carries his spirit.”

Today, Stryder Eco Village provides sustainable housing solutions, papakāinga developments, and full wraparound support for whānau. Their mahi bridges the gap between community and access, offering practical solutions like funding advice, financial literacy, mentoring, and rangatahi training programmes.

Grounded in mātauranga Māori, Stryder reflects the values of whanaungatanga, manaakitanga, kaitiakitanga and kotahitanga. It is a living, breathing village, welcoming all iwi, hapū and cultures who share the vision of healing and building together.

But the journey hasn’t been easy. “Being a young, Māori wāhine in construction came with a lot of rejection. We were told ‘no’ more times than I can count,” Tainui recalls. “But every knock was a lesson. It taught us our worth, our strength, and the importance of staying true to who we are.”

Despite the challenges, the Harris whānau have never lost sight of their values. “We’ve held our hearts at the centre of everything. We know our mahi is about honouring our tūpuna and building something meaningful for the next generation.”

Their dream is to empower indigenous communities across the world with the blueprint they’ve built: one that combines housing, environmental restoration, whānau support, and economic development.

And their advice for other aspiring Māori business owners?

“Don’t fear failure, embrace it. Be patient, trust the journey, and don’t let rejection dim your light. Celebrate the small wins. And most of all, don’t lose yourself. Your true village will find you, just like mine did.”

Stryder Eco Village shows what’s possible when kaupapa Māori leads the way, proving that with heart, hustle and whakapapa, we can build not just businesses, but futures.

Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, engari he toa takitini.
My strength is not mine alone, it is the strength of many.

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