He Oranga Hapori is a research project that has been operating on this coastline since 2009 when the Māori Economic Taskforce chaired by Hon Dr. Pita Sharples resourced a Māori Wellbeing research project proposed by Te Aho. Te Aho is a collective of Māori and Māori organisations with an interest in kaupapa based community activities that contribute to the survival of Māori as a people.

• In 2009-2010, He Oranga Hapori focused its attentions on the wellbeing of a Māori community (Mai i Rangitikei ki Whitireia).
• In 2011-2012 the project considered the wellbeing of whānau,
• and in 2013 the research team have sought to work with tangata whenua on understanding the characteristics of iwi wellbeing.