This project had three goals:  to build community research capacity; to collect, gather and record kaumātua narratives; and to create a teaching resource for Tūhoe schools. Central to this project was the engagement by Ruatoki community and in particular it reinforced the important role kaumātua play as sources of knowledge. Another key theme was concerned with developing methods of storing traditional knowledge as well as exploring culturally safe practices and guidelines around access and dissemination of this knowledge. 

The team's work led to the development of Te Ahikāroa teaching resource, which has been distributed to schools in the community. The resource is a collection of video narratives from Ruatoki kaumātua. Through interviews kaumātua share their unique experiences of Ruatoki community life from childhood to modern times.