About | Tataurangi Golf

Te Pou o Tataurangi Golf

The cultural foundations of Tataurangi Golf

Great golf courses are not simply designed or built — they are created through relationships, respect, and a deep understanding of the land they occupy. Our approach is grounded in te ao Māori, where every decision is made with people, whenua and future generations in mind.

01 — Whakaute
Respect

"He tangata, he tangata, he tangata." — It is the people, it is the people, it is the people.

We enter every project as guests before we are experts, listening before we offer solutions. Golf courses are not blank canvases — every piece of land carries its own history and story, and our role is to work with it, not dominate it.

02 — Ngākau Whakawhetai
Gratitude

"He iti te kōpara, ka rērere i te puhi o te kahikatea." — Although the bellbird is small, it can reach the highest branches.

Success is never achieved alone. We remain humble, acknowledging the trust of clients, the expertise of contractors and the dedication of every person involved in a project.

03 — Manawaroa
Strength & Determination

"Whāia te iti kahurangi, ki te tūohu koe, me he maunga teitei." — Pursue excellence; should you bow, let it be only to a lofty mountain.

Golf course development is rarely straightforward. We do the difficult work when others walk away, solving problems rather than assigning blame, and finishing what we begin.

04 — Whakakatakata
Humour

"Mā te kata ka māmā ai te taumaha." — Laughter lightens the load.

Work should be enjoyable. Humour removes unnecessary hierarchy and reminds everyone that they are part of something bigger than the task at hand.

Guiding Principles

Mana

Every individual carries mana. Trust is earned through actions, not words.

Manaakitanga

Care, generosity and belonging. Clients never feel like a transaction.

Kaitiakitanga

We are temporary caretakers of landscapes that will outlive us.

Whanaungatanga

Great projects are built on genuine, trusted relationships.

Kotahitanga

Unity of vision between client, consultant, contractor and community.

Rangatiratanga

Leadership is service — earning respect rather than demanding it.

Phil — Co-Founder, Lead Golf Course Architect & Strategic Consultant

Phil works across New Zealand and internationally on golf course design, master planning and facility development. A former PGA Tour professional, he competed at the highest level of world golf for nearly twenty years, claiming his maiden PGA Tour victory at the 2002 Invensys Classic in Las Vegas.

Following his playing career, Phil moved into golf media — commentary and analysis for PGA Tour Live and radio — before turning to golf course design and development. His design career began with the redevelopment of Windross Farm (formerly Manukau Golf Club), a full course redesign and rebuild following the club's relocation. He later partnered on the redesign of Lochiel Golf Course, now Tieke Golf Estate, since ranked among New Zealand's top twenty courses and regarded as one of the country's leading modern championship layouts.

Since then, Phil has worked with over a dozen golf clubs and facilities across New Zealand on master planning, redesign and redevelopment, alongside private and corporate clients shaping facilities that balance strategic design, playability and long-term commercial sustainability. He brings a rare combination of elite playing experience, broadcast insight and practical design expertise, and welcomes conversations with clubs, landowners and developers exploring new projects.

Mel — Co-Founder, Treasurer & Administration

Mel is co-founder of Tataurangi Golf, and the glue that holds the whole operation together. Where Phil and Kahu are out walking sites and building relationships with clients, Mel runs everything that keeps the business functioning day to day — the numbers, the paperwork and the countless small decisions that never make it onto a course plan but matter just as much.

As treasurer and administrator, she manages the company's finances end to end, from invoicing and budgeting to the practical admin that keeps a family business compliant and on track. She's also the team's travel agent, planning and coordinating logistics for Phil and Kahu's site visits and project travel across New Zealand and increasingly overseas — no small task for a business built on getting to remote and often hard-to-reach land.

Mel's steady, organised presence is what allows Phil and Kahu to focus fully on the land and the people in front of them, confident that everything behind the scenes is taken care of. She has been there since the very beginning, and much of Tataurangi Golf's ability to take on ambitious projects comes down to the systems and support she has built.

Kahu — Director & Business Development

Kahu is director of Tataurangi Golf, and the son of Phil and Mel Tataurangi. Like his father, he pursued a career in professional golf before stepping into the family business, taking his own game to a high level before turning his focus to the business itself.

That playing background gives him a rare, ground-level understanding of what a course needs to reward great play, and because of their father-son relationship, Kahu is able to test and challenge Phil's thinking more directly than anyone else — pushing back on ideas, asking the hard questions, and pressure-testing design decisions before they ever reach a client. That closeness sharpens every project and helps the team land on the best possible result.

Alongside his design input, Kahu leads business development for Tataurangi Golf, building relationships with clubs, landowners and developers as the business grows across New Zealand and into new international markets. He also brings a new-age perspective to the game, owning and building golf simulator businesses that put cutting-edge technology in front of everyday golfers and private clients alike. That blend of traditional course knowledge and modern, tech-driven golf experiences gives Tataurangi Golf a broader view of where the game — and the business around it — is heading.