Board of Trustees

Rawiri Bhana – Koromatua Representative (Chairperson)

I am a product of my upbringing.

I am a product of the love, support and guidance shown to me by my parents, my koroua, my kuia, the Pā. These people, our people, this place, our place have all ensured that I have had a solid grounding not only in our kawa and tikanga but that I was also educated to the highest standard, ensuring I would not feel out of place walking in either worlds.

I’m a problem solver and a relationship specialist who can offer insight and strong direction to create successful outcomes for all. I firmly believe that strong leadership doesn’t need to compromise a strong value-based belief system when dealing with people.

I believe that your current Trustees of Te Komiti Nui o Ngāti Whakaue can within the next 3-5 years bring a settlement from the Crown back to our people, our marae, our hapū, our iwi.

Ultimately I believe in “Mokopuna Decisions”, which is exactly what our tupuna believed in. The decision-making process that take into account the intergenerational view as opposed to the now mentality.

Mokonuiārangi Kingi – Koromatua Representative

E mihi ana ki a Ngāti Whakaue ki uta, ki tai.

E noho ana au i runga i Te Komiti Nui o Ngāti Whakaue te ropū whakatutuki i ngā kerēme Tiriti o Waitangi mō Ngāti Whakaue.

E whakapounamu ana i ngā whakaaro ō tatou mātua, ō tātou tupuna, e rata ai ō tātou wairua ki ngā mahi take whenua, ki te whakawhanake i kaupapa whai hua e ora tonu ai te whanaungatanga i waenga i ngā uri whakaheke.

Whakapapa:

Maru Tapsell – Koromatua Representative

I am a Koromatua representative and lead for the Rakitu/ Haerehuka claim.

I bring a wealth of experience and knowledge having been involved in Court (Environment) proceedings against local and central government in terms of how they try to run roughshod over our rights and interests.

I’ve been on this journey with Te Komiti Nui o Ngati Whakaue since it started, on and off the Board over the years.

Tipene James – Koromatua Representative

Tēnā koutou, tēnā tātou, Ngati Whakaue.

Ko Tipene James toku ingoa, tētahi o ngā kaitieki koromatua mo Te Komiti nui o Ngati Whakaue.

He uri no ngā koromatua e ono, he mokopuna no ngā whānau Te Amohau, Pango, Arawhata.

My Why: Ensuring that both our people and TKnoNW amend all Crown grievances together, and begin a collectivized iwi approach toward many of our current and future kaupapa.

“Me huri te aro ki te tōnga mai o te rā, he rā anō ka whiti, he pitomata anō ka”

“Let us turn our heads to the engulfing of the sun, where tomorrow lives, where potentials await”

Aleisha Ewa Makarita Mitchell – Koromatua Representative

Ngati Hurunga te Rangi, Ngati Pukaki, Ngati Rangiiwaho, Ngato Taeotu, Ngati Te Rorooterangi, Ngati Tunohopu.

Ko Kiri Mitchell toku kuia

Ko Ike Reti toku koro

No Ōhinemutu taku kainga.

I’ve grown up in Ōhinemutu with my kuia and koro, taught to always contribute towards bettering our people.

My work background is in the Resource Management Act and Local Government, with studies focused on Indigenous Development, Te Tiriti, and inequity in Aotearoa.

I’m focused on making Mokopuna Decisions. Ngā mihi ki a koutou.

Ray Pou Poasa – Ngapuna Representative

Ray was born in Rotorua and raised in Ngāpuna and is married to Lorraine Hall. They have three daughters, Hiraina, Rauoriwa, Kaihau and one son, Tamati.

His parents are Tuisano and Theresa (Hine) Pou, his Grandparents are Pou and Te Poki (paternal side) and Paurini Mutu and Parehu Hamiora (maternal side).

His Great Grandparents are Poasa and Salome (paternal side) and Hiraina Herewini and Mutu Kawhena (maternal side) and his Great Great Grandparents are Pohiri Hamiora and Kaihau Te Pere.

Selwyn Insley – Ngapuna Representative

I am in my second term with Te Komiti Nui o Ngāti Whakaue and represent Ngāpuna on the Board. My work experience is in Retail, Sales and Education for the last 18 years.

I am currently working as Kaiarahi Māori Partnerships Advisor for the Crown Research Institute Scion. Ngāti Whakaue have an interest in the whenua were Scion sits through Ngā Hapū Tokotoru – Ngāti Hurungaterangi, Ngāti Taeotu and Ngāti Te Kahu.

I have gained governance experience through a number of Maori Land Trusts, Charitable Trusts and Maori Incorporations I have been on and currently work within over the past 15 years.

I am happily married to Kimiora for 20 plus years and have two teenage tamariki, Meraania 18 and Herewini 16. I grew up in Ngāpuna and live with my whānau in Owhata. Lived in Rotorua nui o Kahumatamomoe my whole life and also have strong whakapapa connections on my dads side to Te Whānau a Apanui ki Omaio.

I am excited to be working with the awesome people on the board getting Ngāti Whakaue to settlement with the Crown.

Hokimatemai Kahukiwa – Horohoro/Mamaku Representative

Hoki was born in Rotorua and raised between Ohinemutu and Koutu.  He is from Ngati Tunohopu, Ngati Rangiiwaho, Ngati Taeotu and Ngati Turipuku.

Hoki served in the Royal New Zealand Infantry for 22 years. He served in Malaysia and Vietnam. Hoki attained the rank of Warrant Officer 1st Class.

Karena Te Awa Bird – Maketu Representative

E rere Kōtare i tō pōhutukawa i Maketū, i ngā puamuramura o Maraekura. Te takotoranga o taku whenua e.

E rere Kōtare atu ki Puanga, papaki pākau ki Te Taitokerau. Nō tōku rauru, taku puna kōrero, taku paparahi. Whakapau karakia ki te hiku e.

E rere Kōtare ki Ngāti Manawa. Whakahaua iho au e Tāwhiuau, tauaru Kōtare i te Rangitaiki, te kāinga o Murupara e

E rere Kōtare ki Ngongotahā, E koropūpū ana te wai o Te Ruapeka. Tangi apakura nā ki Muruika, Ka tau ki ngā wai o Te Rotoruanui a Kahumatamomoe e

E hoki Kōtare ki Te Kuraetanga o Te Ihu o Tamatekapua. Kua waihape mai koe ki te ngutuawa; Te Awa Kari o Ngātoroirangi, Whakapaukōrero, Te Tokaparore, Tūterangihāruru Ki te taupunga o Te waka o Te Arawa, taku ipukarea e!

Ko Kārena Te Awa Bird tōku ingoa. Nōku te maringanui ki te tū hei waha, hei kanohi mō Maketū.