Waihaere Mason: work that ripples through generations

Thursday, 29 December 2022

“We can’t do everything, but what we can do, we do it well,” says Waihaere Mason. (File photo)

Waihaere Mason likes to think of his work as “micro” acts: small changes that ripple out into the community and beyond.

Mason (Kurahaupō, Tainui, Tokomaru and Takitimu Waka) was made an officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to Māori and education in the New Year Honours.

Mason, who taught for 45 years and was principal of five schools, said formal schooling was only a part of what he considered education, and included his work across several sectors.

The Nelson resident is a long serving member of Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Kuia, predominantly as chairperson since 1999. He has influenced developments across social justice, Māori hauora (health), education, local government, conservation and marae wellbeing.

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Mason took a leading role within the Kurahaupō Iwi, a group comprising the iwi Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō, Rangitāne, and Ngāti Kuia to negotiate settlements through the Waitangi Tribunal process in 2010, the initial aquaculture settlement in 2004 and settlement for water space in 2015.

He has supported and been a member of many organisations including the Māori Rugby Board since 2019, 28th Māori Battalion Pou Mana, and Tu Pono, a family violence programme. He was a founding member of Te Putahitanga – Whānau Ora o Te Waipounamu (2014), and has co-chaired environmental restoration project Te Hoiere Project since 2019.

He has liaised in planning with local councils and organisations such as Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology in an iwi partnership involving Matauranga Ahumara Certification in horticulture to maximise collectively owned Whānau lands. He was on the Whakatū Marae Komiti for 15 years, four as chair, and was project manager for the rebuild of Te Hora Marae in 2016.

Mason acknowledged the whānau and Ngāti Kuia iwi support he’d enjoyed during his career, including other iwi entitites who have worked hard for Māori well-being across Te Tauihu.

He mahi takitini taku mahi, e hara i te mahi takitahi. My work is the work of many.