Ngāi Tahu's new kaiwhakahaere ‘next generation’
Sunday, 26 November 2023
The newly elected Kaiwhakahaere (chairperson) of Te Rūnanga Ngāi Tahu has promised he will work to ensure Māori rights are embedded in future government policies.
Justin Tipa (Kāi Tahu, Kāti Mamoe) was elected at a tribal hui at Arahura Marae near Hokitika replacing Lisa Tumahai who stepped down after seven years.
Tipa, 43, and his partner Ana have four sons and live on the pā at Moeraki where he has been chairperson of Te Rūnanga o Moeraki since 2019.
Having worked in both manufacturing and education he was most recently chief advisor Māori for Fonterra.
His election comes as the newly-formed coalition Government announced a review of legislation that would repeal or replace references to the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi with specific words relating to the relevance and application of the treaty. The Government will also form a select committee to hear submissions about the treaty, and gauge public support for a referendum to redefine its principles.
Tipa promised people at the hui-ā-tau he would hold the Crown to account.
“Over the past few years, we've invested significant time, resources and energy into the development of a wide range of government reforms which are now proposed to be unravelled, such as Te Aka Whai Ora or the Māori Health Authority. But the hard work won't be lost,” he said.
“We will be engaging on your behalf directly with the new Government to ensure our Rangatiratanga and rights under our settlement are embedded in future policies and work programs.”
The crowd applauded as he said the Government still had a duty to live up to its treaty obligations and provide for all New Zealanders.
Tipa said through Mō Kā Uri 2050 he would be collecting feedback from whānau members to create a collective tribal vision for the future.
The key to his success would be listening and acting on what was important to the people, he said.
He said it was remarkable how far the tribe had come since 1998 when, after seven generations and almost 150 years of advocacy, Ngāi Tahu negotiators secured a $170 million settlement.
Ngāi Tahu Holdings now managed $1.78 billion in assets for more than 80,000 registered members. Last year, it distributed $107.4m to the Ngāi Tahu Charitable Trust and gave out 327 Pūtea Manaaki hardship grants totalling $190,000 and distributed $424,000 to 424 Ngāi Tahu whānau affected by floods and Cyclone Gabrielle.
Tipa said Tumahai had laid down the challenge to his generation to pick up the mantle and he would do whatever was required to uphold the mana of Ngāi Tahu.
He said he had never imagined he would become kaiwhakahaere.
“I'm just a pā kid from Moeraki…It's a privilege. It's an honour. I don't think it's really sinking in yet. [I] certainly understand the weight of expectation that comes with this role,” he said.
His priority was to bring unity and focus on whānau aspirations and to continue revitalising te reo Māori.
Tumahai said she was thrilled with Tipa’s election.
“I'm looking for that next generation coming through into leadership and I think Justin will bring a fresh perspective to the role. He is culturally grounded in our tikanga, in our reo, in our history and is well known across our people. But also he has really developed his business skills, his management skills and his governance skills over the last decade,” she said.
She said she wanted to know more detail about the Government’s plans around Te Tiriti in legislation.
“Opportunity also comes with change. I think there's definitely some legislation that could be improved significantly.”
“As long as they don't wind us back 30 years and also don't wind us back to pre reforms that resulted from the Waitangi tribunal,” she said.
A vote for the kaiwhakahaere tuarua (deputy chair) resulted in a draw so another vote will take place in early 2024.