A CEO's Farewell Blog

Twelve years as CEO of Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu will come to an end for me this March and therefore I believe timely that I share some reflections. There is a lot to pack in…

Carrying out the duties tagged to this role has been an immense privilege for me with every single day providing a unique experience across the many facets of whānau, rūnaka and iwi development.

Driving a tribal administration that strives to be whānau relevant and distinctively Kāi Tahu while being anchored in the 1998 “Deed of Settlement” was always going to be a dynamic challenge, and I can attest that after 12 years there’s never been a dull moment.

Essentially the foundation of the role is about forming, weaving and networking relationships across the many communities (internal and external) be it whānau, rūnaka, kaupapa specific, other iwi, professional groups, many external partners, Crown entities … the list goes on.

The recent roadshow in Brisbane was a reminder of how important relationships are. I met many “first time” rangatahi attendees who were ecstatic about being asked to give their views on Mō Kā Uri: Ngāi Tahu 2050.

There was a tremendous buzz about being future focused. Attending whānau were deeply appreciative of the opportunity to engage in the wide range of activities. Some said the experience enabled their tamariki and mokopuna to gain greater insight into their Kāi Tahu identity, therefore strengthening their sense of belonging.

There was also an acknowledgement of whānau back home at their papakaika, who are the stalwarts of their respective communities. I am delighted to see how far the roadshows have come. These opportunities for engagement are priceless and for this reason they should continue to go far and wide across the globe.

This year we move towards the remarkable milestone of $1 billion invested into targeted tribal development across our whānau, our Papatipu Rūnaka and our iwi. Note, this is also our own significant tribal contribution into the national economy, so in that respect everyone benefits.

As I come to the last weeks in my role, I have much to be grateful for. As a leader my mantra is that you must always come from a place of hope, not one of deficit as that will only serve to spiral downwards into unhappiness. People want hope and inspiration; they want solutions and results that matter; and they want to have a sense of belonging. Less talk, more listening. Considered thought followed by relevant action is always a winning combination.

As I leave this stage my work here is done, and I will easily mould back into driving community development from another angle that aims to bring happiness outcomes for whānau – and with a bit of fun on the side repurposing sustainable vintage clothing while lending a hand in the whānau business at the Burly Gin Distillery.

My humble thanks to everyone (far and wide) who has been part of my journey thus far – good, bad, and ugly – there has been magnificent learning in all of it!