Chief Executive Officer, Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu: Ben Bateman

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER,
TE RŪNANGA O NGĀI TAHU
BEN BATEMAN

Ka tū te ata, ka haea te ata, ka hāpara te ata, ka korokī te manu, ka wairori te ngutu,
ko te ata nui ka arahina, ka taki te umere a kā tamariki, he awatea.

This edition of TE KARAKA comes at an important inflection in our tribal journey. In the first 25 years post Settlement we have re-established a Kāi Tahu presence,
strengthened capability, and laid the foundations for the future. Mō Kā Uri – Kāi Tahu 2050 is the iwi vision for the next 25 years. Over the past two months, it has been a privilege to culminate the last two years of mahi into the strategic architecture, translating vision into action: Kai te Haere, the Te Rūnanga Group strategic direction, and Uruuruwhenua, the Office of Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu operational plan. Together, these documents bring clarity on how we will contribute to Mō Kā Uri: what we will prioritise, where we will focus, and how we will move together as one Te Rūnanga Group. These milestones mark our transition into a new generational chapter, and the start of an ambitious transformation to deliver enduring outcomes for our people.

At the heart of Kai te Haere are four transformational shifts that will shape how Te Rūnanga Group thinks, organises, and invests. These shifts will strengthen our ability to operate as a connected ecosystem; deepen participation of our tribal members; shape systems on our own terms; and expand our Kāi Tahu presence. Now feels like a time of confluence. In 2023, Au ahi Au ora gathered feedback from kā Papatipu Rūnaka about how Te Rūnanga could be better positioned to bring them to the fore of strategic decision-making. The Tū Kātahi Tū (working as one) Kai te Haere shift builds on this momentum. Central to the Kai te Haere strategy is a collective focus on our culture, heritage, and identity – our Kāi Tahutaka – as the foundation for how we move forward together.

It is against this backdrop, that I acknowledge and congratulate Ngāti Kuri on securing Matariki Pā in June. After generations, the whenua is now back where it belongs – with mana whenua. Working together as one, to support Papatipu Rūnaka aspirations for whenua of significance to both hāpū, and our iwi, is Mō Kā Uri in action. Through the Kai te Haere and Uruuruwhenua, we will use our platform to continue to support investment in expanding Kāi Tahu presence.

With strong foundations, an ambitious strategy, and an inspirational operational plan, it is an immensely exciting time for our tribal organisations. In the coming months and years, tribal members will begin to see changes in the way Te Rūnanga Group and the Office deliver; how we engage with whānau, which programmes will
evolve, which will be strengthened, and where we deliberately stop activities that no longer serve. This is not reductive. It is about building momentum and seizing a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create big, visionary gamechangers.

Our tribal history is one of adaptation, innovation, and intergenerational leadership. Every generation has been asked to make courageous choices so that tthose who follow inherit greater opportunity than those who came before. Kāi Tahu is now more than 90,000 strong. We have a significant journey of transformation ahead to implement the choices of today. With the strategic architecture now in place, we know how we will do this; honouring the voices of our whānau through our contribution to Mō Kā Uri.

The outcomes of our new strategy will be felt across the tribal ecosystem. It is with immense pride and optimism that we step forward into our future, ready to
play a part in this next chapter of our Iwi.

Kia turuturu taku ao Kāi Tahu; Tūturu te noho, Tūturu te hono, Tūturu ake nei. Mō tātou, ā, mō kā uri ā muri ake nei.