Deputy Kaiwhakahaere

Matapura Ellison

Kaiwhakahaere Tuarua (Deputy Chair) Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu

Ko te tuatahi, kei te mihi ahau ki te Atua i ruka rawa, nana i hanga kā mea katoa. Ki o tātou mate kua haere ki tua atu o te ārai, haere atu rā, moe mai rātou i ruka i te marumaru o Te Atua i ruka rawa. No reira, ko rātou kā mate ki a rātou, ko tātou kā konohi ora ki a tātou. Ki kā marae maha, ara, kā papatipu rūnaka hoki, tēnā rā koutou katoa. No reira, e rau rakatira ma, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa.

Ko wai au?
By way of introduction, in terms of Kāi Tahutanga, I am a descendant of Kāti Huirapa and Kāi Te Ruahikihiki. I was raised in Karitāne, East Otago where I went to primary school and secondary education at East Otago High School. This was followed by a year at Telford Farm Training Institute at Balclutha. I started out farming our small land holding at Karitāne, then working for Te Papa Atawhai for twenty years, following which I returned to farming and very recently a role working within the Southern DHB.

My Values and Key Attributes
My upbringing was grounded in a whānau-centric environment and we grew up with a very strong connection and interest in our Kāi Tahu heritage. I have a strong believe in fairness and openness in the way I engage with people. I have been told I can bring a natural calmness to a situation where things are getting a bit fraught.

My Experience Within Governance
I am currently serving on a number of local kaupapa driven organisations, some of which I am currently Chairperson. My association with Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu started as the Alternative Representative for Puketeraki moving to become the Representative following the resignation of the previous Representative Richard Parata. I am also Chairperson of Kāti Huirapa Rūnaka which has helped me hone my governance experience.

Heoi anō, kua mutu nei āku korero mō tēnei wā. Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa.