Te Rūnanga o Ōtākou Representative

Donna Matahaere-Atariki

Ngāi Te Ruahikihiki, Ngāi Te Taoka, Te Atawhiua

I am a great-granddaughter of Eliza and Ihaia Potiki. I have three adult children, Winnie, Matt and Akatere who is in his final year of his degree, two granddaughters, Mataawhio and Atawhiua, two grandsons, Tutekawa and Taoka and a very patient partner, Toni.

I have a background in education, health and social services both at a community and public sector level and am currently the GM Treaty Directorate at the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse of Children in State Care and Faith-based institutions.

I have experience engaging with a broad range of agencies having previously worked as a policy director for government in Wellington and as a contractor to a range of government agencies including the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Social Development and Oranga Tamariki.

I was a ministerial appointment to the University of Otago Council, Chairperson of Bathgate Primary School, and an elected Board of Trustees representative for Brockville Primary School. I am a Trustee at Well South PHO, Gambling Commissioner, Chair of Family Violence Prevention, and sit on several committees both locally and nationally. This includes Chair of the Family Violence National group, a member of the CE’s Māori Advisory Group MSD and Chair of the Kāhui for the Independent Children’s Monitor.

I am honoured to serve Te Rūnanga ō Ngāi Tahu and bring to the position a belief in the ability of whānau and hapū to realise their mana motuhake. I see my role at Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu as enabling success for iwi and wish to encourage whānau to participate in local affairs so they can be greater engaged in all aspects of our work.

Rūnanga Office Contact Details:

Ōtākou Marae
Postal Address: RD 2 Ōtākou
Dunedin Phone: (03) 478 0352
Email: [email protected]