Back row: Patrick McGarvey, Martin Rakuraku, Tu Waaka, Chas Te Whetu
Front row: Rawinia Higgins, Janet McLean, Matt Te Pou, Tamati Cairns, Celia Soloman
Trustees Profiles
Matthew John Te Pou M.N.Z.M; M.B.E; B.E.M, Chairman
Matt has a broad range of unique skills and experiences making him an excellent member of any board involved in serious financial matters.
On behalf of Ngā Hapū o Tūhoe, he chaired Raupatu Claims during the Te Urewera hearings.
Matt's career in business and his results-oriented attitude were evident as New Zealand Māori All Black Coach.
Tamati Cairns, Deputy Chairman
Tamati has served as Chairperson of TFCT over the last three years. If re-elected, he will push for the Trust to continue to play a strategic role as the only charitable organisation established for the benefit of all Tūhoe wherever they may live. Tamati respects his fellow trustees for their contribution to the Trust’s performance and wishes them well should they also seek re-election.
Tamati performs other roles in the community, which allow him to offer a strategic, commercial and cultural perspective to his trusteeship role with Tūhoe Fisheries. These roles include chair of Te Ata Hou, a Wellington based Māori training provider with a Ruatāhuna outpost, chair of Ngā Putahitanga o Ngā Ara, a Taupo-based settlement trust, which has grown its assets from $5 million to $45 million over eight years, as well as being a trustee of the Tūhoe Establishment Trust, until it concludes its work in 2011. Tamati is self-employed, which allows him flexibility to contribute to Tūhoe affairs whilst also giving him an appreciation of the challenges of generating his own work.
Hiria (Celia) Soloman
I tipu ake ia i roto i te mātotorutanga ō ōna hapū, Ngāti Kakahutāpiki me Ngāti Tāwhaki i ngā tikanga o ōna koroua, kuia, i runga i ōna marae, tae atu ki te hāpori ahu atu ana ki te iwi whānui tonu.
- Experienced Director on the Tūhoe Fisheries Quota Limit.
- Graduate of the Institute of Directors in NZ “Company Directors Course”.
- Twenty years senior management experience in government and private organisations.
- Currently, Contracts Advisor for Te Puni Kokiri, in Rotorua.
- Strong governance & management experience.
- Skilled advocate for accountability to Tūhoe whanui.
- Significant contribution to manage the fisheries assets and allocation for the betterment of Tūhoe whanui.
Fully support Tūhoe Fisheries Charitable Trust Mission: “Protect, grow & utilise Tūhoe fisheries assets for the current & future generations”.
Ihaka Tiniwai (Chas) Te Whetu
“Kia ora tātau, huri noa i roto o Ngāi Tuhoe whānui. Ko Te Mahurehure, Ko Ngāti Rongo, Ko Hāmua ngā hapū, a i tipu ake i roto o te whārua o Rūātoki.”
Chas has been a public servant for some 42 years and during this time has amassed a wealth of knowledge of government operations, and leadership and strategic management skills.
Chas holds that accountability and transparency are vital in any endeavour.
Chas currently lives in Hamilton, is kaumātua for Te Hono a Te Kiore, father of three children and works for the Corrections Services.
Janet McLean
Marae: Ōhotu, Papakāinga, Ōwhakatoro
Hapū: Te Whānau Pani, Ngāti Koura, Te Mauku
I am currently General Manager Planning and Funding Bay of Plenty District Health Board and provide strategic leadership and advice to BOPDHB. Extensive Treaty and health sector knowledge and expertise. Experience includes working at central government policy level. Also has extensive health service management and Iwi governance experience.
Currently studying towards Master Business and Administration through Waikato University
Martin Rakuraku
"He iwi kotahi, he mana kotahi, he ahurea kotahi”
"One people, one constitution, one destiny"
Consolidation of our Tūhoe entities i.e. Tūhoe-Waikaremoana Trust Board, Tūhoe Fisheries Charitable Trust and Te Kotahi ā Tūhoe, leading to the one Tūhoe Iwi Authority is my kaupapa.
My working career:
- Lands and Deeds Registry, Justice at Wellington – 1973
- Māori land Court at Whangarei – 1980
- Tutor, Taitokerau polytech at Whangarei – 1988
- Journalist – Reporter for Te Karere, TVNZ for 19 years
- Tūhoe Establishment Trust at Tāneatua – 2009
Ko Ngāti Rere, ko Ngāti Raka ngā Hapū.
Ko Tanatana, Rāhiri, ko Tātaiāhape ngā marae.
Ko Te Waimana taku kāinga.
Rawinia Higgins
Ahakoa i pakeke mai au i Poneke kei Te Urewera te whatumanawa. I waimarie au na ōku koroua, kuia maha o ōku hapu maha i poipoi, i whakaako ki ngā kōrero a to tātau iwi. Ko ōku pūmanawa he tatari, he titiro whānui ki ngā kaupapa e pai ana mo Tūhoe whānui. Ko te mahi ngātahi i raro i tā te iwi i whakatau ai, arā, i te TET me ana kaupapa katoa tētahi take nui i tuku ai au i taku īngoa mo Tūtara Kauika (TFCT).
Ko aku taituarā ko taku rahi o Tūhoe ki Poneke, ahakoa te aha kei reira rātou hei parepare, hei akiaki, hei wero whakaaro kia ū tonu ki ngā tumanako o Tūhoe.
Patrick McGarvey
Te Whānau Pani, Te Māhurehure, Ngāti Rongo, Hāmua, Patuheuheu, Kākahutāpiki
He kanohi kitea i runga i ōna marae. Kei roto i ngā whakahāere o te kāinga.
Patrick is the Chairman of his hapū Te Whānau Pani and a member of the Western Tūhoe Tribal Executive. He was raised in Rūātoki and attended both Tāwera and Rūātoki schools and he understands issues and kaupapa that affect Tūhoe communities both inside and outside with an indepth knowledge of the local government sector.
Patrick also graduated from Waikato University with a BA Hons degree. Patrick is the Representation Project leader at the Tūhoe Establishment Trust.
Tu Waaka
Marae: Ngāhina marae
Hapū: Ngāti Tāwhaki, Ngāti Rongo, Te Whānau Pani, Patuheuheu/Ngāti Haka
Occupation: Head of School of Iwi Development, Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi
Title: Te Tumu Ihorangi (“Professorial” equivalent)
Skills: Senior Executive, Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi
21 years of NZ Armed Services, Warrant Officer, Over 10 years of Tertiary Education, financial and senior management experience, Experienced in the negotiation processes through Office Treaty Settlement, Practitioner in the protocols and tikanga on marae for Tūhoe, Active participant on various committee of Tūhoe.
In my current capacity I lead a team that is transforming the provision of education for Māori throughout the motu. I bring forth, real social and economic change for over 300 mare to-date.
I also bring to the Tūhoe Fisheries Trust financial, management and tikanga to help make.