Waikato-Tainui new leadership champions unity and experience

Waikato-Tainui is championing unity and experience with the election of its new executive chair Rukumoana Schaafhausen today.

Schaafhausen (Rukumoana Marae) now heads the Waikato-Tainui tribal executive, Te Arataura, and will be supported by Deputy Chair, Patience Te Ao (Tauranganui Marae). Both have a long history of governance roles with the iwi and their marae.

Schaafhausen says Te Arataura will focus on transformational priorities, strengthening the platform that the previous members built. “Three years from now, we want to be able to look back with pride and say we listened to our people and we delivered great outcomes.

“It’s important Te Arataura works with our iwi parliament, Te Whakakitenga o Waikato, the Office of the King, Waikato-Tainui and Tainui Group Holdings to ensure we take a unified approach to fulfil the aspirations of our people.

“Waikato-Tainui has always known the value of unity and working together. Kiingi Tawhiao told us: ‘Ki te kotahi te kaakaho ka whati, ki te kaapuia, e kore e whati – when reeds stand alone, they are vulnerable, but bound together they are unbreakable’.”

Schaafhausen is one of the longest-serving members of the iwi executive and is the Kaahui Ariki representative, recently appointed by Kiingi Tuheitia. She was also the recipient of the Blake Leader Award this year.

Te Whakakitenga Chair, Parekawhia McLean, who was recently elected to the helm, says the appointment of Rukumoana and Patience reflects their long-term commitment, passion and success in steering our iwi.

“Over the past few years we have had a governance review, a fit-for-purpose review of our operations and now a leadership renewal; and during all this time we have seen the rise of mana wahine in our iwi.”

McLean (Papa-o-Rotu Marae) also acknowledges marae for placing their faith in appointing the newly elected Te Arataura members. “Our role is to ensure that the interests of our marae are served and fulfilled for this generation and the next.

“I look forward to working with Te Arataura and feel energised by the diversity of expertise so we can be focussed and purposeful in all that we do.”

The other Te Arataura members are Hoki-mai Chong (Rereteewhioi Marae), Hemi Rau (Te Kotahitanga Marae), Aubrey Te Kanawa (Poihaakena Marae), Donald Turner (Taupiri Marae), Hinerangi Raumati-Tu’ua (Tuurangawaewae Marae), Jackie Colliar (Taniwha Marae), Karen Wilson (Puukaki Marae), Tahi-o-hurae Te Ao Marama Rangiawha (Mootakotako Marae) and Linda Te Aho (Poohara Marae).

Another recent key appointment was Tipa Mahuta (Waahi Marae), who was elected as Te Whakakitenga Deputy Chair.

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Kotahitanga – he pou arahi moo Te Arataura

E whakamana ana te ohu o Waikato-Tainui i te mataapono o te kotahitanga maa te whakatau i toona tiamana i a Rukumoana Schaafhausen.

Kua tau ki runga i a Schaafhausen (Rukumoana Marae) i te turanga a te Tiamana o Te Arataura, ko Patience Te Ao (Tauranganui Marae) te Tiamana Tuarua e tautoko ana i a ia. Roa nei raaua e tuu ana hei kaiwhakaihuwaka moo te mana motuhake maa te iwi, maa taa raaua marae anoo hoki.

Ki taa Schaafhausen, “Ka aro atu a Te Arataura ki ngaa whaainga matua hei whakakaha ake i te pae kua whakaritea keetia e ngaa mema oo mua. Moo ngaa tau e toru aamua ake nei, e hiahia ana maatou ki te tuu whakahii me te kii, i whakarongo maatou ki te iwi, i tutuki hoki maatou i a raatou whaainga.

“He mea nui kia mahitahi ai maatou me Te Whakakitenga o Waikato, Te Ururangi, Waikato-Tainui me Tainui Group Holdings kia tutuki ai maatou katoa i ngaa wawata o te iwi.

“E moohio whaanui ana ngaa uri o Waikato-Tainui i ngaa mataapono o te kotahitanga me te mahi tahi. Naa Kiingi Taawhiao i kii: ‘Ki te kotahi te kaakaho ka whati, ki te kaapuia e kore e whati’.”

Ko Schaafhausen teetahi i roa nei tana noho hei maangai moo te iwi, ko ia hoki te maangai a te Kaahui Ariki, katahi anoo a Kiingi Tuheitia i whakatuu. I teenei tau anoo hoki i riro i a ia i te Blake Leader Award.

Ki taa Parekawhia McLean, te tiamana hou o Te Whakakitenga o Waikato, ko te whakatau a Rukumoana raaua ko Patience hei tumu whakarae moo Te Arataura he mea e whakaatu atu ana i taa raaua ngaakaunui ki te arahi i too maatou nei iwi.

“I roto i ngaa tau kua taha ake nei kua whakatutuki e te iwi ngaa mahi hei whakahou i te mana whakahaere a te iwi me te kamupene o Waikato-Tainui. Inaianei kua whakahoungia e maatou te hautuu aa te iwi, aa, i taua waa tonu i puta mai ngaa waahine ki te rae o te iwi.”

Ka mihi a Parekawhia (Papa-o-Rotu Marae) ki ngaa marae naa raatou ngaa mema o Te Arataura i whakatuu. “Ko taa maatou he mea tiaki i te oranga o ngaa marae me ngaa uri whakatupu.

“E hiikaka ana au ki te mahi ngaatahi ki te taha o ngaa ringa rehe o Te Arataura kia taea ai e maatou te anga whakamua ki te tutuki i a maatou mahi katoa.”

Ko ngaa maangai o Te Arataura ko Hoki-Mai Chong (Reretewhioi Marae) raatou ko Hemi Rau (Te Kotahitanga Marae), ko Aubrey Te Kanawa (Poihakena Marae), ko Donald Turner (Taupiri Marae), ko Hinerangi Raumati-Tu’ua (Turangawaewae Marae), ko Jackie Colliar (Taniwha Marae), ko Tahi-o-hurae Te Ao Marama Rangiawha (Mootakotako Marae), ko Karen Wilson (Puukaki Marae), ko Linda Te Aho (Poohara Marae).

Ina tata nei i kowhiri hoki a Te Whakakitenga o Waikato i a Tipa Mahuta (Waahi Paa) hei tiamana tuarua.

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