Moira COATSWORTH
President of the New Zealand Labour Party
22 May 2013
Six Outstanding Nominees For the Labour Candidacy In the Ikaroa-rawhiti Electorate
With the closure of nominations at 5pm today for Labour’s Ikaroa-Rawhiti candidature, the Labour Party’s General
Secretary has announced that six nominations have been received for selection as candidate. They are in alphabetical
order:
Biographies of nominees
Hayden Hape
Hayden Hape is based in Dannevirke and has a strong agricultural and business background – particularly in meatworks and
shearing. Starting his career as a sawmill labourer and in the meatworks, Hayden has developed his skills and experience
and now owns P & H Hape Agricultural Contractors and Pipiwai Agricultural Training Centre. Hayden enjoys sports and outdoor activities
and is actively involved with his local iwi and hapu, including being:
• Chairman of Kahungungu Ki Tamaki Nui A Rua:
• Tamaki Nui A Rua representative on Ngati Kahungugu Iwi Incorporated Board of Trustees
• A Trustee for Ngati Kahungunu ki Wairarapa – Tamaki Nui A Rua Claims Trust
• Company Director for Kahungunu Asset Holding Company.
Hayden has engaged and consulted on behalf of his iwi at local and regional council-level, and the national level at oil
and gas conferences. Hayden has also been a media speaker for iwi purposes at Tamaki Nui A Rua.
Hayden is affiliated to Ngati Kahungunu.
Molly Keelen-Para
Molly Keelen-Para is based in Gisborne and has a strong background in health work in the community, supported by
professional qualifications. Molly has spent over 20 years in a variety of clinical health care environments and managed
her own business to win contracts with businesses and Government. Molly is particularly proud of her success with
developing and reconfiguring the Puhi Kaiti Medical Health Centre. Molly is currently working part-time as a kuia with
Tairawhiti Mental Health Services while she finishes her Masters’ thesis with further intended PhD study. Molly has held
a number of governance roles, including being:
• Director on the Maori Relationships Board for Tairawhiti DHB
• Member of the Tairawhiti Hospital Advisory Committee
• Māori Caucus Member for the Tairawhiti District Health Board
• Member of the Governance Board for Puhi Kaiti Medical Centre
• Treasurer for Puhi Kaiti Māori Women’s Welfare League branch
• Committee Executive Member for Schizophrenic Fellowship Branch, Tairawhiti
• Executive Member of the Gisborne Arts Council
• Board of Trustees member for Lytton High School.
Molly is affiliated to Ngati Porou and Te Aitanga-a-Hauiti.
Henare Ngaera O’Keefe
Henare O’Keefe was born and raised in Ruatoria and is a Flaxmere Ward Councillor for the Hastings District Council.
Henare spent 23 years working at Tomoana Freezing Works in a variety of roles – from labourer to leading hand. Following
the closure of the works, Henare became actively involved in community work, including as a facilitator and social
welfare manager at Tomoana Resource Centre – establishing a food bank and working with over 800 former colleagues to
help them find alternative work – and fostering over 200 children with his wife Pam. Henare has worked a lot with young
people, including through youth justice and family violence programmes, and as an ambassador for Books in Homes and the
Yellow Ribbon programme (to prevent youth suicide). Henare was awarded New Zealand’s community hero for 2012. Henare’s
governance experience includes being:
• A Hastings District Councillor
• Ministerial appointment to the government Benefit Review Committee
• Marae Management
• Director of Henare O’Keefe Limited
• Chairman of Te Aranga O Heretaunga Marae
• Chairman of Te Aranga Ltd (commercial arm of the marae).
Hayden is affiliated to Ngati Porou and Ngati Kanhungunu.
Tāmati Olsen
Tāmati Olsen lives in Wellington and spent his childhood in Wellington, the Hawke’s Bay and the East Coast, including
attending Te Aute Māori Boy’s College where he was awarded Proxime Ecesset (Runner-up to Dux). Tāmati is a senior public
servant, with over 20 years experience working in Government, including extensive experience working in Māori
development and liaison roles. Tāmati is currently working as the Chief Adviser in Māori Development at the Ministry of
Business, Innovation and Employment, and has previously worked as the Chief Adviser Māori and Acting Director of the
Māori Work Programme at Housing New Zealand, Manager of the Liaison Services Group at Statistics New Zealand, Campus and
Branch Manager for Te Ata Hōu Charitable Trust and Assistant National Coordiantor at Te kohanga Reo National Trust
Board. Tāmati governance experience includes being the current chairperson of Te Tira Whakaemi o Te Wairoa, and
previously as the Chairperson of Te Iwi o Rākaipaaka Incorporated, Chairperson of Te Kura Māori o Porirua and
involvement with other community groups.
Tāmati is affiliated to Ngati Porou, Ngati Kahungunu and Ngati Rakaipaaka.
Shane Taurima
Shane Taurima was born and raised in Napier and Gisborne and is a senior radio, television and print journalist – with
more than 18 years’ experience working in the industry. Shane was recently promoted to the role of General Manager for
Māori and Pacific programmes at TVNZ and has previously worked on high profile programmes, such as Q+A (as a presenter),
Te Karere (as the Executive Producer), Marae (Presenter) and as a presenter on the 2008 Elections campaign. He is
particularly proud of covering historic events, such as the funeral of the late Māori Queen, the 2012 US Presidential
Election, and the Kevin Rudd apology to Aborigines and the Stolen Generations. Shane is fluent in te reo and tikanga
Māori and has gained in-depth knowledge and experience working with MPs, Ministers, government departments and
parliamentary staff.
Shane is affiliated to Ngati Kahungunu and Rongomaiwahine (Mahia), with strong connections to Rongowhakaata, Te Aitanga
a Mahaki, Ngati Tamanuhiri and Ngati Porou.
Meka Whaitiri
Meka Whaitiri is the proud mother of two teenage sons. Meka was born in Manutuke and grew up in Whakatu, Hastings. Meka
was Head Girl at Karamu High School and played both netball and softball at a national level. Meka started work at the
local freezing works and went on to complete a Masters degree in Education from Victoria University. Meka has a strong
Māori governance background and knowledge of how Government and Parliament works. She was promoted to be a senior public
servant with the community education group and was also a senior adviser to the Minister of Māori Affairs. Meka has
spent the past four years as the Chief Executive of Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated and is also:
• Director of Kahungunu Asset Holding Company
• Deputy Chair of Waka Ama National Board
• Member of the Hawkes Bay Netball Board
• Mandated negotiator for Rongowhakaata
• Former Chair of Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Porirua and Horouta Kohanga Reo.
Meka is affiliated to Ngati Kahungunu and Rongowhakaata.
ENDS