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Animated Young Leader – Meet Te Mauri Kingi

Rangatahi representative on the Te Tatau board, Te Mauri Kingi (Te Arawa, Tainui, Tuhoe), is making his mark in digital multimedia.At just 21, he’s a director at 4CompanyB – alongside board member Potaua Biasiny-Tule – a new animation studio in Rotorua, specialising in digital storytelling, animation, illustration and digital Māori tourism. He’s always had an interest in making things, and indeed, feels fortunate to be able to go into the office every day to build his dream job as an an...

Rangatahi Actor And Activist – Meet Ngahuia Hona-Paku

Ngahuia – Right-hand side, practising as a River Spirit for Witi Ihimaeras opera “Flowing Water”(Ngāti Kahungungu, Te Arawa)As a young entrepreneur, Ngahuia was just seven when she would buy and sell poi to tourists in village of Whakarewarewa. It became clear then that Ngahuia had the grit and determination to find opportunities, and make them work.“I used to go into town buy poi, then on-sell them to manuhiri at Whaka, I was self-employed when I was seven! I was also penny diving and ...

From Building Papakainga To Relationships – Meet Geoff Rolleston

(Ngāti Whakaue, Ngāti Hurungaterangi, Ngāti Taeotu, Ngai te Rangi, Te Whānau o Tauwhao ki Rangiwaea)“Te Arawa can bring to the table the economic power-house to the local economy, as the biggest ratepayers in town we have a right to sit alongside this council and we need to exercise our rights respectfully and harmoniously.”When you take the time to sit down with Geoff it quickly becomes clear he has big plans for the iwi he represents. Having started his career at the Waipa Mill when he...

Cultural Advocate – Meet Eraia Kiel

ocate(Te Arawa, Kahungungu, Waikato) Married to Tania. Father of Lahaina, Eraia and Te Oha. Eraia is a dedicated family man, with a strong sense of responsibility to his tūpuna, who he says paved the way for Rotorua. “I love their foresight and how they embraced Pākehā and new ways in order to create the right future for their descendants. I really admire their foresight in gifting the town and having a strong relationship with the council, realising our people would benefit. “It was good...

Pa Girl And Policy Expert – Meet Raina Meha

(Ngāti Pikiao, Ngāti Makino, Ngāti Kahungunu, Te Aitanga a Māhaki)If you ask Raina Meha to tell you a bit about herself, she’ll insist that she’s boring with not much to share.But if you keep digging, you’ll find Raina has led an interesting life. She was private secretary to Jenny Shipley, travelled foreign lands, and helped in less economically developed countries. And as an AFS volunteer, she worked on a women’s project in the black township of Soweto, conducting site visits to id...

Science Lover, Mana Wahine – Meet Ana Morrison

Ana with her husband Greg, and sons Reone (6) and Taokahu (8).Ngāti Whakaue (Ngati Pukaki, Ngati Tunohopu)Ngāti Tuwharetoa (Ngati Turumakina)Ngāti Pakeha.Ana Morrison, a science-loving wife and mother-of-two, has just landed her dream job.A pohiri was held at Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology’s Tangatarua Marae last week to welcome Ana as its new Executive Director – Strategic Partnerships & Māori Success.“I truly feel like I am in the right role, right organisation, and at the right ...

Jokes Aside – Meet Kingi Biddle

Kingi Biddle QSM is a popular Ngati Whakaue representative on Te Tatau o Te Arawa.“I am the son of Robert and Linda Biddle, husband to Wendy, and a caring brother and doting dad to my tamariki, mokopuna. I have many cousins, aunties, uncles, relations and friends – that’s who I am. Everyone knows me as Kingi.”Kingi enjoys chilling at home, watching a bit of TV, swimming in our lakes, spending time with the whanau, and walking around Rotorua and catching up with everybody.“For me Te Tat...

Game Changer – Meet Potaua Biasiny-Tule

Ko te taha o taku papa, Ko Ngāti Te Takinga Te hapu, Ngāti Pikiao Te Iwi. Also from Niue. Ko te taha o taku mama, a Te whanau Kameta me Te Punawhakareia raua Ko Tunohopu ko Waikuta oku marae. Ko Ngāti Tunaeke te hapu. Ko Ngāti Whakaue ahau. Ko Rakitu te kuia ataahua. Ka tu anake. Ko Ngāti Rere o Te Waimana. Ko Maungapohatu te maunga. Ko Tuhoe Te iwi.Papa. Husband. Son. Brother. Geek. Animator. Representative. Activist. Entrepreneur. Storyteller. Start-up coach. e-Sports team manager. Comput...

Endurance Key In Sport And Partnerships – Meet Eugene Berryman-Kamp

Straddling a sweet ride on the open road is not where one would expect to find mild mannered, animal loving businessman Eugene Berryman-Kamp.By all means, Eugene’s an active man. He enjoys a variety of outdoor activities, including trout fishing, mountain biking, IronMaori, waka taua and waka ama.But it’s motorcycling that really floats his boat.“when I ride my wairua lifts”“I enjoy endurance motorcycle touring, i.e. over 1,000km in 24 hours for the logistical, planning and physical ch...

Māori Language Speed Sign Unveiled In Rotorua

A new Māori speed sign at the southern gateway into Rotorua has been unveiled this morning heralding the start of Māori Language Week.The theme for this year’s Te Wiki o te reo Māori is Kia Kaha te Reo Māori – Let the Māori Language be strong.The chair of Te Tatau o Te Arawa, Te Taru White, says the new Māori language sign epitomises the essence of the theme, Kia Kaha te Reo Māori.“It makes sense our city’s entranceways to Rotorua reflects our culture and that in essence is both E...

Playground To Get A Reo Maori Makeover

The playground in the Government Gardens is due for a makeover and is set to become a bilingual Māori language zone.Rotorua Lakes Council and its partner Te Tatau o Te Arawa are enhancing the papa tākaro (playground), near Telly Tubby hill, by bringing to life the history of the area.Te Tatau o Te Arawa chair, Te Taru White, says the block the park sits on is called Paepaehakumanu or the Place of Bird-snares.“In ancient times, Ngāti Whakaue would set snares of flax and cabbage tree fibre lo...

Bilingual Rotorua Alive At Local Services Company

Scrubbing up on their te reo Māori skills is facilities management services company, OCS New Zealand, with their Rotorua branch replacing its signage to reflect the city’s bilingual vision.Rotorua’s commitment to become New Zealand’s first bilingual city became official on 11 August 2017, acknowledging the district’s history and whakapapa (cultural identity), and reinforcing the region’s reputation as the heartland of Māori culture.OCS New Zealand Rotorua branch manager, Averill Bair...

Submission On The Rotorua 2030 Vision, The Rotorua Way

The submission provides a response to the four pillars of the Rotorua Vision 2030 document as well as the overall approach and messaging of the Rotorua Vision 2030. The submission also offers recommendations to Rotorua Lakes Council in terms of the four pillars and the priorities and actions that we believe should emerge from the vision document.A huge mihi to all those who contributed whakaaro and took the time to make a submission. Nga mihi maioha kia koutou katoa. It’s great to see a real e...

Dr Ken Kennedy – Te Pukenga Koeke Representative

With the loss of the Te Tatau Koeke representative, Whetu Whata, Te Pukenga Koeke o Te Arawa, at a meeting held at Kahumatamomoe Marae on Friday 2 December 2016 agreed to recommend that Dr Ken Kennedy be their Kaumatua representative on Te Tatau o Te Arawa Board.In accordance with the Trust Deed, Te Tatau o Te Arawa at the 9 December meeting confirmed the appointment of Dr Ken Kennedy....

Induction For Te Arawa Members

“We realised we had to get this right and decided, as a board, that we needed to do our homework rather than just rushing in,” says Te Tatau o Te Arawa member Rawiri Waru, who will represent the board on council’s Operations and Monitoring Committee.The general manager of Te Arawa Communications (Radio Te Arawa), and a director of Pukeroa Oruawhata Holdings Ltd and Pukeroa Properties No2, says the induction process was very important for the board members. We’ve learned about council pro...

Te Arawa Partnership Inspires Award

An award for the Te Arawa partnership at this year’s Local Government New Zealand Excellence Awards is a credit to the whole Rotorua community, Mayor Steve Chadwick says.Rotorua Lakes Council won the Martin Jenkins Judges’ Choice Award for Outstanding Value and Service Delivery, a special award given to a finalist in recognition for “outstanding delivery of best practice value and services to their community”. The Te Arawa Partnership was also Highly Commended in the Community Engagement...

From Deadlifts To Uplifting Our People – Meet Ngaroma (Mala) Grant

Mother to her tamariki (Marleina and Rangi, Tihini and Ani, and Carol and Willie) and proud nanny to two (Makaarini and Amaia) is also the current Chief Executive of Te Arawa Whānau Ora and Chair of Korowai Aroha Trust. “In my career I have had many highlights but the biggest satisfaction is when I see a difference being made for whānau and our hapū.” “When things change at this level, all of us succeed and win.” Her values combined with her business acumen and strategic thinking has ...

Te Arawa Board Elects Chair

Rotorua Lakes Council and Te Arawa celebrated the inauguration of the new partnership board and the signing of a partnership agreement today.Te Taru White has been elected as the inaugural chairman of the Te Arawa partnership board – Te Tatau o Te Arawa. The name reflects both meanings of the word “tatau” – it means unity as well as door, symbolising a unified Te Arawa and the opening of the door to Te Arawa.The new board held its first AGM as part of today’s formalities at Tamatekapua...

Award For Te Arawa Partnership

Rotorua Lakes Council won the Martin Jenkins Judges’ Choice Award for Outstanding Value and Service Delivery, a special award given to a finalist in recognition for “outstanding delivery of best practice value and services to their community”. The Te Arawa Partnership was also Highly Commended in the Community Engagement category at the 2016 awards, held in conjunction with the annual LGNZ Conference in Dunedin.The awards, now in their third year, recognise and celebrate the outstanding le...

Rotorua Elections

Local Authority elections are held throughout New Zealand on the second Saturday in October every three years, the last election was held on Saturday 8 October 2016. The next election will be held in October 2019. Registered voters in the Rotorua district vote by postal vote using the First Past the Post (FPP) electoral system where you tick those you want to represent you....