Mihi mai ki a Maringi James

2022 Te Tatau o Te Arawa Election candidate

Ko Ngāti Whakaue te iwi Ko Ōhinemutu raua ko  
Te Koutu ngā Ūkaipō.  

Kia ora tātou, 

My name is Maringi Te Rangi Ataahua  
James, daughter of Lauren and Dean James,  
mokopuna of Linda and Bully (Robert) Biddle,  
and Te Matiti Henare and Kori (Rawiri) James. 

My name means overflowing into beautiful days, it derives from both sides of my whakapapa, Waitaha and Ngāti Kea Ngāti Tuara.  

I am a tamaiti who was born and raised in the centre of the universe of Koutu and Ōhinemutu, on the streets of Taharangi and Ariariterangi.  

Currently I am studying towards a degree in Law at Auckland University but have always had a keen interest in governance and kaupapa relating to Te Arawa.  

I have always held the view that if you can stand strong at your Marae, you can stand strong anywhere.  

“Me huri te aro ki tōnga mai o te rā, he rā anō ka whiti, he pitomata anō ka kite” – “Let us turn our heads to the engulfing of the sun where tomorrow lives, where potential awaits.”