Kōtuitanga

Session Outline:

Explore the responsibilities of local government to honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi and engage meaningfully with mana whenua. Learn about structures like Māori wards and strategies for authentic representation. We’ll also look at specific challenges faced by Māori candidates including resourcing, accessibility, and direct and institutional racism.

These were your speakers:

Helmut Modlik

Tumu Whakarae - CEO

Helmut is an experienced director, executive, and consultant with specialist skills in implementation and change management, business, and economic development, strategic analysis and planning, public policy, and finance. Helmut has extensive consulting experience in a wide range of private and public sectors (particularly health).

Helmut’s work over the last 16 years has focused on executive leadership of mergers, turnarounds, and business improvement initiatives, including inaugural CEO of the education sector’s largest systems integrator (TTS Limited), a post-merger industry training organisation (Connexis), the CEO of health sector IT companies (Patients First & Conporto Health), and now CEO of Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira.

Nīkau Wi Neera

Nīkau (Ngāti Toarangatira) is a Wellington City Councillor, composer, anthropologist, and military officer. He is passionate about constitutional reform, and rediscovering old ways of democratising communities and institutions in accordance with tikanga Māori and ancient human institutions.

Bonita Bigham

Bonita Bigham (Ngāruahine/Te Atiawa) has been an elected member in local government for 15 years (5 terms), as a South Taranaki District councillor, community board member and now as Taranaki Regional Council’s first Māori ward councillor. She sat on Local Government NZ’s national council for 6 years, chaired Te Maruata, the national collective of Māori elected and appointed members to Councils for 9 years and currently serves as a Local Government Commissioner. She lives in South Taranaki with her husband Kevin, is completing a PhD, and in her other life is an artist and passionate arts advocate.

Elijah Pue

Elijah hails from Raetihi in the Central North Island and resides under his ancestral mountain, Ruapehu. He is affiliated with Ngāti Rangi, Ngāti Uenuku, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, and Ngāti Maru iwi. In his day job, Elijah serves as Manu Taiko – Chief Executive Officer at Te Mātuku Iwi-Māori Partnership Board. The Board is dedicated to ensuring Māori voices are central to the design, delivery, and evaluation of health services. Previously, Elijah was the General Manager (Corporate) at Te Oranganui Trust in Whanganui. As a former Ruapehu District Councillor who ran for Mayor in 2022, Elijah led numerous community initiatives and played a significant role in iwi and community development projects. He has served his iwi and hapū in various capacities, including Operations Manager for Ngā Waihua o Paerangi Trust, Ngāti Rangi’s social entity responsible for Whānau Ora, environmental, digital, and social and cultural development services; he now serves as a Trustee.

Elijah's governance experience is extensive. He has served as the Presiding Member of Ruapehu College for four years and currently supports Te Kura Kaupapa o Ngāti Rangi, as well as having chaired Ruapehu REAP. Elijah was elected to the Whanganui River entity Ngā Tāngata Tiaki o Whanganui in 2019 and currently serves on its audit and risk committee. Additionally, he is a Director on the board of Te Pūtahitanga o Te Waipounamu General Partner Ltd; and Chairperson of Te Kāhui Maunga Society Inc.

Elijah is deeply committed to his community and actively participates in initiatives that positively impact the wellbeing of his whānau, hapū, and iwi.

Watch the webinar recording here: