Tehei Mauriora 

Tuia i runga Tuia i raro Tuia i roto Tuia i waho…. 

Ko Takitimu taku Waka 

Ko Ngati Kahungunu rāua ko Ngati Porou ōku Iwi 

Ko Tukituki taku Awa 

Ko Matahiwi Te Matau-a-Maui taku Marae  

Ko Hawea taku Hapu 

Ko Heretaunga ki Kahungunu ia. Ko Otene te Whanau 

Ko Lester taku ingoa 

Mauriora! 

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(Whakawhetai ki a Ihowa, he pai hoki ia.) I have one wonderful wife and two sons, who have just bounced out of their gap years. My wife (Tangata Tiriti) is a Physiotherapist and we are both committed to  holding up the partnership principles of the Covenant between two ethnicities, two peoples: The Treaty of Waitangi.

 

For me, good strong advocacy, support and genuine relationships with individuals, whānau, and hapu can bring the genuine underpinning “will” to influence healthy  change.  I believe our nation, for the first time in our 180 year history, is in a unique ARC of transition and change; a pivotal transitional time of our history  where we are (finally) beginning to find our true identity - merging together  as two people (yet ONE identity). 

 

I believe that for many individuals and groups this awareness is strong -  but the WILL to move forward with that purpose to make sacrifices and change has not quite reached its full potential …yet. However in Mana Hapori, I see this PURPOSE and I see this WILL which is both a blessing and exciting for me and my wife.