Te Tautarinui plays a pivotal role in providing leadership, direction and guidance to Te Pā, the Kaiurungi and his team.

We are pleased to announce the following appointments to Te Tautarinui o Matariki, the first board (the Establishment Board phase has now ended) :

Rangimarie Parata Takurua - Chair
Gayle Brislane - Deputy Chair
Maani Stirling - Treasurer
Dr James Ataria
Kari Kururangi
Kay-Lee Jones
Corri Whatarau-Hape

We also at our first meeting re-appointed:

Reihana Parata - Aumaria (the biggest of the guiding stars in Te Tautarinui - nobody messes with this Taua)
Dyanna Stirling - Secretary

A big welcome to new members Kay-Lee and Corri who were appointed by Te Pae Kokoraki from the matua nomination process as per our alternative constitution. 

Te Pae Kokoraki reported that all nominations were outstanding, we are so very fortunate to have so many passionate and committed whānau. 

Thank you to all that put yourselves forward. 

We also farewell Anake Goodall from the Establishment Board who promised he would continue to respond to phone calls and emails when we need him but was not available to continue with all his other substantial commitments, we were very lucky to have his enormous strategic brain and access to his considerable networks in the establishment phase - ngā mihi Anake.

So lets introduce our new members who many of you will already know as they are already very active in our hāpori: 

Kay-Lee Jones-Fiso

Ka nui te mihi kau atu ki a koutou katoa

He uri ahau o te iwi o Te Aitanga a Māhaki

Maungahaumi te maunga

Waipāoa te awa

Horouta te waka

Ko Kay-Lee Jones ahau.

Kia ora whānau. I descend from Te Aitanga a Māhaki and other iwi of the Te Tai Rāwhiti region including Ngāti Porou and Rongowhakaata on my father’s side and on my mother’s side I have links to Ngāti Kahungunu and Kāi Tahu. My partner is from Lotofaga village, nō Hamoa tōna whakapapa. Ko Agaese Fiso tōna ingoa. Together we have three beautiful tamariki, two attend Te Pā o Rākaihautū, Wi-Xavier in Puna Waimarie and Cina-Rose in Puna Hauaitū. Hawaiki is our one year old and he will attend Nōku te ao in the near future and a little bit further in the future, will join his big bro and sis at Te Pā. We feel very privileged to have our tamariki go to Te Pā and we (I) feel honoured to be a part of Te Tautarinui o Matariki. 

Corri Ackerman

E tū aku waewae I roto I ngā waka katoa.

Ko Te Pātaka o Rākaihautū tōku Ūkaipō

No reira, e tū au I raro I te mātakitaki o Tuhiraki rāua ko Ōteauheke hoki.

Ko Mahia Whatarau-Tainui tōku mama

Ko Pere Tainui tōku whāngae Pāpā

Ko au te māmā o Mia (14) rātou ko Santina (10, aku whāngae) ko Mahia o Te Puna Waimarie me taku pōtiki ko Teimana o Te Puna Hauaitū.

Ko Kahurangi Akamiria Kahukura ahau A.K.A Corri Ackerman.

My two babies Mahia and Teimana began their pathway to Te Pā from Noku Te Ao. Next year my big girl will be joining us from Akaroa Area School. I still pinch myself that I’m able to watch over them from the window of “my day job” Te Pito o Te pā, where I have been incredibly blessed to mahia te mahi as a Kaimirimiri and Kairongoā – bringing together whānau and purpose. It is my passion for the wellbeing, growth & prosperity of our people fuels my commitment & determination in life.

To me, Te Pā is a rangatira seedling – Mātai or Totara. An embodiment of Nga Uara Māori that is nestled beneath a canopy of mixed narratives - set to be carefully nurtured through the generations, destined to be a Mighty Kaitiaki. Or rather, he Kaitiaki o nga Kaitiaki!

I am grateful to Io Matua for leading my whānau to Te Pā. I am especially grateful and honoured to sit in Te Waka o Te Tautarinui o Matariki.

Mauri Ora!