AWATEA NATHAN COMMITTEE MEMBER

Ko Māhuhu-ki-te-rangi te waka, Ko Maunganui te maunga, Ko Kaihu te awa, Ko Ripiro te moana, ko Ngāti Whātua te iwi, ko Netana Patuawa te tangata.

Born and raised on the Hibiscus Coast has seen me endeavouring to give back to my community wherever possible. I have been a quiet helper on Te Herenga Waka o Orewa Marae’s journey since the beginning. I teach Te Reo Māori at one of the local Secondary Schools and hold a Māori role within its Kāhui Ako. With this I feel that I bridge a gap between our Marae and our future leaders in mainstream education. This is with hopes to encourage our rangatahi to make deeper, cultural connections with our community – something I believe to be integral to their overall growth and wellbeing.

I wish to see Te Herenga Waka flourish in its longstanding purpose – to be a pan tribal, urban Marae which functions under and reflects Ngāti Whātua tikanga & kawa. A Marae that welcomes all who seek a hub, a whanau, a marae to call their own.