IKAROA-RĀWHITI Meka Whaitiri Labour Party Nomination Candidate

Ikaroa-Rāwhiti, Whakatu Branch

Life of SERVICE Committed to JUSTICE

Growing future LEADERS

Rongowhakaata - Ngāi Tāmanuhiri - Te Aitanga Ā Māhaki

Ngāti Porou – Ngāti Kahungunu

BA, MEd (Victoria University of Wellinton)

Rousy, Uncle Pong Wyllie’s Shearing Gangs, East Coast

Whakatu Freezing Works (Casings Department)

Community Employment Group, Department of Labour

General Manager, Māori Women’s Welfare League

Deputy-Secretary, Department of Labour

Negotiator, Rongowhakaata Iwi Trust

Senior Advisor, Minister of Maori Affairs Office

CEO, Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated

Ko Wai MY WHY I love our people

I have done the hard years

I want to see our people thrive

“Feed the kids, feed the people” –

Hon Parekura Horomia

Strong whānau

Healthy homes

Vibrant communities

SERVICE

MY VISION Jobs for our whānau

Future pathways for our rangatahi

Developing in a ‘post settlement’ era

Growing leadership

Te reo Māori in every home

MY VISION

Snap-Shot My LIFE Born in Manutuke, I am proud to be a member of a whānau of hard-working manual labourers who were staunch union members. Following in the footsteps of my siblings and parents, I enrolled in the “University of Life” at Whakatu Freezing Works and my early career highlights include being a rousy in the shearing gangs up the East Coast. My years on the floor provided the groundings for my future years in the Public Service in Wellington, and later as a negotiator for Rongowhakaata, Director on the Kahungunu Asset Holding Company, and CEO of Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated. I was a national representative in Netball and Softball. Currently, I am the Deputy Chair of the National Waka Ama Board (Nga Kaihoe o Aotearoa) and a member of the Hawke’s Bay Netball Board. I am registered for the full IronMāori 2013, an event I have completed in both 2011 and 2012.

My life has been, and will continue to be, one of service to our people.

WHĀNAU Wi Rangi Wiremu Whaitiri (NZOM)

My father is a Korean war veteran and freezing worker from Rongowhakaata, Manutuke. When the works were shut down in 1986, my father retrained as a high school teacher when he was 54. He was awarded the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2003 for his life of service to Maori.

Mei Hirita Whaitiri (nee Robin) My mother is the eldest mokopuna of Ihakara and Mei Robin (‘Grandpa Ike’) and was a freezing worker from Kohupatiki. In 1951, my mother was selected to model for ‘Pania of the Reef’ when she was a student at Hukarere Māori Girls College. In 1954, Pania of the Reef was unveiled in Napier and remains standing proudly today.

Nohorua Hawaikirangi Whaitiri Parata

Nohorua is my eldest son (pictured above with his Godfather, Parekura). He is in year 12 at Lindisfarne College and is playing rugby for the Lindisfarne First XV.

Wi Rangi Whaitiri Pakira Parata

Wi Rangi is my youngest son (pictured above next to me after IronMāori). He is in year 11 at Lindisfarne College and is the captain of his age-group rugby team.

SERVICE – JUSTICE – LEADERSHIP

PLEDGE With all my skills, worth ethic and passion, I will serve the people of Ikaroa-Rawhiti.

Whaitiri