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Ngā Kaiwhakataki Kaupapa Tākaro

Who to expect

Wiremu Sarich

Wiremu Sarich

Wiremu is a leading exponent in the resurgence of Nga taonga Takaro (traditional Maori games\pastimes) who lives by the proverbial philosophy “Kia kawea tatou e te rehia,” (let us be swept away by the pursuit of fun. leisure and entertainment).
Wiremu invites you to explore te tuakiri o te tangata (the holistic self) through the medium of play and leisure.

Wiremu Te Kehukehu Mato (Sport New Zealand Ihi Aotearoa)

Wiremu Te Kehukehu Mato

Sport New Zealand Ihi Aotearoa

Māori strategy, relationship development and kaupapa Māori programme delivery.

Nō Te Tairāwhiti awau. Kei te taha o tōku Pāpā, no Maraenui, Te Whānau a Apanui tōku koroua, ā, nō Whareponga, Ngāti Porou tōku kuia. Te taha o tōku kōkā, nō te ākau o Tokomaru tōku koroua, nō Waipiro Bay tōku kuia. I whakatipuria awau me tōku whānau ki Waipiro Bay, Ngāti Porou. Ko Elana Taipapaki Curtis tōku hoa wahine, nō Ngāti Rongomai me Ngāti Pikiao. E toru ā māua tamāhine. Kei Ōwairaka, Tāmaki Makaurau mātau e noho ana. Kei Sport NZ Ihi Aotearoa awau e mahi ana.

Koianake Sharpels (Te  Whare Tū Tauā - Toi Tangata - Hoani Waititi)

Koianake Sharpels

Te Whare Tū Tauā - Toi Tangata - Hoani Waititi

Born & raised at Hoani Waititi Marae, I not only mastered the art of dodging dishes, but I also
mastered the importance of understanding humility. Humility is a key component of Te
Whare Tū Tauā o Aotearoa and our whare strives to instil this virtue in kairākau and their
extended families at the onset– Poutahi.
I was very fortunate to be educated in a total immersed setting which was primarily based on
Hoani Waititi Marae, but I also had ample opportunity to travel back to my iwi kāinga in Te
Takapau which is also the home of Te Whare Tū Tauā o Aotearoa. Ko Puera kei runga, Ko
Whatuma kei raro.
As a Taura Pou Whakarae my role now is to transmit the knowledge I have acquired to the
younger and future generations so that this ancient art is forever thriving. As a Pāpā too, I
share the same teachings my Dad & grand-father shared with me to my own tamariki right
from the Bruce Lee quotes, right back to sweeping the wharekai floors. It’s the small acts &
gestures when we truly realise where humility lies.
I look forward to seeing where the coming generations take our whare. Not too long ago this
ancient art was nearly forgotten and was only practised in secret. But for now, I look forward
to watching my own tamariki sweep the floor after mau rākau training.

Dr Nikki Penetito-Hemara (Co-Director of Kori Collaborative Ltd)

Dr Nikki Penetito-Hemara

Co-Director of Kori Collaborative Ltd

Ngāti Ranginui, Ngāti Kahungunu, Te Whakatōhea, Ngāti Porou

Born and raised in Manurewa, South Auckland, Māmā of 4, I'm a researcher, a disruptor of systems that don't work for Māori, a practitioner, a strategist, and a driver of positive social change for indigenous communities. We live and breathe tākaro, kori tinana and hākinakina in our whare. This means I love a good dose of competition, I embrace the concept of hīanga and I'm a bit of a haututū. He tīwaiwaka ahau nā Māui!

Paora Te Hurihanganui (Te Arawa Whānau Ora)

Paora Te Hurihanganui

Te Arawa Whānau Ora

Paora Te Hurihanganui is a son of the sovereign tribal nation of Ngāti Rangiwewehi and is of Te Arawa, Ngāti Awa and Ngāti Tūwharetoa descent. He has led Te Papa Tākaro o Te Arawa an Iwi mandated trust for the past 15 years as CEO. He also leads the Te Arawa and Tuwharetoa regional Whānau Resilience nine provider collective response and is currently a PhD candidate.
He has a passion for the revitalisation of ancestral and cultural pursuits, has a diverse background in Māori arts and has interests the revitalisation of traditional Waka and ancestral games. Paora has been a major influence in the inclusion of Aotearoa at the Pacific Ancestral Games and is currently working on the proposition of a future World Ancestral Games.
He is a firm believer in the use of traditional sites of significance as authentic connection for positive individual and collective transformation and the notion of whakapapa as pathways to optimum health and wellbeing.
He has been a successful Kapa Haka exponent performing internationally and in 6 Te Matatini finals, with winning a national title in 1996 alongside Ngāti Rangiwewehi. Paora is the current captain of the Te Arawa waka taua and loves Whakapapa, his Whānau, the All Blacks (only when they are winning) and spending time in the ngahere or in/on/under the moana. In 2015 Paora received a New Zealander of the year award for innovation.

Renei Ngawati (MC)

Renei Ngawati

MC

Ko Tuhipā ko Titirangi ngā maunga
Ko Taumārere, Ko Uawa ngā awa
Ko Ngatokimatawhaorua, Ko Horouta ngā waka
Ko Ngāti Porou, Ko Ngāti Hine ngā iwi
Ko Te Aitanga a Hauiti, Ko Ngāti Te Ara/Ngāti Kōpaki ngā hapū
Ko Hinemaurea, Ko Te Rito ngā Marae
Ko Renei Ngawati ahau

Renei assists with the development and extension of Toi Tangata current programmes. She implements the Toi Tangata strategy, taking the ideas and action and translating into tangible work activities and outcomes. Renei also assists with project proposals and funding applications as well as quality assurance activities, including reporting and measurement.

Kawiti Waetford (MC)

Kawiti Waetford

MC
Kuruho Wereta (Kaimahi at Recreation Aotearoa)

Kuruho Wereta

Kaimahi at Recreation Aotearoa

Kuruho Wereta is Recreation Aotearoa’s Māori Outcomes Manager and has also worked for the Department of Conservation as a ranger and Auckland Council. Last year Kuruho won the Future Leader’s Scholarship from Sport NZ in recognition of his work and has recently become an Accredited Recreation Professional (ARPro). Kuruho brings a spark of creativity and different perspective to every conversation.

KM

Kawariki Morgan

Te Whānau Mānihera (Whānau Mānihera)

Te Whānau Mānihera

Whānau Mānihera

Nau mai haere mai ki te Whare Tapere o te Whānau Mānihera.

Mike Tipene (Healthy Families Waitakere Manager at Sport Waitākere)

Mike Tipene

Healthy Families Waitakere Manager at Sport Waitākere

Mike’s primary focus is improved Māori health outcomes, his knowledge of Te Ao Māori helps to inform our practice when working with and for our Māori communities.
Mike brings strategic direction and guidance that supports our team to work in a culturally appropriate manner, therefore improving the likelihood for successful Māori outcomes.