Ko Tauhuia Mataki taku ingoa

Ko Ngati Kauwhata te iwi

Ko Oroua te awa

Ko Ruahine te maunga

Ko Tainui to waka

No reira tena koutou katoa

 

My absolute commitment is to the Morehu faith, Whanau, and "ki te kaupapa Maori Party", where I have been actively involved in the Party successes since 2005 and electorate chairman since 2008.

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Personal Profile

I married a beautiful woman name Trish Noa who is of Ngapuhi descent.

 

Together we have been blessed with two wonderful children, Matene and Kiriwai who carry the names of significant ancestoral lineage.

I was born at Kai Iwi Pa (Fielding) in 1953 to Hori Te Mataki (Ngati Kauwhata, Tainui Waka) and Mihi Wairua Reiri (Ngati Kahungunu, Takitimu Waka) and I am the fourteenth of eighteen children.

I was schooled at Te Arakura Primary and Feilding Agricultural High School, where I would go on to become a top student in agriculture and athletics.

I enlisted into an army career at the age of 19 and would go on to pass the elite SAS selection course and play international rugby during my eight years of overseas service.

After retiring from the NZ Defence Forces in 1993, I completed a further 15 years as a Projects Advisor with the Labour Department and Ministry of Social Development.

The role of Projects Advisor required me to work closely with the Maori communities throughout South Auckland and Franklin Districts to assist them in accessing financial support toward their developments.

In 1995, I completed the very first Diploma of Business (Maori Development) at the University of Auckland.

A successful farming venture would enable me to retire at the age of 54 years and continue to work for the Maori Party throughout the Hauraki Waikato electorate as it co-chairman.