Ngaa Mema o te Poari

Kei te riu o Waikato, ko Rahui Pookeka, ko Waahi Paa, Ko Ngati Mahuta e tau ana.

Tipa Mahuta is from Rahui Pookeka (Huntly) and grew up at Waahi Paa with the impacts of the Huntly Power Project and coal mining on local communities. She collected oral histories from kaumātua and supported the establishment of the tribal Tira Hoe, to return this history to descendants of the river.

Tipa has held a wide range of governance roles including Iwi and local government positions. Tipa is the Co-Chair Iwi Appointee of the Waikato River Authority and Co-Chair of Te Aka Whai Ora (Māori Health Authority).

Her other current roles include Member – Chair, Te Puna, Taumata Arowai and Councillor Waikato Regional Council.

Stu Kneebone is councillor on the Waikato Regional Council and a local farmer. He actively supports initiatives that contribute towards catchment health, water quality and biodiversity enhancement. Mr Kneebone has experience across local government and is committed to the local environment and working with River Iwi. He’s been heavily involved in the Healthy Rivers/Wai Ora project change since its inception, including Co-Chairing the committee that governed the project with River Iwi.

From a practical perspective, Stu has had an active involvement in Regional Council catchment management restoration work, as well as extensive riparian restoration work on his own farm.