The CEO of Wairoa District Council, Fergus Power, has announced that David Tipoki has been appointed as Maori Relationships Manager.

Mr Tipoki will be returning to Wairoa from Australia. Mr Power said “David brings a wealth of experience in dealing with both businesses and communities”.

Currently a Health and Safety Representative and co-negotiator for the EBA discussions for the Transit Australia Group of companies, Mr Tipoki has over thirty years concurrent experience in the cultural, community and entertainment sectors. For fifteen of those years he was engaged in advocating cultural awareness - presenting a Maori cultural show for Arts Council bodies throughout Australia. He has also served on community initiatives such as the Queensland Transcultural Mental Health Service. Mr Tipoki has been involved in numerous Maori gatherings in Australia, organising and facilitating hui and wananga for whakapapa as well as translocation issues.

Mr Tipoki joins the Wairoa District Council on 01 September 2014 and will provide the Council and the Council’s Maori Standing Committee with ongoing advice on Maori policy and development issues.

Mr Tipoki is no stranger to the Wairoa district, being the son of Turi and Waka Tipoki.

Raised with traditional values, Mr Tipoki says that he has infused these into the living environment of Australia where he acquired a broad view of some of the many issues faced by Maori living in a modern world. In returning to Wairoa district, Mr Tipoki says that he is both happy to be returning to his papatipuranga, and eager to utilize his life experiences.to further the aspirations of Maori within the district.

Mr Power noted that the title of the position had been altered from ‘Maori Liaison Officer’, to ‘Maori Relationships Manager’ – reflecting the increased emphasis which the Council was placing on the management of relationships with all iwi, hapu and whanau throughout the district. Mr Power said “The Maori Relationships Manager will now report directly to me, rather than through a Tier 2 Manager as had previously been the case. This appointment represents an important milestone, and we all look forward to David’s arrival”.

28 June 2018

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