About us
Established as a Charitable Trust in 2021, we conceived Te Rau Hihiri to sustain current and future generations of Māori to thrive professionally, personally and culturally. We are passionate about Māori succeeding as Māori in the public service.
Our name
Our name was given to us by the rangatira Trevor Moeke. It is inspired by the oriori from Tuteremoana, which draws on ‘Hiringa i te mahara’.
It acknowledges the ‘ara kua para’ (the path that has been paved) by our tīpuna, and for us to continue that journey in being better ancestors of tomorrow. This requires us to be dynamic, diligent and determined, which can be expressed in the kupu ‘hihiri’. Critical to this journey is gathering us together into one place, embodied by the kupu ‘rau’.
Our tohu
Our tohu was designed by Chanz Mikaere (Te Arawa). Chanz provided this whakamarama of the tohu:
“For the interest of this tohu, the whakamarama is far more personal than I have given her space to be. The kōrero resonates with me as my daughter is Naati.”
The Relationship
I wanted the relationships in Māui’s life to exemplify the ‘Poipoia’. Naturally, the inclination was to include tohu identified in the narratives of Taranga, Murirangawhenua, Mahuika and HineNuiTePō. We each have kuia that we identify with and learn from. The kuia in this instance balance out Māui’s tendencies and remind us, that in each lesson, is aroha.
Our main tohu represents the kauae raro (jawbone) of Murirangawhenua.
Te Koha
Murirangawhenua’s gifting of her kauae raro to Māui is about the transmission of intergenerational knowledge. She shares those stories sacred to us that frame our humanity and interconnectedness. For Te Rau Hihiri’s purpose, the kauae raro is the wānanga – the communication of ideas, living those ideas in our daily lives (pono me te tika).
Ko wai mātou
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![Kara Nepe-Apatu - Chair & Trustee, Te Rau Hihiri]()
Kara Nepe-Apatu
NGĀTI POROU, NGĀI TAI, TE ARAWA
Chair & Trustee
Some days it’s hard to see darkness in light. We try our best to navigate the halls and closed doors of the kāwanatanga, as Māori. Our tamariki give me hope of better. The legacy of our tipuna and the next gen of rangatira. They feel, watch and hear every move we make. We can level up. We have to. For them! Keep going.
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![Ernestynne Walsh - Trustee Ta Rau Hihiri]()
Ernestynne Walsh
NGĀTI POROU, TE WHĀNAU Ā APANUI
Secretary & Trustee
Let’s shine a bright light on the achievements of Māori in the public sector to date and inspire future generations to take things to the next level.
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![Elena Higgison - Trustee Te Rau Hihiri]()
Elena Higgison
NGĀPUHI
Trustee
My journey with Te Rau Hihiri has helped me find my true Why. Being Māori is our superpower. Culture, calibre, connection and creativity is the process and the solution.
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![Milly Tamaki - Te Rau Hihiri]()
Milly Tamaki
NGĀI TUHOE, NGĀTI HIKAIRO
Trustee
We are responsible for ensuring that we leave a legacy that improves outcomes for our whānau, hapū and iwi. As wāhine we are inherently born to be change agents and agitators. As a public servant my job is to serve my people from inside the halls of government.
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Rachael Thwaites
NGĀTI POROU KI HARATAUNGA KI MATAORA, NGĀTI TAMA KI TE TAUIHU
Trustee
I am incredibly passionate about people, service and creating better spaces for the next generation of Māori public servants.
