Rūnanganui/Executive member profiles

Kaiwhakahaere/Chairperson

Paul Madgwick

Born and bred in Hokitika 46 years ago, I now live in Greymouth where I am the editor of the Greymouth Star, Hokitika Guardian and West Coast Messenger newspapers.

My parents were married at Bruce Bay, my mother's hometown, and my two elder brothers were brought up there. The family later moved to my dad's hometown of Rimu, where i was brought up and spent most of my life.

I have been involved with our hapū 'politics' for 25 years, serving initially as a member of the old Mahitahi Māori Committee with our kaumātua, who set me on the path of researching and compiling our Ngāti Māhaki whakapapa to make it accessible to whānau. This later led me to researching our hapū history, which was published in 1992 as "Aotea: A History of the South Westland Maori."

In 1988, I helped organize the big whānau hui at Bruce Bay that led to the formation of our Rūnanga. From that time onwards I have served on the Executive on and off for 15 of its 21 years, serving variously as secretary, treasurer and chairman (1990–91), and then returning as chairman in 2001 until stepping down in late-2007.

I also chaired the Marae Building Komiti as the Executive saw through the completion of our marae, from start to finish, transforming a remote block of thick bush and swamp into Te Tauraka Waka ā Māui Marae.

In my past two terms as chairman I am especially proud of having instigated the Ngāi Tahu and police action that finally put a stop to the theft of our pounamu, seeing it through to its conclusion in court.

This term we will be endeavouring to move the Rūnanga past the grievance mode into a positive future that realises some of the enormous opportunities with pounamu, among other sustainable business enterprises.

Upoko-rūnanga/Upoko

Rev. Richard Wallace

Ko Aoraki te mauka ariki
Ko Te Upokotahumatā rāua ko Tutoko kā mauka tīpuna
Ko Waitaki rātou ko Okana, ko Makaawhio kā awa
Ko Kāti Huirapa rātou ko Kāi Te Ruahikihiki, ko Kāti Irakehu, ko Kāti Māhaki kā hapū
Ko Waitaha rātou ko Te Hawea, Ko te Rapuwai, ko Kāti Māmoe, ko Kāti Wairaki, ko Kāi Tahu kā iwi.

I am a descendant of Te Koeti Tūranga and his first wife, Korera, through their son Kinihe Te Kaoho and his wife Hunia Te Naihi. Their son Hoani Kinihe married Metarina Kuruwaka of Wairewa (Little River), where the next two generations of my whānau lived. I was born there and brought up by my taua and poua until my whānau were split up as whāngai around NZ. I ended up in Motueka with the Huriwaka whānau.

I am ex-Air Force, have worked as a maintenance engineer and in the Public Service for the Maori Affairs Department as an Apiha a Iwi. It was this role that first brought me to Bruce Bay and to the inaugural hui of what was to be Te Rūnanga o Te Koeti Tūranga, to drop a koha off. It was while looking at the whakapapa on the wall at that hui, that my whakapapa ties to Kāti Māhaki were revealed.

I have worked in the social service and counselling field for many years and am an ordained priest, an archdeacon within Te Hāhi Mihinare (Anglican Māori Mission). My work has taken me, and my whānau, all over New Zealand and overseas.

My wife Nganehu (Mere) and I have been married for 40 years, we have five children (Susan works in the office) and nine mokopuna. With their support I hope to continue on into the future helping where I can.

"E hara te toa i te toa takitahi, engari tāku i te toa takitini." Mauriora!

Upoko-tuarua/Deputy Upoko

Maxie Duncan

I live within the hapū boundaries and my home has been South Westland for many, many years.

I have a grown family who have their own properties both in New Zealand and Australia.  I have supported my children and grandchildren in their sporting endeavours with one son still coaching and playing cricket in North Auckland, earning him the Cricketer of The Year Award and a grandson in the West Tigers Colts Rugby League.
 
I am self-employed at present and been in business employing shearing gangs in NZ, Australia, Ireland and Scotland, therefore, might be considered an entrepreneur.
 
Much of my spare time is spent working as a Trustee for Special Needs Boys of Halswell Residential College, hosting boys from all over NZ.  This experience on outside organizations working with communities should bring something to the Rūnanga Executive and wider Makaawhio family.
 
I have been on the Makaawhio Executive committee at a variety of intervals and for varying terms. I have served as an ordinary member, as the Vice-Chairperson and am currently Deputy Upoko.
 
My representation at any level with both hapū and external organisations has been with consideration, forethought and integrity. Some say honesty but it's calling a spade, a spade!
 
It can be very complicated to represent Makaawhio Rūnanga in an ever-changing playing field.  Our representatives enjoy these positions and are there to keep links and continue to build relationships of reciprocal benefit.
 
I believe the Executive needs to develop policies that are then adhered to and support the individual to carry this hapū view.  I have been involved with policy development and see this as a priority, so can put myself forward for this task.

Kaiwhakahaere-tuarua/Deputy chair

Kara Edwards

I am the daughter of Helen Rasmussen and grand-daughter of Bob Wilson and Eva Bannister. I whakapapa back to Te Koeti Tūranga and Kāti Māhaki through both of my grandparents.

I spent the first 12 years of my life in South Westland, mainly Haast, until leaving for boarding school. Thankfully my parents, uncles and cousins remain in South Westland and make it easy for me to maintain my links with the place and the people.

I have been involved with the Rūnanga on and off since its inception. I was a member of the Executive for 13 concurrent years, the majority of which as Secretary until I stood down in 2007.

I currently reside in Greymouth and work for the Department of Conservation as the Pou Kura Taiao, or indigenous conservation ethics manager.

Kaiputea/Treasurer

Stuart Barr

I whakapapa back to our rangatira, Te Koeti Tūranga through Nella Bannister, George Bannister and then Te Koeti Tūranga’s daughter Hera Te Koeti.

I am now starting my tenth year as the Treasurer for Te Rūnanga o Makaawhio and I enjoy being part of Kāti Māhaki. My role as the Treasurer allows me to make a contribution in an area that I have knowledge in.

Insurance has been my business for the last 43 years. I am still a Principal and Director of a Canterbury insurance broking company. I have also been involved in tourism and property investment companies.

I have served my general community through the Lions service organization for more than 33 years, including a whirlwind year as the Canterbury/Marlborough/Nelson/West Coast District Governor (1994–1995). I have been a Justice of the Peace for eight years and enjoy keeping fit. In my early 60s, I still play competitive squash.

I have been married for 43 years to the same Ngāti Porou wife, Sue. I have four children; Sonya, Sandi, John and James, as well as 16 mokopuna. While we have spent most of our lives in Christchurch, we have also lived in Invercargill, Fiji, Nelson and Hamilton, and of course we’ve had many trips across to the West Coast.

I believe we have the foundations for a propserous Rūnanga. I am happy to still be part of the Executive team of Te Rūnanga o Makaawhio, as we keep moving forward.

Kaituhituhi/Secretary

Susan Wallace

I descend from Te Koeti Tūranga through his first wife, Korera and their son Kinihe Te Kaoho who married Hunia Te Naihi.

I have two children, Tūtoko and Karera and have lived in Hokitika since 2003, when I moved here after being employed by the rūnanga as Tumuaki/Manager.

I have served as a komiti member on several komiti (Māhakitaka, Ngā Rawa Taiao, Marae Tumu-Whakahaere and Whakamahi) as well as providing secretarial support to all komiti, and for a time to the Rūnanganui (Executive).

I am a Director of Kāti Māhaki ki Makaawhio and the newly formed Kōhatu Makaawhio Ltd and was a member of the Makaawhio Appointment Committee, responsible for recruitment and appointment of our TRoNT Representative. I am also an appointed member of the West Coast DHB and Canterbury DHB, member of Te Aiorangi Māori Womens Welfare League Branch and have been pursuing my wish to become fluent in Te Reo Māori.

I have considered what potential conflicts there could be in terms of my Management role and the Governance role of the Rūnanganui, but believe I have a very clear understanding of both roles and the ability to distinguish between the two areas. By employing a conflict of interest approach and with Rūnanganui member experience, any issues should be able to be addressed.

I have been privileged to contribute to the work of the rūnanga as an employee and a member who is resident on Te Tai Poutini. Both have afforded me many opportunities and I welcome the opportunity to reciprocate.

Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu representative

Tim Rochford

Ko Aoraki te mauka
Ko Makaawhio te awa
Ko Uruao te waka
Ko Kāi Tahu/Kāti Māmoe te iwi
Ko Kāti Māhaki te hapū.

I have been the Makaawhio Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu representative since January 1998. I believe that the Te Rūnanga structure offers Ngāi Tahu the opportunity to develop a modern iwi structure that preserves our tikaka and rakatirataka, while creating new and exciting opportunities for our people to grow. It was designed to balance the needs of local hapū and wider tribal interests and remains a unique expression of who we are.

We have settled Te Kereme (the claim) by acknowledging and resolving our past and this frees us to shape our future. 

Kā mema o te rūnanganui/Executive members

Terry Scott

I am a direct descendant of Te Koeti Tūranga through George Bannister, my poua (grandfather).

I was born in Hokitika and at 10 days old I was flown to Bruce Bay, where my parents lived and worked, and where I spent my early childhood. We moved to Ross in the mid 1940s, prior to the end of WW2. After leaving school, I spent some years working on farms, first in the Hokitika valley then back at Karangarua on the Scott Farm, before going off to see the world. I got as far as Springfield.

It was there I met Maureen, married her (in 1960) and had seven children over a 10-year period. I continued doing farm work in Springfield until I joined the Christchurch Fire Brigade in 1962, and remained in the service until 1996, taking early retirement under the Fire Service restructure. I was appointed to the NZ Fire Service Commission and Deputy Chair from 2001 until I retired from that appointment in November 2009.

In addition to my duties as an executive member of the rūnanganui, I chair the Komiti Taiao, am a member of the Komiti Pounamu and Whakamoni, and represent the rūnanga on the West Coast Regional Council and West Coast Tai Poutini Conservation Board.

I am a keen outdoors person and believe that unless we know and understand the environment around us, unless we protect it, then we will have failed in what I think we are on the planet for, which is to pass on to our children and future generations a place that they can comfortably call home and live a useful life.

Marie Mahuika–Forsyth

I am the mother of five and taua of 13. I come from a family of 16 and was brought up in a little country place called Nelson Creek.

I work 20 hours a week for the West Coast District Health Board as a Māori Health Promoter and find the job really rewarding, as my mahi is promoting nutrition and healthy activity, an area about which I am passionate. I also work 15 hours a week for Supporting Families as a Māori field-worker.

I have worked in a number of different areas, in hospitality, been an owner/operator of a retail outlet, Kaiwhakarite for TPK and have represented the rūnanga in the past in a number of areas since inception and as a trust board rep., before it became TRoNT. I currently represent the rūnanga on Tatau Pounamu and DSAC/CPHAC komiti.

Pauline Adams

I am a granddaughter of Ruby Wilson and Des Cadigan and live at Awatuna with my husband Craig.

I have worked for the Department of Conservation for the past 20 years and have a good knowledge of legislation, business planning, financial procedures, human resources and good organisational skills.

In my spare time I enjoy playing golf.  I am involved with a few sporting groups/committees in Hokitika, including the golf club and Lake Kaniere Scenic Triathlon. 

Gary Coghlan

My mother was Nina Bannister and my grandfather was Dave Bannister, one of the best mates I ever had. I live in Greymouth and am the proud father of four boys. My partner is Moana; she is mainly of Ngāti Porou descent.

Previous roles include Deputy Chair of the Rūnanga, Chair of the Marae committee, way back in the nineties, former chair of the Pounamu committee, as well as participating in many other activities to assist our kaupapa over the years. I am also a former chair of the New Zealand General Managers Māori health, the first South Islander to hold that position, and a former deputy chair of Tai Poutini Polytechnic.

Last modified: 05 November 2011