HORIZONS REGIONAL COUNCIL CANDIDATE PROFILES:TONGA MA¯ ORI CONSTITUENCY
Warwick GERNHOEFER
My principal place of residence is in the Tonga Ma¯ ori Constituency area. Kia ora my name is Warwick Gernhoefer, I am of Rangitane and Ngati Kahungunu descent, I live with my wife and youngest daughter in Dannevirke.
I have been a dairy farmer in the Tararua for the past 10 years and have gone back to university to train as a school teacher.
I have experience with
governance by being a past member of Rangitane Tu Mai Ra Trust Board, its investment arm and Rangitane O Wairarapa.
Through dairy farming I am familiar with One Plan and the successful riverbank plantings policies of the council from the practical side of reduction of environment damage from farming.
Te Kenehi TEIRA
My principal place of residence is in the Tonga Ma¯ ori Constituency area.
Tena koutou, I was schooled in Foxton, Takapau, Te Aute and have a degree in Ma¯ ori and administration from Te Wananga o Raukawa. I was a Foxton Borough councillor in the 1980s and the principal Ma¯ ori officer at Palmerston North City Council in the 1990s.
I then worked for Heritage New Zealand as the Kaihautu Ma¯ ori and Deputy CE for 20 years. I affiliate to Nga¯ ti Raukawa and Kurahaupo iwi.
I believe that the Treaty of Waitangi guarantees the protection of the environment and taonga for future generations through Ma¯ ori participation and partnership with iwi. Ma¯ ori wards, co-governance and Ma¯ ori council managers are a start. The new reforms eg RMA must include a six waters approach which include Wairua (spiritual), Waiora (health and well-being) and Waipuke (climate change) protection. Nga mihi, Te Kenehi Teira (Ken).