Meet Your Candidates
Nominations for Te Tāwharau o Te Whakatōhea Trustee Elections 2026 have now closed, and we are pleased to introduce the twenty-eight candidates standing for election.
Thank you to everyone who put their name forward and to those who encouraged others to stand.
Take some time to read about each candidate below before voting opens on Friday 16 October 2026.
All 28 candidate profiles are also available for download and print here.
If you haven’t already, please make sure your details are up to date on the Whakatōhea tribal database so you’re ready to vote when the time comes. For any issues with registration, please reach out to us in the tari and we can help you out.
Ring the office: (+64) 07 315 6150
Email: register@whakatohea.co.nz
Online: Tribal Database Link
Download candidate profiles here.
Live Q&A Zui
We will be holding three live Q&A on Facebook in October where you can meet your hapū and general election candidates. You will hear their whakaaro on why they’re standing and what they’ll bring to the Trust if elected.
General Trustee Candidates: Tuesday 20 October 2026, 7:00pm
Ngāti Ruatākenga, Ngāi Tamahaua Candidates: Wednesday 21 October 2026, 7:00pm
Ngāti Ira and Te Upokorehe Candidates: Thursday 22 October 2026, 7:00pm
Keep an eye on our social media pages for more details to come!
General Trustee Candidates
There are four General Trustee seats available, which includes at least one Rangatahi seat (aged between 18 and 35 years). All of Whakatōhea will get to vote for these candidates.
We have nine whānau candidates who have put themselves forward for these 4 General Election seats.
Kahukore Baker
Janell Dymus-Kurei (Rangatahi seat)
Te Ringahuia Hata
Parehuia Mafi (Nee Karanga-Mareroa)
Nadine Gray
Karen Mokomoko
Tanisha Jones
Marsh Moore
Marcelle Pio (Rangatahi seat)
Hapū Trustees Candidates
Two Trustees will be elected for each of the six hapū to represent the hapū on
Te Tāwharau o Te Whakatōhea.
Only whānau who have registered that hapū as their primary affiliation will be eligible to vote for its candidate.
Ngāti Ira
Robyn Hata-Gage
Renay Jones
Amber Rakuraku-Rosieur
Wiki Upward-Ngaika
Ngāti Ruatākenga
Mereaira Hata
Damian Papuni
Linda Aroha Papuni-Grave
Ngāi Tamahaua
Dawn Hill
Adrian Orr
Courtney Papuni
Te Ūpokorehe
Maude Edwards
Victor Hape
Miranda Horan
Ngaire Ngamoki
Ngāti Ngahere
As Ngāti Ngahere have put forward two candidates, both of their Trustee seats have been filled. Whānau from Ngāti Ngahere will therefore only need to vote for the General Trustee seats.
The two candidates are:
Hiria Hape
Te Kahautu Maxwell
Ngāti Patumoana
As Ngāti Patumoana have put forward two candidates, both of their Trustee seats have been filled. Whānau from Ngāti Patumoana will therefore only need to vote for the General Trustee seats.
The two candidates are:
Te Puritanga Jefferies
Bradley Walker
Key Dates
Friday 16 October 2026
Friday 13 November 2026 5pm
Wednesday 18 November
Thursday 3 December
Saturday 5 December
Voting opens
Voting closes
Provisional results released
Announcement of results
New Trustees Sworn in at AGM
Eligibility
To vote, you must be uri o Whakatōhea, registered on the Whakatōhea tribal database and be aged 18 years or over.
If you have whānau who aren't yet registered but want to take part, they can request a registration form from:
Te Tāwharau o Te Whakatōhea
122 Saint John Street
Ōpōtiki 3122
Ph: 07 315 6150
Email: register@whakatohea.co.nz
Alternatively, whānau can register via our tribal database.
You should start to receive your voting packs in the post from Friday 16th October. If you have a registered email address with us, you will also receive an email.
If you do not receive your voting pack or email on how to vote, please contact Electionz:
Isiah Roberts – Independent Returning Officer
Ph: 0800 666 047
+64 3 377 3530 (calling from outside NZ)
Email: vote@electionz.com
Duties of Trustees
Know and act in accordance with the Trust Deed
Act honestly and in good faith
Hold and deal with Trust Assets for the benefit of all Members of Whakatōhea
Exercise powers for a proper purpose
Act in accordance with any Code of Conduct developed by the Trust
If elected, Trustees must publicly swear an oath – Te Oatitanga – and agree to be bound by the terms of the Trust Deed. To read more about the voting process, please read our frequently asked pātai.
Nominations and Independent Returning Officer Contact:
Isiah Roberts
Chief Returning Officer - ElectioNZ
Ph: 0800 666 047
Structure
Governance
Marae & Hapū
Maromahue
Upokorehe
Ko Pukenui-o-raho te maunga
Ko Waiotahe te awa
Ko Maromahue te marae
Ko Te Poho o Kahungunui te whare tipuna
Ko Pouwharekura te wharekai
Ko Upokorehe te hapū
Kutarere
Upokorehe
Ko Tirotirowhitu te maunga
Ko Kakaho te awa
Ko Kutarere te marae
Ko Te-Poho-o-Tamaterangi te whare tipuna Ko Ani-i-waho te wharekai
Ko Upokorehe te hapū
Roimata
Upokorehe
Ko Hiwarau te maunga
Ko Te Karaka te awa
Ko Tairongo te moana
Ko Roimata te marae
Ko te Ao Marama te whare tipuna Ko Te umutao Noa a Tairongo te wharekai
Ko Upokorehe te hapū
Waiaua
Ngāti Patumoana
Ko Mākeo te maunga
Ko Waiaua te awa
Ko Waiaua te marae
Ko Ruamoko te whare tipuna
Ko Te Puritanga te whare kai
Ko Ngāti Patumoana te hapū
Opeke
Ngāti Ira
Ko Mātiti te maunga
Ko Waioweka te awa
Ko Ōpeke te marae
Ko Irapuaia te whare tipuna
Ko Te Kurapare te whare kai
Ko Ngāti Ira te hapū
Terere
Ngāti Ngahere
Ko Maungarangi te maunga
Ko Otara te awa
Ko Terere te marae
Ko Te Iringa te whare tipuna
Ko Whiripare te wharekai
Ko Ngati Ngāhere te hapū
Omarumutu
Ngāti Rua
Ko Mākeo te maunga
Ko Waiaua te awa
Ko Omarumutu te marae
Ko Tutāmure te whare tipuna
Ko Hine-i-Kauia te wharekai
Ko Ngati Ruatakenga te hapū
Opape
Ngai Tamahaua
Ko Tarakeha te maunga
Ko Opepe te awa
Ko Opape te marae
Ko Muriwai te whare tipuna
Ko Tapairu te wharekai
Ko Ngai Tamahaua te hapū