The following provide governance, management and administration for the Rūnaka.
Edward Ellison
Rūnaka Ūpoko
In November 2018 Edward was chosen by the Hapū at Ōtākou to be the next Upoko rūnaka. Edward has strong whakapapa to the chiefs Matenga Taiaroa and Karetai through his father George Tukitaharangi Grey Ellison, who was also an Ūpoko at Ōtākou in his time.
Edward was born and raised at Ōtākou, attending that Otakou Primary School and later completed a Diploma of Agriculture at Telford Institute Balclutha. He married Alison (Nee Gray) and they raised their two children Brett and Megan on their whanau farm. Today Edward is the proud Poua and five mokopuna with whom he shares his wealth of understanding of the whenua and moana.
Edward has been active for many years in the life of Ōtākou marae and Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu especially since the 1980’s when he played a key role as a treaty negotiator in Ngāi Tahu’s successful claim the crown for breaches of the Tiriti o Waitangi.
During the 1970’s a proposal to build an aluminum smelter at Aramoana was a major environmental battle that shocked the Otago harbour communities. Edward and a team from the Rūnanga joined forces with the wider community to prevent it happening. He has built up a broad understanding of environmental and land issues that affect Ōtākou and Ngāi Tahu, he was a key instigator in the setting up of Kāi Tahu Ki Ōtākou Ltd now known as Aukaha Ltd with it’s particular focus on Resource Management Act issues; Edward recognised the need to forge strong relationships with local government across the region and nationally. He is clear in what a partnership with our a treaty partners should look and feel like and has represented Ōtākou and the iwi at many levels to improve outcomes for the iwi and for our children after us and yet he still finds time for the life of the marae - socialising, supporting whanau through tangihanga, oversight as a marae trustee and giving pōwhiri to our manuhiri.
In the New year’s honours list in 2015 Edward was awarded the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) for services to Māori and conservation. A proud moment for him, his whanau and the hapū. Currently Edward is Chairperson of the NZ Conservation Authority, co- chair of the Enviroment and Risk committee for the Otago Regional council, on the Audit and Risk Comittee, LINZ member, Director of the Remarkables Station National Trust and Director of the Mana Rangatira Governance Group with National BioHeritage National Science Challenge.
Brett Ellison
TRONT REPRESENTATIVE
E topa ana te toroa ki Ōtākou tai, Ōtākou kāika, tau ana ki Pukekura mauka, tū atu te whare o Te Ruahikihiki, mau atu ki ka uri o Hotumamoe, o Tahupotiki, Ko Brett Ellison tenei e mihi atu nei
I was born in Dunedin and raised on the family farm at Ōtākou. This has given me a strong sense of identity and a drive to pursue endeavours that support the advancement of the intergenerational aspirations of my whānau, Ōtākou, and Kāi Tahu. I have been fortunate to work for purpose driven entities, having been a senior executive across the Ngāi Tahu Holdings group and, more recently, an Investment Manager for Koau Capital Partners. I am the Chair for Te Rūnaka Ōtākou Ltd., and a director on Aukaha Ltd. and Ka Taki Te Umere Ltd.
It is a privilege to represent Ōtākou at Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, recognising those who preceded me, and those who will follow.
You can contact me via email – brett.ellison@ngaitahu.iwi.nz
Megan Potiki
Alternative TRONT Representative
Ko Megan Potiki ahau. Nō Ōtākou ahau. Nō te kawai whakapapa o Ellison, Taiaroa me Karetai hoki. I tipu ake ahau ki Ōtākou.
Kia ora. My name is Megan Pōtiki and I am the alternate for Ōtākou to Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu. I am committed to Ōtākou’s voice at the table and also working closely with Brett Ellison, the representative. Please feel free to chat to me at anytime about issues pertaining to TRoNT and Te Rūnanga o Ōtākou.
Paulette Tamati-Elliffe
Acting Chairperson
Paulette Tamati-Elliffe (Kāi Te Pahi, Kāi Te Ruahikihiki (Ōtākou), Te Ātiawa, Ngāti Mutunga) has been appointed Interim Chair of Te Rūnanga o Ōtākou and will serve in this role until the rūnaka AGM in November.
Paulette brings more than twenty years of leadership in te reo Māori revitalisation. She has been involved with Kotahi Mano Kāika since its launch in 2000 and went on to lead the Ngāi Tahu tribal strategy focused on restoring te reo Māori as a living language in homes and communities. She and her partner have intentionally raised their tamariki in te reo Māori, a commitment that now continues with their mokopuna.
A graduate of Te Panekiretanga o Te Reo, Paulette also has extensive governance experience. She represents Ngāi Tahu on the New Zealand Geographic Board and has completed two terms as the Te Tai Tonga māngai on Te Mātāwai, National Māori Language Board. She also serves in a range of Māori advisory roles across the Otago region. Grounded in whakapapa, tikaka and whānau wellbeing, Paulette brings steady, values-based leadership to the role, ensuring the aspirations of Ōtākou continue to be upheld with integrity and mana.
Nadia Wesley-Smith - Tumu Whakarae Chief Executive
nadia@tro.org.nz 0220992443
Ruth Greer
Finance Administrator
Kahana Ngaia
Digital Communications, TPR, E-pānui, and Kōmiti Coordinator