Māori Advisory Group
Te Puna (the Māori Advisory Group) was established under the Taumata Arowai–the Water Services Regulator Act 2020.
“Whāngaia te iwi.”
Te Puna
Te Puna was appointed by the Acting Minister of Local Government on 20 May 2021 and is chaired by Riki Ellison.
The Board is responsible for the governance of the Water Services Authority – Taumata Arowai and Te Puna is integral to the success of that governance. The Memorandum of Understanding sets out their expectations and intentions to work as partners.
The Māori Advisory Group advises on Māori interests and knowledge as they relate to the objectives, functions and operating principles of the Water Services Authority – Taumata Arowai and the Board’s collective duties. This includes:
- providing advice on how to enable mātaunga Māori, tikanga Māori, and kaitiakitanga to be exercised
- any other matters as agreed by the Māori Advisory Group and the Board.
Ngāti Toa Rangatira, Ngāi Tahu, Te Ātiawa
Chair
Riki is a consultant specialising in environmental management and iwi Māori development, working with central government agencies, local government, iwi and hapū.
As an adviser to the Freshwater Iwi Leaders Group and a member of the Ministerial advisory group Kāhui Wai Māori, he has an in-depth knowledge of Te Mana o te Wai in a policy context.
Ngāruahine, Te Ātiawa
Te Puna member
Bonita is currently a member of the Taranaki Coastal Community Board, the New Zealand Geographic Board, the Oranga Marae committee, Te Ātinga committee of Toi Māori Aotearoa, is chairperson of Te Maruata, the national Māori collective within the local government sector and sits on Local Government New Zealand’s National Council. She is in her fourth term as an elected member, including three as a South Taranaki District Councillor. Bonita is also an iwi representative on a Taranaki Regional Council committee and brings her strong local government experience to the Māori Advisory Group. She has also been actively involved in whānau, marae, hapū and iwi kaupapa all her life.
Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Mamoe
Te Puna member
Stephanie is of Ngāi Tahu and Ngāti Mamoe descent and specialises in intergenerational environmental outcomes and the interweaving of mātauranga and western science. She has qualifications in Biochemistry and Plant Cell Biology.
Stephanie has extensive experience in the governance sector and is the Chair of the Ngāi Tahu HSNO Kōmiti and a member of the pan Māori Te Herenga rōpū of the Environment Protection Authority. She is also a member of the Water NZ Te Mana o te Wai subgroup and Stormwater Committee.