March 25, 2019
Walker ready to challenge Tomoana
Long-serving Ngāti Kahungunu chair Ngahiwi Tomoana faces a challenge in this year's rūnanga election.
Shane Walker from Wairoa says he's about the same age, around 40, as Mr Tomoana was when he took charge of the Wairoa to Wairarapa tribe 24 years ago.
A former freezing worker, Mr Walker studied and then gained experience overseas before returning to work in government and Māori development roles.
He's not claiming he will do a better job but he will do a different job.
"Ultimately if you want to facilitate change you have to put yourself out there and you can't please everybody, that's the reality of it, but if you can do some good things and move some things forward and work with people and be inclusive, hopefully you get judged at the end of it by the whānau and they can thank you for a good job," Mr Walker says.
He would like to see Ngāti Kahungunu Inc work more closely with the various taiwhenua and post settlement governance entities, and he would also like to see more transparency about the tribe's investments and the way it uses its fisheries quota.
Copyright © 2019, UMA Broadcasting Ltd: www.waateanews.com