April 27, 2022
Bayden Barber new face for Kahungunu
The new chair of Ngāti Kahungunu says he stood on a platform of kōtahitanga for the sprawling Wairoa to Wairarapa iwi.
Bayden Barber unseated Ngahiwi Tomoana, who has been the public face of the iwi for 26 years.
He’s a Hastings Distict Councillor, chair of Waimarama Marae, a director of Beef & Lamb New Zealand, a member of Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori’s board and sits on the 3 Waters National Steering Committee.
He says the iwi has more than 60,000 members, over 100 hapū and 85 marae.
Because treaty settlements were done with hapū clusters rather than through the overall iwi there are now a series of strong regional entities, and he wants to get them working together.
He says Ngāti Kahungunu needs to take the led on issues affecting its people, including housing, education, jobs and the environment.