Eruera ko Te Arawa me Waikato ngā iwi.
As cultural and iwi liaison Eru leads our internal and external Te Ao Māori journey, ensuring our people are culturally aware of Māori customs, language and values; his unique role demonstrates our commitment to upholding the key principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi: partnership, protection and participation.
He believes our work must reflect the aspirations of Māori people and connections to their environment, which are physical, spiritual, emotional and genealogical. This means drawing on Māori methodologies and models in planning, design, consenting and project management, with the goal of equity for people and the natural environment.
With a strong passion for environmental sustainability and more than 30 years enhancing Māori communities' development through media, Eru is adept at communicating significant intellectual traditions.
He grew up with a powerful spiritual and tribal connection to water, and why he's now a firm advocate for Te Mana o Te Wai, New Zealand's Essential Freshwater programme.
For peace, Eru retreats to West Coast beaches and loves hanging out with whānau.