The Poneke Taurahere is standing two candidates in this year’s Ngati Porou elections. Our two candidates are George Konia who is standing in Rohenga 3, Kei te Whenua, and Avon MacDonald – Collier who is standing in Rohenga 4, Kei te Whenua.
Voting starts on 23 September and will close at midday 23 October. Voting can be done online or by post. Voting papers will be sent to you from 19 September. If you haven’t received your voting papers contact iro@electionz.com or call 0800 666 033.
The elections are important. Our Poneke Taurahere has actively engaged with you these last years to help keep that connection with home. It’s your turn now. Make a difference and ensure we have a voice at the Runanganui Board table. You must vote, preferably for George Konia (Rohenga 3) or Avon McDonald – Collier (Rohenga 4).
Register your whanau – do it now. Register in either ROHENGA 3 or 4 AND VOTE WHEN THE TIME COMES. REGISTER HERE
George Konia
I whānau mai ahau i Tikapa , ko taku kāinga noho tērā. Kei te tu tonu to mātou whare i whānau mai ai ahau, i tua atu i te Marae o Pōkai.
Kua tutuki i ahau te porowhita mahi, ko taku hiahia i tēnei wa kia hoki atu ki taku ūkaipo ki te tautoko i te “ahi kā” o te wā kāinga.
I stand for three fundamental principals:
1. Provide a voice for all Ngati Porou
2. Connect whanau to each other and to home
3. Participate in the future planning and wellbeing of our whanau, hapu and Iwi.
We are at a critical time in our history. The decisions we make now will greatly affect future generations . I am a strong advocate for building capability and capacity within our Ngāti Porou whānau.
It is my belief that this is an opportunity for me to head home to contribute and impart all of my experiences and knowledge picked up over the years, to provide support for the whānau, hapū and iwi well-being at home.
Kua tae ki te wā kei te hiahia tēnei manu ki te rere atu, ki te wā kāinga ki te kawe i ngā mōhiotanga me ngā mātauranga hei tautoko me te āwhina anō hoki i ngā kaupapa o te wā kāinga.
Avon MacDonald – Collier
My name is Avon MacDonald – Collier. I whakapapa to Ngati Porou through my Collier, Babington, White and Tautuhi whanau.
My reason for offering my abilities, as humble as they are, is to help reconnect those of us living away from home with our Ngati Porou Roots. The three fundamental values that I support are:
1. Provide a voice for all Ngati Porou
2. Connect whanau to each other and to home
3. Participate in the future planning and wellbeing of our Iwi
I have been involved with the Wellington Ngati Porou Taurahere for four years, recently as Treasurer. I am active in other community groups including the Ngai Tahu Taurahere and the Newtown School Board of trustees. This has given me experience and insights into governance that I can bring to the Runanganui.
My whanau has lived in Poneke all our lives. I feel the most important and rewarding part of my life has been raising my two children, with and around their grandparents.
I bring a varied set of life skills. My life has been full and rewarding but I know loss, and the need to support and provide help. I have lost a nephew to suicide, lost whanau through the Social Welfare system and seen how drugs have touched and damaged those I love.
These experiences have made me a stronger person and I would welcome an opportunity to participate in the future planning and wellbeing of our Iwi.