Murihiku Regeneration
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Office of Upoko

Customary Leadership

The Office of Upoko provides a mana to mana interface that supports Chairs, leaders and rangatahi.

The position of Upoko is an enduring form of customary leadership within Ngāi Tahu (Ngāi Tahu Settlement Act).

The authority of Upoko is captured in the following pēpēhā:

The pēpēhā by Te Matenga Taiaroa of Kāi Te Ruahikihiki, who declared his authority in Te Waipounamu:

Ko au te Upoko me te hiku o tōku motu

I am the head and tail of my island

The pēpēhā by Ngāi Tūāhuriri Upoko Pita Te Hori:

I ahu mai ōku ture i tōku tipuna i a Tūāhuriri

My laws come from my ancestor, Tūāhuriri

Duties of Upoko

  1. Atawhai the people, protect their rights and maintain harmony within the tribe;
  2. Determine and represent the obligations of ture-wairua;
  3. Be the active face of the rangatiratanga and mana of Ngāi Tahu and its engagement with the Crown;
  4. Maintain and actively assert the customs (kawa, tikaka, riteka and ture) and traditions of mana atua, mana takata and ariki tapu;
  5. Act as Ngāi Tahu representatives for treaties and covenants held with the Crown;
  6. Protect the tribe from the predations of other iwi;
  7. Maintain the authority of the ancestors of Ngāi Tahu in Te Waipounamu; and
  8. Protect the reserves and their usage, kainga nohoanga, mahinga kai and the obligations of Ngāi Tahu to Raki and Papatūānuku.

Murihiku Upoko

Tā Tipene O’Regan

Michael Skerrett

Terry Nicholas

In this section

  • About Us
    • Meet the team
    • Structure and Context
    • Office of Upoko
    • Te Rūnaka o Awarua
    • Waihōpai Rūnaka Inc.
    • Ōraka Aparima Rūnaka
    • Hokonui Rūnanga
    • Our Partners
      • MSD Community Connection Service
    • Job vacancies

Latest news

Strong interest in offshore maritime energy development

... including offshore wind, tidal, and wave energy opportunities … Today (Tuesday 11 October), strong representation from Ngāi Tahu, led by Kaiwhakahaere Lisa Tumahai, Gail Thompson (Awarua Rūnaka), Terry Nicholas (Hokonui Rūnanga and Murihiku Regeneration), and supported by Jacqui Caine - Office… Read more

© 2022 Murihiku Regeneration • Website by RS

  • Home
  • About Us
    • Meet the team
    • Structure and Context
    • Office of Upoko
    • Te Rūnaka o Awarua
    • Waihōpai Rūnaka Inc.
    • Ōraka Aparima Rūnaka
    • Hokonui Rūnanga
    • Our Partners
      • MSD Community Connection Service
    • Job vacancies
  • Events
    • Energy and Innovation Expo 2023
      • He Ao Hou - New Futures Murihiku 22 May
      • Live Streaming of Wānanga 23 and 24 May
      • Hosts and Key Speakers 23-24 May
      • Energy and Innovation presentations - 23 May
        • Opening Addresses
        • Global Session
        • Empowering partnerships: government's role in Aotearoa's energy transition
        • Climate Economics
        • Regional Infrastructure
        • Social regeneration and innovation
        • Regional Innovation
        • The importance of the Māori economy through this change
      • Energy and Innovation presentations - 24 May
        • Regional Leadership Panel
        • Regional Plans and Priorities
        • Southern Green Hydrogen
        • Tiwai Smelter Future
        • Southland Aquaculture
        • Regional Case Studies: Decarbonisation
        • Innovation and Bluff Re-imagining
        • Confirming Priorities: wrap-up and closing
    • Science and Innovation Wānanga 2021
  • Our Mahi
    • Te Ara Aukati Kore - Education, Training, and Capability
      • Anamata Māia: Brave, Bold & Confident Futures Service
        • Core Service Values
        • Our Kaimahi - Staff
      • Have your say!
    • Southern Ocean - Murihiku ki te Tonga
      • Subantarctic Islands
      • The Ross Sea Sector
      • Research and Monitoring
    • Green Energy
      • He Honoka Hauwai - German-NZ Green Hydrogen Centre
      • Clean Energy Workstream
        • Working Group - Meet the Team
        • Renewable Energy Strategy
        • Documents - Key Reading
        • Have your say
      • Hydrogen and Green Energy
      • Hydrogen and Climate Change
      • Bell Bay Hydrogen Cluster
      • Lake Onslow Hydro Scheme
      • Murihiku Southland Regional Energy Development Plan -Transpower and PowerNet -Calling for Feedback and Comments
    • Tiwai Future
      • Preliminary Closure Study
      • Cultural Significance of Tiwai Point
      • Environmental significance of Tiwai Point and surrounds
      • Tiwai Point - a contaminated site
      • Key documents and further reading
      • Have your say
    • Te Ao Tūroa - Environment
      • Hokonui Rūnanga Kaupapa Taiao
      • Te Tapu o Tāne Ltd
      • Climate change
      • Have your say
    • Building Sustainable and Resilient Communities
    • Regional System Leadership
      • Building leadership across the takiwā
    • Just Transition
      • Have your say!
    • Southern Green Hydrogen Project (SGH)
  • Latest News
  • Contact