Pou Herenga

The Pou Herenga is a Māori advisory body to the Commission's Board. It was established in 2023 to provide the Commission with the expertise and support required to give effect to its legislative requirement to have knowledge in Te Tiriti o Waitangi/The Treaty of Waitangi, and te ao Māori (te reo, mātauranga, and the Māori Economy), consistent with section 5H(1)(d)(ii) of the Climate Change Response Act 2002.

Herenga means to lash or bind together. As such, the naming of the Pou Herenga represents the binding together of individuals with expertise (pūkenga) in te ao Māori and Te Tiriti o Waitangi/The Treaty of Waitangi, to form a Pou that supports He Pou a Rangi Climate Change Commission on its journey as an independent, expert advisor to Government on mitigating climate change and adapting to the effects of climate change, from a kaupapa Māori perspective.

To maintain the close connection between the Commission's Board and the Pou Herenga, the Chair and Deputy Chair of the Pou Herenga are both members of the Commission's Board. These members will serve to provide context and ensure the insights from the Pou Herenga are accessible to the Commission's Board.

• Tanira Kingi – Chair (Ngati Whakaue, Ngati Rangitihi, Te Arawa)  

• Lisa Tumahai – Deputy Chair (Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Waewae, Makaawhio) 

• Dan Hikuroa (Ngāti Maniapoto, Waikato-Tainui, Ngati Whānaunga, Ngāti Uekaha)  

• Tui Shortland (Ngāti Hine, Ngapuhi, Ngati Raukawa au ki te Tonga, Kai Tahu, Te Arawa)  

• Miriana Stephens (Ngāti Rārua, Ngai Te Rangi, Ngāti Ranginui)  

• Hayden Swann (Ngati Porou, Rongowhakaata, Te Aitanga a Mahaki, Ngaitai)  

• Sheridan Waitai (Ngāti Kuri, Te Rarawa, Ngāti Rehia, Ngāti Hine Ngapuhi, Tainui)  

• Tiana Jakicevich (Ngāti Kahungungu ki Te Wairoa, Te Whakatōhea, Ngāti Pahauwera, Hineuru Rongomaiwahine, Ngāi Tūhoe)  

Pou Herenga Terms of Reference [PDF - 292 KB]