MŌ Te Ohu - About Te Ohu

Directors

Archie Taiaroa
Ngāti Haua, Ngāti Kurawhatia, Te Ati Haunui-ā-Paparangi, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Apa, Ngāti Maru

Kia tika te hoe i te waka,
kia puta ai ngaa hua ki te iti
me te rahi

Steer the canoe correctly,
so all shall benefit

Archie Taiaroa is the Chairman of Te Ohu Kaimoana. He is a fluent speaker of Māori and, as a former Commissioner of the Treaty of Waitangi Fisheries Commission, facilitated the Commission’s Freshwater Fisheries Sub-Committee.

During the 1992 Māori fisheries negotiations Archie was the Convenor of Māori Congress - a group charged with providing a forum for iwi to address issues on a national basis.

Archie says that over the last 12-15 years iwi have remained consistent in their view that tikanga Māori must be the paramount factor in allocating the assets from the Māori fisheries settlement. He believes it is important for the future that both small and large iwi are provided for in the process.

Archie has had an active role in the Commission leading its work in customary fisheries - including marine mammals - and on behalf of iwi, he has been involved with international indigenous whaling groups.

He is a former Deputy Mayor of Taumarunui and Councillor on the Manawatu-Whanganui Regional Council. He is currently the Chair of the Whanganui River Māori Trust Board