Thomas de Thierry
Tena koutou e te whanau. E mihi ra tenei ki o tatou tini mate ko wehe atu ki te po. Ki nga matua o to tatou Marae, Tahi Ashby, Manuao Hemana, Ben Henry, Llew Allen, Boyce Komene, Wayne Smith, Jacko Connelly, Merve Kemp, moe mai ra koutou I roto I te ariki. Ka hoki mai ra nga mihi ki a tatou te hunga ora huri noa tena koutou katoa.
My family and I have been very strong supporters of our marae, a strong advocate in self-reliance, protecting, preserving, promoting our marae, taonga, whanau & hapu principles. We have over the many years worked hard in promoting Oruawharo marae, at a hapu and iwi level, working with whanau, kaumatua, kuia, community members, local and national bodies.
The experience’s I have gained from 17 years in the Royal New Zealand Army (Gunnery Sergeant) and the various senior and middle management positions held over the years, have contributed towards helping moving our whanau/hapu & marae forward. As a representative on the iwi board of Te Runanga o Ngati Whatua, in which I hold the portfolio of Customary Fishing, Science and Land use (Papawhenua) dealing with issues concerning land and water within Ngati Whatua.
My objectives as trustee are to;
- Ensure Oruawharo marae and its beneficiaries are well represented.
- Ensure transparency, accountability to you the whanau.
- Empower our whanau to make decisions that affect them within Te Uri o Hau
- Create employment opportunities for our whanau within Oruawharo and Te Uri o Hau.
- Assist Te Uri o Hau as a whole to move forward.
- Dedicate financial assistance to the whanau / marae annually.
- Set up sub committees under Te Uri o Hau to deal specifically with issues such as housing, health, employment, education, land & water welfare, taonga of Te Uri o Hau, i.e. wahi tapu within Te Uri o Hau