TRUSTEE CANDIDATE PROFILE 2020
Ruia Chantelle Mei
Hokia ki te maunga I tū ai ōku tipuna, a Ko Titiokura tōku Maunga
Tiro whakararo ki te awa e riporipo mai nei, ara ko Mohaka
Ko Te Haroto tōku Marae
Ko Ngati Hineuru tōku iwi
He mokopuna ahau nō Heni Taungakore Wano
Ko Honore Brown rāua ko Queenie Huata oku matua
Ko Ruiha Chantelle Mei tōku ingoa
A He uri ahau no Kahungunu
Tena ra koutou katoa,
I am applying for a position on Tatarakina trust as I have heard the karanga from my tipuna to uphold their tikanga and kaitaikitanga of the whenua that we whakapapa to.
I am passionate about the preservation of our whenua, and believe that we need to be the voice of our Maunga, ngahere, awa and manu/kararehe that live there to protect them from desecration and further exploitation from government organisations and other parties.
The rich history and korero of our tipuna marks every outline of this whenua, and these korero/purakau should be guiding principles in the kaitiakitanga role we play and we need to do our mahi to ensure that the best interests of the whenua and future generations of whakapapa are able to be nourished by the sustenance of kai and nurturing the whenua provides.
Ko wai au?
I was born and raised in Onekawa/Maraenui Napier. I come from a large whanau of 11 siblings. I am married to Reuben Mei of Nga Puhi/Ngati Porou descent and we have 8 tamariki between us.
Attended local schools, went on to further my education at E.I.T and then Te Whare Wananga o Awanuiarangi.
Passionate advocate for the health and wellbeing of our people and whenua.
Qualifications
Bachelor of Matauranga Maori – Research of Ngati Hineuru history
Bachelor of Teaching
Certificate in conservation – Conservation corp Te Matai Manatu – Land care – pest control, track clearing
Employment
Primary school teacher – Marewa primary 2017 – 2020
Senior Te Reo Maori teacher – Marewa primary
NZEI union representative Marewa primary
NZEI Central East union student representative