KO WAI MĀTOU - ABOUT US

Ko Wai Mātou

Our Trust is governed by four Trustees; Paulette Tamati-Elliffe, Cherie Ford, Angelina Kiore and Donna Matahaere.

The Trust employ a Kaihautū, Komene Cassidy to drive and coordinate our projects. Corey Ford supports the trust in a number of different ways as Kaiāwhina.

Paulette Tamati-Elliffe

Trustee

He uri tēnei o Kāi Tahu, Kāti Mamoe, Waitaha nō Ōtākou.  

He uri hoki o Te Atiawa, Ngāti Mutunga, Taranaki, Ngāti Tama. Born, raised and descended from Ōtākou, with strong links to Taranaki Maunga. Kotahi Mano Kāika Team Manager

Cherie Ford

Trustee

He uri tēnei o Ngā Puhi, no Te Tai Tokerau.  He kaiako Reo Māori ki te Kura Tuarua o Kuini. Descended from Ngā Puhi in the Far North. Te Reo Māori Teacher at Queen's High School

Angelina Kiore

Trustee

He uri tēnei o Ngāti Porou, o Ngāi Tūhoe. Ko au te Kaiārahi Māori Matua o Murihiku/Ōtākou mō te Tāhūhū o te Mātauranga. Descended from Ngāti Porou and Tūhoe. Strategic Advisor Māori Otago/Southland Ministry of Education

Komene Cassidy

Kaihautū

He uri tēnei o Ngā Puhi, o Ngāi Takoto nō Te Tai Tokerau. Kua whānau mai, kua tipu mai i Ōtepōti. 

Descended from Ngā Puhi and Ngāi Takoto in the Far North but born and raised in Dunedin

Corey Ford

Kaiāwhina

He uri tēnei o Taranaki. Kua tipu mai i Ōtepōti.

Descended from Maunga Taranaki, born and raised in Dunedin

Our Story

Get to know us

He Waka Kōtuia members are involved in a number of kaupapa (projects) within Ōtepoti, the Ōtākou takiwā and beyond!  Māori Performing Arts is a vehicle through which our members learn and develop many skills. However, our focus as a He Waka Kōtuia whānau is much broader.  

We run a number of initiatives - aimed specifically at our rakatahi (youth), to enhance knowledge of local Māori history, culture and language to further develop and revitalise, supporting rakatahi and their whānau to realise their potential and aspirations.