Ngarimu Blair has accepted a new leadership role for Ngāti Whātua. Photo / NZME
Ngarimu Blair is taking on a new leadership role for his iwi.
Blair, 50, has been named CEO of Ngā Maunga Whakahii o Kaipara, a subsidiary of Ngāti Whātua, as part of the iwi’s succession planning.
As tumu whakarae (chief executive), he will oversee its $120 million in assets and lead the organisation to deliver on its strategic priorities for iwi, hapū and marae.
That’s in addition to the high-profile deputy chairman role he already holds for Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, which has an asset base of $1.47 billion.
Blair said Ngāti Whātua elders planned the iwi’s fortunes and his new role was part of the succession plan set by them as kaumatua.
“Our elders have always been very open, visionary and supportive of nurturing talent and backing emerging leaders,” he said.
“If you look across the four parts of the wider iwi with Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Whātua, Te Uri o Hau and Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, the chairs and CEOs are relatively young, from 40 to late 50s.”
Ngā Maunga Whakahii o Kaipara chairwoman Margie Tukerangi said the organisation felt fortunate to have appointed Blair because of his experience, capability and deep connection to South Kaipara.
Blair’s grandfather was forced to move from Okahu Bay to the Kaipara area because of land loss and overcrowding in the 1930s. He was able to move back to Ōrākei in his later years.
“Ngarimu brings incredible experience and skills to the role. He is Ngāti Whātua through and through, and we are thrilled to be able to appoint him as our tumu whakarae,” Tukerangi said.
Blair has more than 25 years’ experience across iwi governance, commercial development, and engagement with local and central government.
“I’ve kept my fires burning in Kaipara. I played all my rugby there and still do. My tūpuna moved effortlessly across the Manukau, Waitematā and Kaipara. I do too.
“We have some exciting opportunities ahead of us at Ngā Māunga Whakahii o Kaipara,” Blair told the Herald.
“Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei continues to take powerful steps forward as tangata whenua of central Auckland. I will continue to serve my Ōrākei and Tāmaki whānau, as required, as an uri and as deputy chair.
“I am honoured and humbled to have been one of many who have ensured the resurgence of our hapū. There is much more to do. I am motivated by the incredible potential ahead for Ngāti Whātua ki Kaipara.”
As deputy to longtime chairwoman Marama Royal, the father of three has played a major role in the rise of the Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei bank balance, which was in the millions after the $18m Treaty of Waitangi settlement in 2012 and has grown to $1.47b today, making it the third-richest iwi behind Ngāi Tahu and Tainui.
Blair said while he’s looking forward to his new role with another section of Ngāti Whātua, he will forever be tied to Tāmaki and the Waitematā.
I am a country boy at heart, not just a metro Māori.
“This has been our greatest success and achievement. It is this collective skills unity, and wisdom, from our kaumātua, to our trustees, whānau and kaimahi, that is at the heart of our success and progress,” Blair said.
“It’s incumbent on my generation to go even further and faster with developing our people, not just in governance and management, but community and cultural growth.
“We’ve already made significant progress in that, as commented by many at the tangihanga of Sharon Hawke, who herself was a huge part of that leadership evolution and always opening doors for others in the iwi.”
Asked if it was going to be easy to leave the Auckland CBD offices behind, Blair said: “I am a country boy at heart, not just a metro Māori. I live at Maungawhau-Mt Eden.
“My siblings and I were all taught from a young age to serve our various Ngāti Whātua hapū and iwi. I am humbled to be able to do so for my people, and I am excited by this opportunity.”
Joseph Los’e was chief reporter, news director at the Sunday News newspaper covering crime, justice and sport. He was also editor of the NZ Truth and before joining NZME worked for urban Māori organisation Whānau Waipareira.