Kemp Dryden picked for Ngati Rangi post

Kemp Dryden

Kemp Dryden is the new pou arahi for Ngati Rangi.

Ngāti Rangi Trust chair Shar Amner said the trust was "very pleased...to appoint a leader who brings an intimate, working knowledge of Ngāti Rangi's tikanga and mahi."

Mr Dryden (Ngāti Rangi, Te Atihaunui-a-Pāpārangi and Ngāti Rongomaiwahine) replaces Andy Gowland-Douglas in the general manager role.

"As a trustee for eight years, chair for four and former Department of Conservation strategic Māori partnerships manager for the Whanganui and Taranaki region, Kemp not only brings a background of relationship-building from within whānau, hapū and iwi but also an extensive, professional working knowledge of our wider community and its stakeholders," Mr Amner said.

"From the trust's perspective, on a professional level Kemp brings all the fundamental skills needed and we are very lucky to be able to appoint someone who already has an intimate understanding of our aspirations as we move forward with our strategic plan including Treaty settlement.

"This is complimented with a full understanding of our tikanga, the history of Ngāti Rangi and a deep passion and aroha for our aspirations, he is the ideal person to step up and drive our team at the operations level."

Mr Dryden said he was "honoured and humbled" to be appointed.

"While I bring a strong corporate background and associated skills to the role, I also see growing up and contributing to my iwi at the flax roots level equally as important."