About Us

Having had a childhood connected to the whenua, it made sense to apply for a promotional role within Whenua Kura when the opportunity arose. I come from a large Māori whānau who were active in the shearing industry before developing a whānau owned and operated meat processing abattoir.  As a child growing up on site definitely had its pro's and con's, one being I was often found in the pens trying to pet all the livestock. (I did manage to save a goat whom I named Rosie, she lived alongside us for most of my childhood).

My previous work experience is in both the education and employment sectors. Māori success and achievement are at the fore of our whānau values and this year I am celebrating my 18 year-old kōtiro graduating from Hukarere Māori Girls College and heading to Auckland University next year to study psychology.

When I'm at home I like to work on my Gypsy Warrior Active Wear line that I sell exclusively to ngā mana wahine all over the world through an exclusive group called Kuini Klub. I am also an ambassador of Phyto-nutrient supplements, Juice Plus which I promote in the hope of stimulating better kai choices and overall hauora for our tamariki and older generations.

I am very passionate about encouraging and advancing the aspirations of our people through education, training and employment.

I live in Hampden (south of Oamaru), I love being by the sea, fishing, gathering kai moana and being in my garden.

My previous roles have predominately been within education.  I have been a Youth Advisor, Careers Advisor, Māori mentor, Kaitohutohu for Career NZ and a Māori and Pasifika Liaison Officer.

I grew up in the multicultural environment of east Christchurch, Aranui/Wainoni where I attended Aranui Primary, Chisnallwood Intermediate & Aranui High School. Our binuclear whanau were closely knit and very active in our sporting community. Like most kids growing up in the 80s, we had a lot of freedom kicking the streets. Fashion was epic Rats tails, Kung Fu’s, Fingerless gloves. Hanging out at New Brighton pier, beach/mall on Saturdays and Sundays with mates was a favourite – boogie boarding, surfing or chilling at Corner Ways playing video games or buying a scoop of chips. Watching breakdance crews battle off. The good old days when T.V. was ads free on a Sunday and shops closed.

My whakapapa takes me to Te Ika ā Māui, Whanganui and Whakatane ngā rohe and my Ngāi Tahu whakapapa and the whenua was broadened when my father married Natalie and through our natural practice of visiting whānau at ngā kaika for kinship and friendship ie: at Rāpaki is Kiti cottage, the whenua of Kiti Paipeta/Couch.  Rāpaki was a kid’s paradise, adventures roaming the hills, coasteering around the bay, jumping off the wharf or chilling out on our lilos in the water. I also have a lifelong connection to Uruti urupā at Tuahiwi where Dad rests in the Pohio whānau plot.

My career experience includes: Māori trade training, the tertiary sector, employment transition and sales marketing and in a past life I was a Dairy farmer.

I currently reside in Ōtautahi and for the past year have had the privilege of working alongside my Iwi. My heart has been filled as I have recently become a father for the first time to a beautiful baby girl Maia-Lily Hamoterangi Hunt who has me wrapped around her little finger. My passion lies with people and being able to make the most of the opportunities and future progression for to tātou nei Iwi Māori. I am excited to join the Whenua Kura Trust and take on this new role as Senior Kaitoko Mahi within the Whenua Mahi team.

My past roles have been as the Training & Employment Coordinator For He Toki Ki Te Mahi Apprenticeship Trust – supporting, placing and mentoring Māori into meaningful careers within the trades industry. Prior to that I spent time overseas playing footy and six years within the Civil Construction industry finishing up as Surfacing Quality & Technical Manager.  I look forward to the next two years of growing our kaupapa and ability to awhi Te Iwi Māori on a bigger scale on the land and in the primary sector.

Tuari has 25 years working in youth development, Hauora, mental health & addictions within Native communities around the globe.  A broadcaster, well experienced within Radio television, marketing, communications in the multimedia realm. He has also worked on the international stage as a speaker, facilitator and teaches a unique brand of leadership through the mediums of the traditional Maori Martial Arts.

He is the founder of the “Warrior Programme” a successful programme that works with children with behavioural issues, he also has worked extensively in Maori & Pacific Mens stopping violence programmes across the country. He describes himself as bird of many feathers.  Being Ngai Tahu & Ngapuhi he is active within his community at both ends of those rohe.

Tuari is also a former martial arts World Champion, he is a lifelong student of the martial arts and travels extensively to conduct seminars and advanced training courses.

“Ranagatiratanga and Kaitiakitanga is about a return to the Whenua for our people, as masters of our own destiny, Whenua Kura , is a visionary programme with a focus on creating a sustainable legacy for this generation and all that follows (nga uri a muri ake nei), in a pragmatic and upwardly mobile way, I am proud and excited to be part of this team”

To find out more about Tuari check out this video