For Justin Tipa, the newly elected kaiwhakahaere (chairperson) of Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, Māori language and culture just really floats his boat.

Justin, who has been Te Rūnanga o Moeraki chair since 2019, and its representative on Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu since 2021, started his new job last week.

Ngāi Tahu is the principal iwi of the South Island, and has close to 80,000 members.

The role of kaiwhakahaere is voted on by the 18 rūnanga representatives across the takiwā (tribal area) who sit on the Ngāi Tahu governance team.

“I'm incredibly privileged and humbled to have received the support and to be in the role, you know. I understand the weight of expectation that comes with these types of roles and am just really looking forward to contributing and building on the legacy of those that have gone before me,” he says.  

In response, he has just resigned as chief advisor Māori for dairy co-operative Fonterra, a position he held for seven years.

The father of four boys and his partner of more than 20 years, Ana, moved to Moeraki from Christchurch, with their three youngest, just over two years ago.

"We've raised our children speaking Māori, it's their first language. One of the reasons we made the move was for the kids to be closer to their marae, and I felt to be an effective chairperson, I needed to be present in the district and living near the marae and the rūnanga.

“So we made the decision as a family to move home.”

Justin was also born and spent his early years in the Waitaki, but almost at the opposite end of the district, between Te Kohurau and Omarama.

His parents and grandparents were in business together, and owned the Omarama Four Square, before buying the Kurow Hotel, which they ran for eight or nine years. 

They then moved to Christchurch where he spent his teenage years and early adulthood.

While te reo was not Justin’s first language growing up, it has always been a part of his life.

His mother drove him to kōhanga reo in Twizel every day as a pre-schooler, to be immersed in te reo, and he has always had a passion for Māoritanga.

“Anything around Māori language, kapa haka, it's just something that really inspires me.”

At Fonterra, Justin’s role was to “guide and advise the cooperative in all aspects of Maori culture”.

“That was growing relationships with our Māori shareholders, but also ensuring our social licence to operate, growing relationships between our manufacturing sites locally, and incorporation of Māori language and culture into the co-op.

“What I came to understand pretty quickly is that there are a lot of similarities between farmers and Māori, in terms of, I'm yet to meet a farmer that doesn't want to leave their farm in a better condition in which they inherited it,” he says.

Farmers think intergenerationally, like iwi do, Justin says, but the big difference is Māori whakapapa to the land.

“So our relationship with the land and the environment is one of genealogical connection.” 

As New Zealand matures as a country, businesses and entities within the country mature as well, he says.

"Embracing Māori world view, embracing the Māori culture is just a natural part of that journey, you know.

“We're one of the biggest employers of Māori in the country. So it makes sense that we have a workplace that reflects that.”

Justin is reluctant to comment on any potential issues with the new National-led coalition Government and the policies it promises to introduce, which sparked protests across the country this week.

He does support any individuals exercising their democratic rights, and that includes Ngāi Tahu tribal members.

Ngāi Tahu can and will work with any government, he says.

“Look, regardless of who holds political office, Ngāi Tahu will work with the government of the day . . . our priority is getting outcomes for Ngāi Tahu Whānui (the whole tribe).  And so, look, that's my priority. It’s working towards the Ngāi Tahu agenda, and we'll do that with whichever government holds office.”

Justin sees his role as kaiwhakahaere of Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu as a responsibility to ensure the entity is “fit for purpose to meet the aspirations of our people".

Ngāi Tahu is in a phase of resetting and visioning for the future, he says.

“So we've got a project called Mō Kā Uri, and that’s the Ngāi Tahu 2050 vision, and so we're working hard to connect with whānau and connect with the iwi to help shape that vision that will steer us for the next 25 years.

“So that's where my focus is really sitting at the moment - engaging directly with whānau, with the wider iwi, and ensuring we have their voice, and their voice shapes the vision that as an iwi we work towards for the next, you know, 25 years.”

The biggest challenge he foresees is “remaining connected and relevant” to the people. 

“Look, we've got nearly 80,000 tribal members, half of which live outside the tribal territory of Ngāi Tahu . . . I'm a big believer in the regions, so when we have thriving marae, thriving villages, I believe we'll have a thriving iwi.

“So for all those people, all of our whānau that are living outside the takiwā, I strongly believe that when our regions are thriving, it'll be easier for them to connect, you know.”

As for spare time? The lines between work and leisure are blurred.

“Whether it's working for our rūnanga at home, or whether it's the wider iwi, that's pretty much consumed my life for the last 20-odd years, and it's something I'm hugely passionate about.

“Anytime I'm moving in the language and cultural space that's just something that really inspires me, and yeah, it just really floats my boat, I guess.”