Taituarā has been gifted a new name for its Te Ao Māori Committee, marking another step in the organisation’s journey to embedding Te Ao Māori across its work and giving meaningful effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
At their recent meeting on 6 March, the committee gratefully received the name Te Ranga Ahurangi.
Being based in Te Whanganui-a-Tara, Taituarā drew on their relationship with mana whenua to support the naming of the committee. The name was gifted by Kaanihi Butler-Hare (Ngāi Tūhoe, Te Āti Awa), Tumuaki Māori – Chief Māori Officer at Hutt City Council, who took time to carefully consider a name that reflects the committee’s purpose and the broader kaupapa it supports.
“I am humbled by the opportunity to propose a name for such an important and meaningful kaupapa,” he said.
The meaning behind the name
The full name Te Ranga Ahurangi reflects both the collective nature of the committee and its aspiration to guide the direction of Taituarā.
Te Ranga refers to a collective or assembly of people – in this context the committee as a formal body brought together for a shared purpose.
Ahurangi holds layered meaning drawn from the kupu ahu and rangi. Ahu speaks to direction and orientation, the act of steering toward a destination, reflecting the committee’s role in helping guide the organisation. Rangi evokes aspiration, reaching upward and striving for excellence.
The name also acknowledges the cultural and geographical significance of Te Maunga o Ahumairangi a significant maunga to Te Āti Awa that stands in close proximity to the Taituarā head office in Te Whanganui ā Tara.
Together, Te Ranga Ahurangi represents a collective leadership group working to help guide Taituarā as it continues its journey of strengthening relationships with iwi and embedding Te Ao Māori within the organisation and across the sector.
Taituarā Te Ao Māori journey
The Te Ao Māori Committee was established to provide strategic guidance and leadership as Taituarā strengthens its approach to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and Te Ao Māori.
The committee, chaired by Nedine Thatcher Swann, was established at the end of last year to help guide Taituarā and the local government sector as a whole, to ensure the principles of Te Tiriti are meaningfully reflected across governance, leadership and organisational practice.
Strengthening Māori leadership
The Te Tiriti o Waitangi positioning statement put out by Taituarā last year, sets a clear direction for the organisation’s work to support a future where Māori voices, aspirations, and rangatiratanga are central to shaping the local government sector.
As part of this work Te Ranga Ahurangi will run an in person wānanga for Kaimahi Māori in local government ahead of Te Hui Taituarā, the annual conference, in Ngāmotu New Plymouth. The event will be held at the New Plymouth District Council Chambers on Tuesday 8 September with tickets opening soon.
Committee Principal Advisor and Secretary and Taituarā Chief Operating Officer, Mereana Beconcini, says she is excited to be a part of this inaugural event.
“Some Māori working in local government can feel isolated, carrying this workload on their own. This event will hopefully be a chance to come together, share and support Māori leadership in local government. This is the first time we’ve run this event, but we hope it will be the first of many.”
Continuing the journey
In 2021, the organisation was formally gifted the name Taituarā by Ministers Hon Nanaia Mahuta and Hon Peeni Henare. Taituarā means “backbone” symbolising strength, support and the unseen work that underpins the local government system.
You can read more about the story behind the Taituarā name here: We are now known as Taituarā.
