Who We Are
Waitaha Taiwhenua o Waitaki Trust Board:
Tumuaki: Anne Pate Sissie Te Maiharoa-Dodds
Deputy Tumuaki: Samantha Te Maiharoa-Bell
Treasurer: Emma Te Maiharoa
Secretary: Lesley Te Maiharoa-Sykes
He aha te mea nui o te Ao? He tāngata, He tāngata, He tāngata!
Meet Our People
Tumuaki
Anne Pate Sissie Te Maiharoa-Dodds
Anne (Aunty Sis) Te Maiharoa-Dodds is the last living of her generation, 12th in a whānau of originally 14 children (12 boys, 2 girls) born to Whakaririka (better known as Sandy Te Maiharoa) and Sissie Kerekere or Gregory, living at Glenavy. Attended Te Waipounamu Māori Girls College, Christchurch, for 4 years. Sadly, te reo Māori was not taught during schooling. Though this may have been a set back, she has important cultural knowledge of Māoridom. Anne recalls her mum telling her before she left home, “Always remember you are Waitaha, the people of peace”. In October, 2018, Aunty Sis and Uncle Bill celebrate their 63 years of a very happy marriage.
Treasurer
Emma Te Maiharoa
Emma …
Secretary (Interim) – Trustee
Lesley Te Maiharoa-Sykes
Lesley was raised in Glenavy and is of Waitaha, Ngati Rarua and Ngai Tahu descent. She is active in her Waitaha iwi and is the secretary of the Trust. Lesley’s mother, Margaret, grew up two paddocks away from the Waihao Marae and Lesley has been involved at the marae on the Executive Committee, as Deputy Chairperson and marae manager and was also a director on the Te Runanga o Waihao Holding Company. Lesley’s father Koata (Pop) grew up in Moeraki and Glenavy. Lesley has a Diploma in Iwi Development and currently lives in Ōtautahi with husband John. Her daughter Samantha and mokopuna, Brooklyn also live in Ōtautahi and her other treasured daughter, Susan, lives in Perth.
Trustee
Samantha Te Maiharoa-Sykes
Sammy was raised in Glenavy and is of Waitaha, Ngāti Rarua, and Ngāi Tahu descent. She is active in both her Waitaha and Ngāi Tahu iwi and is getting to know her Ngāti Rārua iwi. Sammy’s grandmother, Margaret, grew up two paddocks away from the Waihao Marae and she has been involved at the marae on the Executive Committee and is currently both a trustee and the kaiārahi of the Education Komiti. Sammy has a Bachelor of Teaching and Learning (Early Childhood) and Grad Dip of Teaching and Learning (Primary). She currently works at Te Rōhutu Whio in Tauwharekākaho Rolleston. Sammy lives with her daughter Brooklyn, two dogs, Dooley and Possum and cat, Bernie.
Waitaha Taiwhenua o Waitaki 