Hokotehi

Shirley King

Ko Rekohu te motu Ko Pipitarawai te maunga Ko Maungatukarewa te awa Ko Te Whanga te moana Ko Kopinga te marae Ko Hokomenetai te whare karapuna Ko Tamihana Heta toku rapuna Ko Kaweau Mataira toku kuia Ko Ahenata Clarkson toku Mama Ko Shirley King ahau

I am the eldest of eight children. My mother is Ahenata (Aunty May) Clarkson nee Mataira. My Nana was Kaweau Mataira, daughter of Tamihana Heta.

I live on Rekohu and serve on the Chatham Islands Conservation Board and the Chatham Island Community Housing Trust. I am dedicated to maintain, grow and protect our asset base which is fundamentally our members and our culture. Over the years we have purchased land and fish quota to re establish the Moriori “Foot Print” on Rekohu.

Our members are our greatest taonga and it is the responsibility of the Trust Board to look after our people wherever they may reside.

I am committed to the Moriori kaupapa of peace. It is written in our visitors’ book at Kopinga Marae. “For there to be peace in the world, first their must be peace within”

me rongo