Monte Ohia the Maori Party Candidate for Te Tai Tonga

Glenys Papuni, Maori Party Electorate Chair for Te Tai
Tonga,Saturday 16 February 2008.

"Rereamoamo Monte Ohia was last night selected to represent
the Maori Party in Te Tai Tonga, in Elections 2008”
announced Glenys Papuni, Co-chair for the Tai Tonga
electorate for the Maori Party.

“Monte has spent over thirty years of his life in either
Te Waipounamu or Wellington with particular expertise across
all aspects and levels of education, including as a
consultant to national and international organizations”.

“Monty has occupied senior positions in wananga,
polytechnic, university, NZQA, Ministry of Education, and a
range of independent research organizations, Boards and
Councils” said Ms Papuni. “He is currently Te Pou
Matua/Kaiarahi for Te Wanaka o Otautahi (Christchurch
Polytechnic Institute of Technology)”.

“He has been very humbled to have been ‘the People’s
Choice’” said Ms Papuni.

“It was a very impressive contest for the nomination, with
a strong line-up of nominees” said Ms Papuni. “And the
selection hui were really exciting, with all three nominees
receiving a very enthusiastic response from the members”.

“The Maori Party ki Te Tai Tonga is in good heart and
raring to go”.

“We have a huge electorate across Te Tai Tonga” added Ms
Papuni. “It’s 161,000 km in area – you can fit twenty
general electorates within Te Tai Tonga!”

“Given the enormous breadth of the electorate, we know
that all the energy and vitality that Monte always gives
off, will be a huge asset for our campaign” said Ms
Papuni.

Background
The candidate selection process involved membership hui in
Invercargill, Dunedin, Greymouth, Kaikoura, Picton, Nelson
and concluded last night at Pipitea Marae in Wellington.

The other two contenders were Rahui Katene and Edward
Ellison. Rahui Katene, a lawyer, was previously managing
solicitor of Maori Legal Services. She also has experience
in the health and education sectors, and has worked with
many iwi to prepare their Waitangi Tribunal claims. Edward
Ellison, a sheep and beef farmer at Otakou is also Pae Arahi
(cultural advisor) to ACC in the Timaru-Rakiura region; and
has been appointed to many bodies including QEII National
Trust, the Sustainable Water Programme of Action (MfE) and
the Corrections Department Maori Advisory Group.

Glenys Papuni can be contacted on 021 257 3980

Monte Ohia can be contacted on 027-540-8475