Pou Tuara: using industry experience to influence crucial change

Hauraki Erb is the Pou Tuara for Ngāti Tanewai

Working in the oil and gas industry for over 20-years has seen pou tuara for Ngāti Tanewai, Hauraki Erb, abundant in inside scoop on the workings of the industry and it’s affects on the environment. 

The husband and father of seven, found it tough working in an industry with opposing morals and values being fought against by Ngāti Ruanui. 

“I was definitely very conflicted with the industry and had many discussions about it with my people, my w’ānau. I see that environmental wise, they’re trying to work hard with consultation and doing things better but it’s effects on the taiao aren’t good. 

“I’m very glad that I was able to get out of that industry in the last year. 

“I have been able to share that knowledge of the bureaucracy and the underlining interests of the oil and gas businesses with w’ānau and the iwi. At the end of the day they are only there to make money.

“Seeing the hard work that the office has been doing behind the scenes and putting the environmental cases together has been impressive.

“I feel that my experience in the gas industry has been able to inform and support the iwi in our fight against seadbed mining and protecting our taiao.” 

Hauraki says that partnership with Māori is pivotal and that there are some exciting projects in the works. 

“One of the exciting projects we could see very soon, is offshore wind farms creating renewabale energy. It will be important that the operators partner with Māori every step of the way to ensure the environment is looked after.” 

Hauraki is in his second term of being a pou tuara for Ngāti Tanewai, and continues his ma’i as part of the Wharepuni Marae committee which he has been part of for the last 11-years. 

“I’ve always been part of the marae as a kid. Spending plenty of time there growing up. I found myself going back to hui and wānanga and finding that to make changes you need to be part of the committee, put yourself forward, and work with w’ānau and ‘apū.

“As a committee most recently, we have been able to source funding for the marae and seeing it eventuate with it’s renovations makes our people happy.

“Wharepuni Marae is special. It’s made of two ‘apū, Ngāti Taniwai and Ngāti Tupaia and like all our w’are, has it’s unique history. 

With the opening of Te Paepae o Aotea earlier this year, Hauraki has played a pivotal role as the Ngāti Ruanui iwi representative as part of the establishment board. 

“The challenge was big and wasn’t easy but was hugely rewarding to be part of making education decisions on behalf of not just my tamariki, but tamariki o Ngāti Ruanui. 

“It’s an honour to serve our people and I look forward to continuing to do so through the new year.”