Kia ora, my name is Herbert Vincent Rihari and I am proud to be Maori and grateful for the decision of both my parents, Hāpeta Paerata Rihari & Ngaurere Epiha Netana, to raise me within the tribal fabric of Ngāti Torehina Ki Matakā (NTKM). 

I was born in Kaeo hospital and spent the first 7 years of my life growing up in our most active hapū kainga of Wharengaere. These first seven years were foundational in shaping the tribal servant I’ve become, permanently woven into the whenua and vice-versa. Between the age of 7 and 10 we lived on a neighbouring property called Kaira, but still within the realms of our tribal territory known as Mataroa, before my parents made the heartbreaking decision to move to Auckland for employment. Despite the distance, my parents ensured we remained connected to every facet of our NTKM haputanga. 

My coastal, country-based childhood is a period of my life that I’ve always cherished and credit for distilling in me a sense of duty and passion for protecting and representing the interests of our hapū descendants and territories of land, sea and air. 

I believe that, whether it be by design or accident, the nurturing your parents inject into your ‘being’ and the opportunities they provide for you to connect and build a relationship with all the features of the surrounding environment (people, plants, sites of significance, landscape, seascape, stories, histories) are key to determining your tribal loyalties. 

Despite having whakapapa connections to multiple hapū, NTKM is my primary hapū of choice and I am committed to serving my people and protecting the mana and authority of our hapū – Ngāti Torehina Ki Matakā. 

For me, being a Te Whakaaetanga trustee is a privilege and an honour. I think of the destitute and desperate situations our tūpuna had to endure just to survive and salvage as much of their culture and traditions they could to ensure our hapu characteristics and identity remained intact. They were proud, loving people who deserved more and better, and so do our coming generations. 

I willingly and proudly volunteer my services and energy to our Te Whakaaetanga campaign believing in the rights and authority of all our Te Whakaaetanga hapū. 

I will give my everything toward restoring our Te Whakaaetanga hapū autonomy and guiding our ascension toward a full and proper recognition of our haputanga and tino rangatiratanga. 

Mauri ora!