Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu
Ben Bateman is the Chief Operating Officer at Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu and also serves as a Board Member for the Ministry of Education of New Zealand and a Future Director at Meridian Energy. Additionally, Ben is a Panel Member at the Inspector General of Intelligence and Security Advisory Panel. With a background in law and military operations, Ben has held various leadership roles, including Chief of Staff at the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and Deputy Director Operations and Intelligence Law at the New Zealand Defence Force. Ben holds a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Science degrees, as well as an Executive Master of Business Administration from Victoria University of Wellington.
Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu
Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu Ngāi Tahu are the iwi comprised of Ngāi Tahu whānui; that is, the collective of the individuals who descend from the five primary hapū of Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Māmoe and Waitaha, namely Kāti Kurī, Ngāti Irakehu, Kāti Huirapa, Ngāi Tūāhuriri and Ngāi Te Ruahikihiki. Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu was established by the Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu Act 1996 and services the tribe's statutory rights and ensures that the benefits of the Settlement are enjoyed by Ngāi Tahu whānui now and in the future. Throughout the South Island there are 18 local rūnanga. An elected representative from each of rūnanga makes up Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, the governing body overseeing the tribe's activities.