Takitimu te waka, Takitimu ka mauka , Murihiku te whenua.

Waitaha me Kati mamoe me Kai Tahu te iwi taku mama.

Ngati Kahungungu ki wairoa me Rongomaiwahine me Rongowhakaata te iwi taku papa.

Kawarau ka mauka , Kawarau te awa, Whakatipu wai maori te roto.

Tahuna taku haukaik

Kei aku nui kei aku rahi tena koutou katoa.

Darren Rewi is a Māori Kaumatua based in Tahuna, Queenstown.  He helped set up the Leadership Lab Te Kakau programme in July 2020 which supports business and community leaders across the Queenstown and Wanaka area in partnership with the Queenstown Lakes District Council.  Darren is also a consultant in the Leadership Lab Cultural capability in Aotearoa kura project where he works with teachers to develop their competence and confidence in culturally sustaining practices.

Darren is the founder of Mana Tahuna, a Charitable Trust based in Queenstown, New Zealand. Its vision is to have a united Māori community that has a strong voice within the Queenstown community and are consulted in situations where it is appropriate to include Māori representation. Mana Tahuna want whānau to have an abundance of opportunities and to thrive in the community. They also want to have a tūrangawaewae, a stronghold where whānau can stand and belong; a place where whānau can come together and share korero (conversation), aroha (affection) and matauranga (knowledge) that ultimately improves the overall wellbeing of Tāhuna Māori.

Darren is also the Director of Take Tuia which we created post-covid when he was supporting both the Māori whanau and the wider community. He had been telling Māori stories and local history for many years both in the schools across the South and saw this as a way to connect cultures and support businesses and organisations that wanted to connect and engage with Māori.

Darren Rewi has supported Early Childcare Centers,  Primary Schools and Colleges, Libraries and many community groups through telling of local Māori history and legends (purakau) and  supporting them to understand Te Ao Māori (the Māori world) so they themselves can support their own communities. This has been his offering to the community for many years.

Darren also supports business and organisations helping them to engage with Māori and ensuring that in aligning their values and outcomes to Tikanga Māori that they were kept culturally safe. Darren saw an opportunity post-covid to continue his work in the community by creating Take Tuia where the profit allows Darren to continue his community support, especially after the Covid pandemic.