Reflecting on the past 15 months at the helm of Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, Mr Tipa described it as a time of "resetting the vision" and laying the groundwork for future prosperity.
"We’ve had a big year with lots of change ... we really want to see the district prosper," Mr Tipa said, emphasising the need for greater visibility and involvement within local communities, especially in regions like Waitaki.
As a member of Te Rūnanga o Moeraki, one of the 18 Ngāi Tahu Papatipu Rūnanga, Mr Tipa is deeply connected to the iwi, which has a presence across the South Island. Ngāi Tahu is New Zealand’s largest iwi, with 84,969 members according to the latest census, although more than half of those are based overseas.
Despite the global diaspora, Mr Tipa said the focus had remained on growing the iwi’s community both locally and beyond. He noted that historically, iwi and mana whenua had often been invisible in the Waitaki region, an issue he was working to change.
"Waitaki’s total Māori population was 2470 in 2024, marking a 2.5% increase from the previous year," Mr Tipa said.
"Te Rūnanga o Moeraki alone has about 4000 registered members, but over 10,000 people have whakapapa to our marae. This shows the strength and potential of our community."
Addressing key challenges, he highlighted the pressing need for housing and employment opportunities. In response, Te Rūnanga o Moeraki launched Te Hā o Maru Health and Social Services last month, aiming to bridge critical service gaps within the community while staying true to Ngāi Tahu’s cultural values.
"That’s a really exciting development, offering services that align with our cultural principles," Mr Tipa said.
"It’s something we’re really proud of."
Alongside his duties in Christchurch, where he travels three days a week, Mr Tipa is also dealing with an influx of legislative changes from Parliament and remains steadfast in his leadership, particularly in addressing the complexities surrounding race relations in New Zealand and misinformation surrounding Māori issues.
"I believe this whole Treaty Principles debate has taken race relations back decades," he said.
"It was completely unnecessary. But the country has matured in how we deal with each other."
For Mr Tipa, the focus remains on demystifying Māori culture and fostering direct relationships with businesses and communities to drive meaningful change. In Waitaki, he sees opportunities for local growth, particularly in areas like te reo Māori teaching and kapa haka, where the district currently lacks Māori representation.
Ngāi Tahu is also embroiled in a 10-week High Court trial regarding its claim over freshwater rights. Mr Tipa emphasised the claim was not about ownership or control but rather ensuring better management and sustainability of freshwater resources.
"Our rangatiratanga was reaffirmed in our 1997 settlement with the Crown," he said.
"We believe the current system of water allocation is unsustainable, and we’ve been ignored for decades. This is about putting a stake in the ground and working with the government to create a better system for the future of freshwater in the South."
Furthermore, the iwi’s environmental division, Whiria Te Waitaki, is actively working on wetland restoration and pest eradication projects in key Waitaki locations.
These projects are focused on traditional sites where Ngāi Tahu once gathered resources like tuna (eels) and whitebait, ensuring these sites remain accessible for future generations.
"Underpinning everything we do are the relationships," Mr Tipa said, referring to Ngāi Tahu’s long-standing collaborations with landowners and irrigation companies in the Waitaki Valley.
Looking ahead, he is optimistic about the future, particularly with the ongoing organisational changes at Ngāi Tahu Holdings.
"It’s an exciting time as we reset and refocus, and look towards the next 25 years," he said.
