Pōhutukawa
Maanu Paul
Ngā kahurangi o pae mahara
Maanu Paul Ngāti Awa, Ngāti Hokopū, Ngāti Manawa, Ngāti Pikiao, Tūhourangi, Ngāti Māhanga
Maanu Paul was a staunch advocate for kaupapa Māori and imbued Te Poutokomanawa o Te Puna Ora o Mataatau into the organisation to ensure we infused a tikanga based, kaupapa Māori centric model that would support the improvement of health and wellbeing outcomes for clients, whānau and hāpori.
Maanu Paul ONZM, JP earned his accolades through hard work and determination from growing up in Murupara through his many roles over the years. He was a committed and dedicated rangatira and puna mātauranga to Te Puna Ora o Mataatua and to many others.
His advocacy for whānau, hapū, iwi and hāpori, particularly when it came to health and wellbeing was unrelenting, pursuing matters that would create exponential benefits for others and for generations to come.
He gained experience representing matters of significance in education; legal matters brought through claims; treaty settlements; on whānau, hapū, iwi and hāpori (community) boards; and he was an ardent advocate of organic kai.
He supported pākeke and kaumātua from across Aotearoa as well as rangatahi. He was integral in establishing the Mataatua Movement (rangatahi leadership group) and involved in establishing Te Kooti Rangatahi: the Mātaatua Rangatahi Court in Whakatāne.
He gave his knowledge and advice to assist in paving pathways forward for Māori and others more generally. In 2019, he was recognised as an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services to Māori. The future of Te Puna Ora o Mataatua evolves through the influence of those who serve its purpose, which is to improve the health and wellbeing of our people.
Maanu was an influencer at Te Puna Ora o Mataatua, pivotal in all aspects pertaining to kawa and tikanga Māori and our kawanatanga (governance) responsibilities. He wove the knowledge of health and wellbeing into stories of learning that empowered us, stories that emphasised our mana motuhake (self-determination) to be kaitiaki (guardians) of our health and wellbeing. The knowledge he gave was priceless; the value was in the journey of the story and not the ‘end of the story’.
Maanu served our clients, whānau, hapū, iwi and hāpori with enthusiasm, not allowing any of the challenges he had faced over a long career to get in the way of prioritising health and wellbeing for the people.
Maanu leaves a legacy with us that is filled with pearls of wisdom that privileges kaupapa Māori at the cen
This information was shared by Fiona Wiremu
