Held by the Collective: Welcoming Hariata Vercoe MNZM
There are days in the life of an organisation that stay with you.
Not because of what is said on paper, but because of what is felt in the space — in the karanga, in the footsteps onto the marae, in the quiet acknowledgements between people who know the weight of the moment.
The pōhiri to welcome our new Chief Executive, Hariata Vercoe MNZM, was one of those days.
Held at Paratehoata (Tūnohopū) Marae in Ōhinemutu, the occasion carried a deep sense of whakapapa and belonging. This is a place grounded in the identity of Ngāti Tūnohopū of Te Ure o Uenukukōpako and Ngāti Whakaue — a place where stories are not just told, but lived.
Hariata did not arrive alone.
She came supported by more than 100 people — whānau and representatives from Korowai Aroha, Ngāti Pikiao, and our collective partners from across the rohe. It was a powerful reminder that leadership, in this space, is never individual. It is carried by many.
The pōhiri began with a haka pōhiri from our haukāinga — strong, grounding, and filled with intent. It set the tone immediately. This was not just a formal welcome; this was an acknowledgement of the journey that has brought us here, and the responsibility that sits ahead.
As the manuhiri moved onto the marae, there was a sense that this was more than an arrival. For many, Hariata’s presence felt like a continuation — a returning, rather than a beginning.
Following the formalities, we moved into Rukuwai, the whare kai, where the hākari brought everyone together. It was here, in a more intimate space, that Hariata stood to speak.
Her kōrero was simple, but deeply anchored.
She spoke of growing up at the pā — of being a child running freely across the marae, before being called into the back to help. Of being guided by kuia who held the responsibility of nurturing the next generation, not through instruction alone, but through presence, expectation, and care.
“That was my grounding in Whānau Ora,” she shared.
It was in those early experiences that she came to understand what Whānau Ora truly is — not just a framework or a service model, but a way of being.
“It was always the kuia that nurtured us into our roles. And that’s what I think Whānau Ora is — it’s the manaaki from the back. We’re there to serve our people, helping them to aspire and to thrive.”
In that moment, the kaupapa became clear again.
Whānau Ora is not about standing at the front. It is about holding from behind. It is about creating the conditions where others can stand, grow, and lead.
The day itself reflected that philosophy.
It was collective. It was supported. It was grounded in tikanga. And it was led with humility.
As Hariata steps into this role, she does so not as someone new to the journey, but as someone deeply woven into it — through her experience, her relationships, and her understanding of what it means to serve.
This was not just a welcome.
It was a reaffirmation of who we are, where we come from, and how we move forward together.
A new chapter has begun — but it stands firmly on the shoulders of those who have always carried the kaupapa.
Nau mai, haere mai e te rangatira.