Tirohanga Kāwhia Johnson is joining Project Manager, Lees Seymour, as part of Ngāti Hikairo’s newly formed Treaty Claims Project Team. Te Runanganui ō Ngāti Hikairo are in the process of working through options for the negotiation of the iwi’s treaty settlements which includes the Takutai Moana (Marine and Coastal Area) Act 2011 (MACA). Te Runanganui ō Ngāti Hikairo have been granted the right to be heard in the High Court and will be building a legal case relating to mana whenua and mana moana for these court proceedings. Tirohanga will coordinate development of the research for the MACA evidence on behalf of Ngāti Hikairo.

Tirohanga has honongā to six of the 24 hapū of Ngāti Hikairo. Kōrero from her mother holds strong in the backdrop of her mind ‘We are all one people’. Tirohanga is the daughter of Mere Gilmore – one of the founding members of Te Rūnanganui o Ngāti Hikairo – and one of the original claimants of the WAI 1112 & WAI 1113 claims. Tirohanga looks forward to contributing to this legacy. She has worked in the arena of Community Development for the past 15+ years, and until now was a National Kaiarahi for the Parenting Place. She believes that we are in a pivotal season as an iwi and acknowledges all of those who have so far contributed to the crafting of this mahi.