Thrive Tangata

CDF with the CEO of Te Puni Kokiri, Leith Comer.

10 July 2007

The Chief of the New Zealand Defence Force, Lieutenant General Jerry Mateparae, was among the speakers at Thrive Tangata, a Maori-focussed Expo held in Auckland on 06 July. LT GEN Mateparae spoke on the theme of leadership and developing people as leaders, in the Defence environment.

In his presentation to the 500 strong crowd, CDF explained that warfare has historically been an inherent part of life for Maori, from their early encounters in the far north in 1845, through to the WW1 Maori (Pioneer) Battalion and the 28 Maori Battalion in WWII.  CDF also pointed to current Maori leaders in our Defence Force/ Te Ope Kaatua o Aotearoa and noted Corporal Willy Apiata’s magnificent achievement in recently being awarded the Victoria Cross. 

More than 16% of  Service men and women in the NZDF identify as Maori. CDF said people often ask him why Maori seem to flourish in the Army, Navy and Air Force.  “I think it is because Maori men and women are comfortable in this environment. They can achieve according to their performance in a familiar setting and they can represent our culture in an international environment", he said.

LACDT Jill Blackman (RNZAF), Major Eugene Whakahoehoe (NZ Army), and CDR Peter Waa (Navy) spoke about leadership in terms of their personal experiences and development in the single Services. Other key speakers at Thrive Tangata included Charmaine Love of Kia Kaha Clothing,   LeithCEO of Te Puni Kokiri (pictured above with the CDF), and the entertainers Temuera Morrison and Che Fu.

Ends