Tama Potaka

{{Infobox officeholder

|honorific-prefix = The Honourable

|name = Tama Potaka

|honorific-suffix = {{post-nominals|country=NZL|MP|size=100%}}

|image = POTAKA, Tama - Hamilton West (cropped).png

|caption = Potaka in 2023

|office1 = 46th Minister for Māori Development

|term_start1 = 27 November 2023

|primeminister1 =Christopher Luxon

|predecessor1 = Willie Jackson

|successor1 =

|office2 = 17th Minister of Conservation

|term_start2 = 27 November 2023

|primeminister2 =Christopher Luxon

|predecessor2 = Willow-Jean Prime

|successor2 =

|office3 = Member of the New Zealand Parliament for {{NZ electorate link|Hamilton West}}

|term_start3 = 10 December 2022

|term_end3 =

|parliament3 = New Zealand

|predecessor3 = Gaurav Sharma

|majority3 = 2,433

|successor3 =

|party = National

|birth_name = Tama William Potaka

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1976|01|8|df=y}}

|birth_place = Raetihi, New Zealand

|death_date =

|death_place =

|spouse = {{marriage|Ariana Paul|2008}}

|relations =

|children = 3

|residence =

|profession =

|alma_mater = Victoria University of Wellington
Columbia University

|website =

}}

Tama William Potaka (born 8 January 1976) is a New Zealand politician and Member of Parliament in the House of Representatives representing the Hamilton West electorate. He is a member of the National Party and was chief executive of Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki before entering Parliament.

Early life and career

Potaka was born in Raetihi in 1976.{{cite news |last1=Los'e |first1=Joseph |title=Tama Potaka: What's a nice Maori like you doing in the National Party |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/kahu/tama-potaka-whats-a-nice-maori-like-you-doing-in-the-national-party/BSW5H74E5FHGZEVRPSI3J2COMY/ |access-date=28 April 2023 |work=The New Zealand Herald |publisher=NZME |date=26 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230425231332/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/kahu/tama-potaka-whats-a-nice-maori-like-you-doing-in-the-national-party/BSW5H74E5FHGZEVRPSI3J2COMY/ |archive-date=25 April 2023}} He has Māori ancestry through both of his parents, who were schoolteachers, and he affiliates to Ngāti Hauiti, Whanganui, Taranaki, and Ngāti Toa.{{cite web |url=https://www.tsi.nz/ariana-paul |title=Our team: Ariana Paul |website=The Southern Initiative |access-date=12 December 2022}} He was educated at Huntley School and Te Aute College, where he was classmates with Julian Wilcox, Aidan Warren, Billy Weepu, Karl Te Nana and Alistair Toto and became dux in 1993. He received Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws degrees from Victoria University of Wellington in 1999, and with a scholarship earned a Master of Laws from Columbia University.{{cite news |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/getting-our-dux-in-a-row/LWCNBQZUBRKGYKSA6Z4E3MZ24U/ |title=Getting our dux in a row |date=19 July 2015 |work=The New Zealand Herald |first=Joanna |last=Mathers |access-date=12 December 2022}} He passed the bar exam and became an attorney at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett in New York City.{{cite web |url=https://e-tangata.co.nz/korero/tama-potaka-for-maori-theres-no-economy-without-identity-and-society/ |title=Tama Potaka: For Māori, there's no economy without identity and society |date=9 October 2022 |work=E-Tangata |first=Dale |last=Husband |access-date=12 December 2022}}

Potaka is a graduate of Te Panekiretanga o Te Reo Māori{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xIFXAZagHo | title=Wh2019 Ep36 Panekiretanga Ep2 | website=YouTube | date=18 April 2020 }}

Potaka worked for Rudd, Watts and Stone (now Minter Ellison), various public policy roles, with Lake Taupō Funds, and Bell Gully. Potaka then spent seven years based in Hamilton, working as general manager corporate services for Tainui Group Holdings. He subsequently moved back to Auckland where he was a senior advisor at the New Zealand Superannuation Fund.{{cite web |url=https://www.leadershipnz.co.nz/blog/latest-news/2020/9/22/alumni-journeys-tama-potaka |title=Alumni journeys – Tama Potaka |date=22 September 2020 |website=Leadership New Zealand |access-date=12 December 2022}} He was appointed chief executive officer of Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki Trust in 2020. In 2021, he was chosen as one of four lead negotiators for the Mōkai Pātea Treaty of Waitangi claim.{{cite web |url=https://mokaipateaclaims.maori.nz/negotiators-appointed-for-mokai-patea-waitangi-claims-trust/ |title=Negotiators Appointed for Mōkai Pātea Waitangi Claims Trust |first=Lavinia |last=Jacobsen |date=19 November 2021 |publisher=Mōkai Pātea Waitangi Claims Trust |access-date=12 December 2022}}

Political career

{{NZ parlbox

|term=53rd

|start=2022

|end=2023

|party=New Zealand National Party

|electorate={{NZ electorate link|Hamilton West}}

}}

{{NZ parlbox

|term=54th

|start={{NZ election link year|2023}}

|end=present

|party=New Zealand National Party

|electorate={{NZ electorate link|Hamilton West}}

|list=24

}}

=First term, 2022–2023=

On 6 November 2022, Potaka was selected as the National Party candidate for the 2022 Hamilton West by-election caused by the resignation of independent MP Gaurav Sharma who had been expelled from the Labour Party.{{Cite news |title=Tama Potaka announced as National's pick to contest Hamilton West by-election |first=Jonah |last=Franke-Bowell |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/300732155/tama-potaka-announced-as-nationals-pick-to-contest-hamilton-west-byelection |work=Stuff |date=6 November 2022 |access-date=6 November 2022 }} During the by-election campaign, Potaka stated that Hamilton had become known as the "ramraid capital of New Zealand" in response to the nationwide surge in ram raids in 2022. He also said that he wanted "Hamilton West to be the best city to grow up and grow old in."{{cite news |last1=Franke-Bowell |first1=Jonah |title=National would bring back military boot camps for young offenders |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/300740657/national-would-bring-back-military-boot-camps-for-young-offenders |access-date=6 September 2023 |work=Stuff |date=17 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221119180551/https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/300740657/national-would-bring-back-military-boot-camps-for-young-offenders |archive-date=19 November 2022|url-status=live}}

On 10 December 2022, Potaka won the election, beating Labour candidate Georgie Dansey. Potaka gained 6974 votes compared to Dansey's 4541, a margin of 2433.{{cite web |last1=Le Quesne |first1=Karl |title=Results of the 2022 Hamilton West By-election Official Count |url=https://gazette.govt.nz/notice/id/2022-au5718 |website=New Zealand Gazette |access-date=24 December 2022}}

On 19 January 2023, Potaka was named as National's spokesperson for Māori development and associate spokesperson for housing.{{Cite news|last=Ward |first=Stephen |title=Hamilton's Tama Potaka picks up Māori development and social housing roles for National |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/news/300787622/hamiltons-tama-potaka-picks-up-mori-development-and-social-housing-roles-for-national |date=19 January 2023 |access-date=19 January 2023 |work=Waikato Times |publisher=Stuff |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230119025202/https://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/news/300787622/hamiltons-tama-potaka-picks-up-mori-development-and-social-housing-roles-for-national|archive-date=19 January 2023|url-status=live}}{{Cite web |author=New Zealand National Party |date=19 January 2023 |title=Luxon Sets Out Team To Contest The 2023 Election |url=https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA2301/S00035/luxon-sets-out-team-to-contest-the-2023-election.htm |access-date=19 January 2023 |website=Scoop|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230119020112/https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA2301/S00035/luxon-sets-out-team-to-contest-the-2023-election.htm|archive-date=19 January 2023|url-status=live}}

=Second term, 2023–present=

During the 2023 New Zealand general election held on 14 October, Potaka retained Hamilton West by a margin of 6,488 votes over Labour candidate Myra Williamson.{{cite web |title=Hamilton West - Official Result |url=https://archive.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2023/electorate-details-13.html |publisher=Electoral Commission |access-date=10 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231123104117/https://archive.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2023/electorate-details-13.html |archive-date=23 November 2023 |date=3 November 2023 |url-status=live}}

Following the formation of the Sixth National Government of New Zealand, Potaka was appointed as Minister of Conservation, Minister for Māori Crown Relations: Te Arawhiti, Minister for Māori Development, Minister for Whānau Ora, and Associate Minister of Housing (Social Housing) {{cite news |title=Who gets what? List of New Zealand's new ministers |url=https://www.1news.co.nz/2023/11/24/who-gets-what-list-of-new-zealands-new-ministers/ |access-date=23 November 2023 |work=1News |publisher=TVNZ |date=24 November 2023 |archive-date=23 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231123234038/https://www.1news.co.nz/2023/11/24/who-gets-what-list-of-new-zealands-new-ministers/ |url-status=live }}

==Māori issues==

On 15 January 2024, Potaka and Prime Minister Christopher Luxon met with the Māori King Tūheitia Paki to discuss several of the Government's policies concerning Māori including the proposed Treaty Principles legislation and plans to roll back the use of Māori language in the public service.{{cite news |last1=Hurihanganui |first1=Te Aniwa |title=More details emerge from Luxon's meeting with Māori King |url=https://www.1news.co.nz/2024/01/16/more-details-emerge-from-luxons-meeting-with-maori-king/ |access-date=18 January 2024 |work=1News |publisher=TVNZ |date=16 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240116111918/https://www.1news.co.nz/2024/01/16/more-details-emerge-from-luxons-meeting-with-maori-king/ |archive-date=16 January 2024}} On 20 January, Potaka and fellow National MP Dan Bidois attended a national hui of unity convened by King Tūheitia at Turangawaewae Marae. Potaka defended Luxon's decision not to attend the national hui and disputed several of the speakers' claims that the Government was underpinned by White supremacy.{{cite news |last1=Pearse |first1=Adam |title=Hui's white supremacy claims against government 'premature', says National minister Tama Potaka |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/kahu/nationals-tama-potaka-speaks-to-national-hui-at-ngaruawahia/RB5ZYOP4OZGDXKVDABLUMAR7MA/ |access-date=22 January 2024 |work=The New Zealand Herald |date=20 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240121234314/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/kahu/nationals-tama-potaka-speaks-to-national-hui-at-ngaruawahia/RB5ZYOP4OZGDXKVDABLUMAR7MA/ |archive-date=21 January 2024}}

On 13 August 2024, Potaka as Minister for Māori Crown Relations announced that Te Puni Kōkiri (the Ministry for Māori Development) would assume Te Arawhiti's (the Office for Māori Crown Relations) monitoring and Treaty settlements compliance functions. This decision was criticised by Te Pāti Māori co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer, the Green Party's Māori Crown Relations spokesperson Steve Abel and the Labour Party's Peeni Henare, who described it as a "backward step" in the New Zealand Crown's relationship with Māori.{{cite news |title=Government 'clarifying' functions of Te Arawhiti and Te Puni Kōkiri |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/te-manu-korihi/525032/government-clarifying-functions-of-te-arawhiti-and-te-puni-kokiri |access-date=15 August 2024 |work=RNZ |date=13 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240814104147/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/te-manu-korihi/525032/government-clarifying-functions-of-te-arawhiti-and-te-puni-kokiri |archive-date=14 August 2024}}

On 17 January 2025, Potaka as Minister for Māori Development announced an overhaul of the Waitangi Tribunal's membership. He appointed eight new members including Rangitāne Tū Mai Rā Trust general manager Tipene Crisp, lawyer and New Zealand On Air board member Philip Crump, Ngāti Raukawa Treaty negotiator Vanessa Eparaima, veteran public servant Rex Edward Hale, Manawatū District Councillor Grant Hadfield, Tupuora Education founder and managing director Kingi Kiriona, former Defence Minister and Mayor of Carterton Ron Mark, and University of Waikato law Professor Tafaoimalo Tologata Leilani Tuala-Warren. In addition, Potaka renewed the warrants of six existing Tribunal members including Ruakere Hond, Derek Fox, Kim Ngarimu, Hana O'Regan, Pou Temara and Kevin Prime.{{cite news |title=Minister overhauls Waitangi Tribunal membership |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/te-manu-korihi/539260/minister-overhauls-waitangi-tribunal-membership |access-date=18 January 2025 |work=RNZ |date=17 January 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250118102042/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/te-manu-korihi/539260/minister-overhauls-waitangi-tribunal-membership |archive-date=18 January 2025}}{{cite news |last1=McConnell |first1=Glenn |title=Minister overhauls Waitangi Tribunal membership |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/360551546/minister-overhauls-waitangi-tribunal-membership |access-date=18 January 2025 |work=Stuff |date=17 January 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250118102846/https://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/360551546/minister-overhauls-waitangi-tribunal-membership |archive-date=18 January 2025}} In response, Te Pāti Māori co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer

described the removal of several well known Māori academics as a "whitewash." In response, Potaka said that Ngarewa-Packer's comments were "unhelpful" and "undermined the knowledge and experience of the new appointees."{{cite news |title=Minister denies claim Waitangi Tribunal appointments a ‘whitewash’ |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/539707/minister-denies-claim-waitangi-tribunal-appointments-a-whitewash |access-date=23 January 2025 |work=Radio New Zealand |date=23 January 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250123013119/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/539707/minister-denies-claim-waitangi-tribunal-appointments-a-whitewash |archive-date=23 January 2025}}

On 9 May 2025 Potaka, in his capacity as Māori Development Minister, announced that an "independent technical advisory group" would review the Treaty of Waitangi Act 1975, which governs the scope of the Waitangi Tribunal. The National-led government had committed to reviewing the scope of the Waitangi Tribunal as part of its coalition agreements with the allied ACT and New Zealand First parties.{{cite news |last1=Ensor |first1=Jamie |title=Waitangi Tribunal review to kick off this year, Government confirms |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/waitangi-tribunal-review-to-kick-off-this-year-government-confirms-act-calls-it-activist/26L35ZWBDFCFPNMHQG4ONDTRMA/ |access-date=12 May 2025 |work=The New Zealand Herald |date=9 May 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250509050529/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/waitangi-tribunal-review-to-kick-off-this-year-government-confirms-act-calls-it-activist/26L35ZWBDFCFPNMHQG4ONDTRMA/ |archive-date=9 May 2025 |url-status=live}}

==Conservation==

On 3 September 2024, Potaka as Minister of Conservation and Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Matt Doocey announced that the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL) would be increased to NZ$100 to fund tourism-related infrastructure and services.{{cite web |title=IVL increase to ensure visitors contribute more to New Zealand |url=https://www.doc.govt.nz/news/media-releases/2024-media-releases/ivl-increase-to-ensure-visitors-contribute-more-to-new-zealand/ |publisher=Department of Conservation |access-date=18 January 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240909092539/https://www.doc.govt.nz/news/media-releases/2024-media-releases/ivl-increase-to-ensure-visitors-contribute-more-to-new-zealand/ |archive-date=9 September 2024 |date=3 September 2024 |url-status=live}} On 14 October, Potaka as Minister of Conservation announced 19 new marine protection areas in the Hauraki Gulf.{{cite news |title=New marine protection areas in Hauraki Gulf announced |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018959661/new-marine-protection-areas-in-hauraki-gulf-announced |access-date=25 October 2024 |work=RNZ |date=14 October 2024}}

==Housing==

As Associate Minister of Housing with responsibility for social housing, Potaka led the Government's efforts to reduce the number of families living in emergency housing motels and move them into social housing.{{cite news |title=Fewer than 1000 families living in emergency accommodation |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/534948/fewer-than-1000-families-living-in-emergency-accommodation |access-date=27 January 2025 |work=RNZ |date=27 November 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241223120509/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/534948/fewer-than-1000-families-living-in-emergency-accommodation |archive-date=23 December 2024}} The Government also tightened the eligibility criteria for emergency housing applicants.{{cite news |last1=Crimp |first1=Lauren |title=What you need to know about the new rules 'tightening the gateway' into emergency housing |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/526461/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-new-rules-tightening-the-gateway-into-emergency-housing |access-date=27 January 2025 |work=RNZ |date=29 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241212163713/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/526461/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-new-rules-tightening-the-gateway-into-emergency-housing |archive-date=12 December 2024}} In late November, Potaka announced that the number of households living in emergency housing had dropped from 3,141 in December 2023 to 993 in October 2024. By December 2024, the number of households living in emergency housing had dropped to 591. Potaka confirmed that 80% of former emergency housing residents had moved into social, transitional, or private housing but was unable to account for the whereabouts of the remaining 20%, saying "that they did not have to tell their providers where they were going."{{cite news |title=Government says it's hit emergency housing target 5 years early |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/539858/government-says-it-s-hit-emergency-housing-target-5-years-early |access-date=27 January 2025 |work=RNZ |date=24 January 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250127012153/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/539858/government-says-it-s-hit-emergency-housing-target-5-years-early |archive-date=27 January 2025}}