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NZFSA celebrates with new kaumatua

5 February 2008

Late last year NZFSA held a powhiri to welcome Charles (Bunny) Romi Tumai who has been appointed as kaumatua to NZFSA. This is an important step for NZFSA to ensure that the mana of the organisation is upheld in relationships with Māori.

As NZFSA’s kaumatua Bunny will provide expert leadership and direction on food safety initiatives with whānau, hapu and iwi, and in particular on Marae. He will be working with Raniera Bassett, NZFSA Programme Manager (Community Extension) – his first task being Te Kai Manawa Ora – Marae Food Safety Initiative.

Bunny is affiliated to the Tainui iwi. He currently works as a trainer/teacher with the Huakina Trust of Pukekohe and has previously worked in Defence, Tainui Trust, Māori Affairs and the Education Services sector. He is currently studying for a Bachelors degree in Information Management (Archival) and is a Vietnam veteran-returned serviceman.

The benefits for NZFSA are outlined in its strategy for involving Māori in food safety and consumer protection issues (A Shared Vision: Mātaki Whanui). The appointment of a kaumatua for NZFSA has the potential to:

• strengthen NZFSA’s profile in Te Ao Māori/Māori communities throughout Aotearoa/New Zealand on food safety issues

• maintain cultural safety for NZFSA staff when engaging with Māori on specific food safety issues

• open up pathways for working in a new way when engaging with Māori and the wider community on food safety initiatives.

The Māori strategy can be found on NZFSA’s website at www.nzfsa.govt.nz.

Ends

For further comment contact: Raniera Bassett, NZFSA Programme Manager (Community Extension), (04) 894 2449

For further information contact: Gary Bowering, Manager (Communications), (04) 894 2532