Presenter Biographies

Download a full list of presenters and their biographies here.

Meet your Hosts

Terry Nicholas - Upoko, Hokonui Rūnanga and Murihiku Regeneration Programme Director

Terry is the Manager of Hokonui Rūnanga and the Programme Director for Murihiku Regeneration. Terry has been involved with Hokonui Rūnanga and has been the Hokonui Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu representative since January 1999. His special interest is building succession out of settlement - “mo tatou, a, mo ka uri a muri ake nei”. Terry is also a member of the Just Transition oversight group, to ensure the rights and interests of Murihiku hapū are being represented.

Terry works tirelessly to protect and enhance spiritual, cultural, organisational, educational and economic aspirations of HokonuiRūnanga and Murihiku Regeneration.

Mayor Nobby Clark

Nobby Clark became Mayor of Invercargill City in 2022, after joining the council in 2019 and serving as Deputy Mayor from 2020.

Nelson-born, Nobby moved to Auckland after leaving school and was a Vietnam veteran by the time he arrived in Invercargill in 1975 to work in public service jobs.

He would later say that 20 years in the Navy, Prison Service and Department of Labour had given him a background in discipline and a moralistic outlook, and 14 years in social services brought a more humane perspective on the disadvantaged in the community.

Meet your MC

Dr Michael (Mike) Stevens

Mike is a Ngāi Tahu historian who grew up in Bluff. He and his whānau are stalwarts of the annual tītī (muttonbird) harvest and are well-known for maintaining he mahi pōhā: kelp receptacles which hold preserved tītī.

Mike has published widely on Ngāi Tahu history, in recent years through his work with the Ngāi Tahu Archive at Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu.

Long involved with Te Rau Aroha Marae and Te Rūnaka o Awarua, he is the Alternate Representative for the latter to Te Rūnangao Ngāi Tahu.

Opening Address Speakers

Tā Tipene O’Regan

Tipene was born to his Ngāi Tahu mother, Rena Ruiha O’Regan (nee Bradshaw) in Wellington in 1939. His father was Rolland O’Regan, a surgeon of West Coast Irish descent. His mother had been born at Kōpūtai but raised in Awarua (Bluff).

Tipene’s personal scholarly interest is largely in the traditional history and ethnology of Ngāi Tahu and Te Waipounamu. As well he has a major academic interest in general New Zealand history and the Māori political economy. Tipene has published and lectured extensively over many years on Ngāi Tahu traditional history, Polynesian migration, Treaty issues and the evolution of biculturalism.

Hon Dr Megan Woods

Hon Megan Woods is a Christchurch local and has been the Member of Parliament for Wigram since 2011.

Megan was sworn in as a Minister of the Crown following the 2017 election with portfolio responsibilities including Housing, Energy and Resources, Research, Science and Innovation, and Associate Finance.

Megan enjoys her diverse set of portfolios and has a particular interest in where they can complement each other, such as how research and innovation can be applied to new applications in the energy or housing sectors.