2021 Council by-election

Ka huri taku titiro ki te pae maunga o Ruahine Takahia atu rā ngā tapuwae o Mātangi-waewae-hōpara
Ko te nohoanga tērā o Tahuriwakanui, o Ngāti Kauwhata e. Tū mai Maniaihu, tū mai Aorangi!
Ka tae ki te pūtahitanga ki Oroua me Manawatū
Ko Te Rangimārie te take, ko Te Manawaroa te mono
Tini whetū ki te rangi, ko ngā uri o Rangitāne ki te whenua!
Ka rere tonu, ka pikitia te pukurae ki whangaōkena, ki Te Urunga-o-Te-Rā
Hikurangi te maunga, Waiapu te awa, Ngāti porou te iwi!
Ka ū ki uta ki Te Mana-o-Tūranga, kia ea ai te kōrero a Ngāti Maru,
‘Te Kotahi ā Tūrāhiri, ripo ana te Moana’

E ko Rongo Whakaata ruku i te pō, ruku i te ao!
Ka rere tika ki te tihi o Aoraki, whakamau atu te titiro
Ki runga o Tuahiwi, ko te Marae kāinga o Ngāi Tūāhuriri
Mātai tonu te titiro ki Puketeraki, ki Kaitāne, ki Ōtākou
Ko Kāti Huirapa, ko Kāi Tahu e!
Tēnei te uri e mihi kau atu nei, tēnā koutou katoa.

Why are you interested in the role?

I’m standing for Councillor for Ipurangi Aotearoa / InternetNZ because it’s an opportunity to make a material contribution to the industry. I am committed to harnessing technological strategies that drive equitable outcomes for whānau. 

As a rangatahi Māori working within the digital sector, it’s important that we have representation at every level of the tech and digital world; to not only advance the now, but carve out our future. I’m proud to bring my extensive background in Digital and Whānau Ora to extend the capability and scope of this Council.

What skills and experience would you bring to the role?

My experience in working for cross-government programmes, NGOs and private sector ignited my aspiration to work for the benefit of people. It is critical to ensure whānau have equitable opportunity and access that supports positive outcomes. It was this desire for change that fuelled my investment into KiwiNet; a by-local, for-local initiative that supports digital connectivity to overlooked communities.

I am dedicated to working towards a nation that ensures the wellbeing of whānau; that ensures whānau have equitable opportunity; that supports all whānau in Aotearoa to become capable, creative, creators and innovators and to have the knowledge, skills and foresight to create a future where our rangatahi prosper in the digital world.

Digital equity exists when everyone can access and effectively use digital technologies so as to participate in our society, democracy and economy.

A new era of Māori development has arrived. Iwi have become major contributors to local economies and have been able to provide additional support to marae and to education. That support has frequently been directed towards building cultural competence by increasing fluency in te reo Māori, fostering wānanga to build connectedness and to explore whakapapa, and encouraging whānau to adopt values that align with tikanga Māori. The potential of Iwi to increase access to te ao Māori has yet to be fully realised.

Why are you interested in the role?

Kia ora. Internet New Zealand is undergoing deep transformation, with wide-ranging and far-reaching discussions being held that will impact the present and the future of the internet in Aotearoa - New Zealand. From digital inclusion and equity, to creating a safer, diverse and more inclusive internet, InternetNZ is often looked to as a thought leader and guiding light for action, and I would like to bring my experience, skills and extensive networks together to support the work being done for today, and to inspire the next generation of digital leaders.

What skills and experience would you bring to the role?

For the past 7 years, my wife Nikolasa and I have operated a charitable trust called Digital Natives Academy (DNA). We believe that by providing the best digital facilities and tuakana/mentors, whanau could connect with tech and tamariki and rangatahi could learn, share and find their digital passion. Our programmes are taught to local schools and our projects involve the whole community, from kaumatua/elders who support our progress through to the kids who create, explore and experiment, which in turn, gives me great depth in leading grass-roots initiatives.

At a governance level, I have served on the Rotorua Lakes Council for 10 years (since 2010), first as a member of the Te Arawa Standing Committee and currently as an Iwi Representative on Te Tatau o Te Arawa. Our role is to create a vibrant, diverse and dynamic city by acknowledging the partnership between council, the community and iwi. I am the Iwi Representative on the Strategy, Policy & Finance Committee, which is one of two major committees of Council.

Equally, I serve as a committee member of my fathers marae, Te Takinga, located in the paradise of Mourea, and my role here is to make decisions pertaining to the mana of our hapu and the maintenance of our marae and facilities.

Previously, I was a member of the Ministerial Digital Economy & Digital Inclusion Advisory Group (2019-2020) and have served on numerous community and commercial boards.

Why are you interested in the role?

Born and raised in California, under the shelter of the Diablo Mountains, near the shore of the San Francisco Bay, as were my parents and their parents, my home of choice is Te Whanganui-a-Tara / Wellington. My name is Kelly Buehler.

I’m standing for Councillor of Ipurangi Aotearoa / InternetNZ. Ipurangi Aotearoa is of huge importance to me personally, and I’m keen to help it achieve its potential.

I want to help Ipurangi Aotearoa deliver clear, tangible outputs and re-think its purpose in Aotearoa and the world. We must serve the people and communities of Aotearoa online, lifting us all as a country. Aotearoa has shown before that we can lead the world to a better, more equitable society.

If this is the Ipurangi Aotearoa / InternetNZ that you want to see then please consider voting for me.

What skills and experience would you bring to the role? 

Bringing a broad array of capabilities stemming from years of experience in successful business management, strategy, and transformation, I have 20 years of board experience in the non-profit/ charity/ education sectors.

An experienced business consultant, an MBA, and certified Enterprise Architect, I operate comfortably at a strategic level, as well as drilling deep into details.

My previous term on the Ipurangi Aotearoa / InternetNZ council included:

• Chaired the membership committee;
• Led the organisational review;
• Appointed to the DNC Board Chair Selection Committee; and
• Appointed to the Grant Committee

On other boards, I have:

• Restructured Board and Governance frameworks, formulated long-range organisational goals, and developed policy and position papers in consultation with, or on behalf of the Chief Executive Officer;
• Evaluated and provided support to the CEO;
• Developed full organisational constitutions and documents;
• Defined the organisation's mission and purpose, ensured effective organisational planning;
• Architected organisational and membership structures and created and updated mission and vision statements; and
• Prepared financial statements and was entrusted with the control and transfer of funds.

On the Council, I will be a voice for an Ipurangi Aotearoa that:

• Engages as an equal with its members and other stakeholders;
• Is highly visible, unafraid to speak to Aotearoa when its leadership is needed;
• Actively recruits a diverse and engaged membership;
• Recognises its part in perpetuating the misdeeds of colonisation and takes a lead in decolonisation of the Internet;
• Advocates for an Internet that genuinely is for all; and
• Achieves the potential that we all know it can.