Nanaia Mahuta

Nanaia Mahuta
Nanaia Mahuta, Labour MP for Hauraki Waikato, Spokesperson for Youth Affairs, Māori Development and Associate Spokesperson for Education (Māori).
Nanaia has strong family links to Te Kīngitanga, being the daughter of Sir Robert Te Kotahi Mahuta (1939 – 2001) who was the adopted son of King Koroki and the elder brother of Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu (1931 - 2006).
The late Sir Robert Te Kotahi Mahuta and Lady Raiha (nee Edmonds) Mahuta were integral to the negotiations that saw the settlement of Raupatu land and river grievances.  The work that Sir Robert and Lady Raiha did during this time was central to the eventual return of the Waikato Awa to the people of Tainui in 2010.
Nanaia grew up in Huntly at her Marae Waahi Pā, with her older brother Tukaroto and younger sister Tipa. She attended the local Rakaumangamanga School and Diocesan School in Hamilton and graduated with her BA and then MA (Hons) in Social Anthropology at Auckland University.
Nanaia’s father Sir Robert Te Kotahi Mahuta had a vision to establish a college for Tainui students to live, learn and be mentored while working towards their post-graduate degree and also to undertake research for the development of the Tainui people.   Sir Robert’s dream was modelled on Wolfson College part of Oxford University in England where he studied in the 1970s. This dream was realised in 2000 when Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu opened the doors to Waikato-Tainui College for Research and Development. Through her position as Associate Spokesperson for Education Māori, and the need to ensure quality education to her community, Nanaia has continued to support her fathers vision.