As the chairman of Te Matatini and under his leadership the organisation is receiving equitable funding that will ensure the sustained growth of kapa haka and the benefits that it contributes to Aotearoa.
His efforts have promoted Māori performing arts across a wide range of sectors that include education, public and private, as well as fostering international cultural diplomacy.
Tā Herewini Parata was honoured as a Knight Campanion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his extensive services to Māori in the 2023 King’s Birthday Honours. This recognition is a testament to his nearly five decades of dedication and leadership within Ngāti Porou and the wider Māori community.
Tā Herewini Parata’s journey of service began under the mentorship of his pakeke who identified his keenness to learn from them at an early age. They instilled in him the values of listening, observing, and putting knowledge into practice. His upbringing in Ruatoria, surrounded by supportive yet critical nannies and papas, shaped his strong sense of duty towards whānau, hapū, iwi, and the broader community.
Tā Herewini Parata’s recognition is not just for his contributions to his iwi and Māori, but also for his service to the broader New Zealand society. His tireless work in maintaining and nurturing the identity and wellbeing of Ngāti Porou and the wider Māori community stands as a legacy of leadership, culture, and dedication.
His extensive involvement in governance is highlighted by his long-standing role as a trustee of Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Porou since 1987 and its successor, Te Rūnanganui o Ngāti Porou, where he served as deputy chairman and chairman till 2023.
His leadership extended to numerous initiatives, including the Ngāti Porou Treaty of Waitangi claims negotiations and the enactment of the Nga Rohe Moana o Nga Hapu o Ngāti Porou Act 2019.
Beyond his cultural achievements, Tā Herewini Parata has been pivotal in several community and social service developments. He supported the establishment of the C Company Memorial Museum in Gisborne and was instrumental during the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent natural disasters, leading the Rau Tipu Rau Ora Tairawhiti leadership group in response and recovery efforts.
His personal life reflects his deep commitment to his whānau. Alongside his wife Amohaere Houkamau, they are proud parents and grandparents, actively supporting their whānau cultural and personal pursuits. His faith, influenced by his grandmother and Archbishop Brown Turei, has been the guiding force in his life.