Tama Potaka: Difference between revisions

Tama Potaka
MP
Tama Potaka MP
Member of the New Zealand Parliament; for Hamilton West
	Incumbent
	Assumed office ; 10 December 2022
Preceded by	Gaurav Sharma
Majority	2285
Personal details
Born	Tama William Potaka; 1976 (age 47–48); Raetihi, New Zealand
Political party	National
Spouse	Ariana Paul (m. 2008)
Children	3
Alma mater	Victoria University of Wellington; Columbia University

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Revision as of 22:53, 12 December 2022

Tama William Potaka (born 1976) is a New Zealand politician and Member of Parliament in the House of Representatives representing the Hamilton West electorate. He is a member of the National Party and was chief executive of Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki before entering Parliament.

Early life and family

Potaka was born in Raetihi in 1976.^[1] He has Māori ancestry through both of his parents, who were schoolteachers, and he affiliates to Ngāti Hauiti, Whanganui, Taranaki, and Ngāti Toa.^[1]^[2] He was educated at Huntley School and Te Aute College, where he was classmates with Billy Weepu and Karl Te Nana and became dux in 1993.^[1]^[3] He received Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws degrees from Victoria University of Wellington in 1999, and with a scholarship earned a Master of Laws from Columbia University.^[1]^[3] He passed the bar exam and became an attorney at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett.^[1]

Potaka married Ariana Paul in 2008, and they have three children.^[1]

From about 2009, Potaka spent seven years based in Hamilton, working as general manager corporate services for Tainui Group Holdings. He then moved to Auckland where he was a senior advisor at the New Zealand Superannuation Fund.^[4] He was appointed chief executive officer of Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki Trust in 2020. In 2021, he was chosen as one of four lead negotiators for the Mōkai Pātea Treaty of Waitangi claim.^[5]

Political career

New Zealand Parliament
Years	Term	Electorate		Party
2022–present	53rd	Hamilton West			National

On 6 November 2022, Potaka was selected as the National Party candidate for the 2022 Hamilton West by-election caused by the resignation of independent MP Gaurav Sharma who had been expelled from the Labour Party.^[6] On 10 December 2022, Potaka won the election, beating Labour candidate Georgie Dansey. Potaka gained 6629 votes compared to Dansey's 4344, a margin of 2285.^[7]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Husband, Dale (9 October 2022). "Tama Potaka: For Māori, there's no economy without identity and society". E-Tangata. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
^ "Our team: Ariana Paul". The Southern Initiative. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
^ ^a ^b Mathers, Joanna (19 July 2015). "Getting our dux in a row". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
^ "Alumni journeys – Tama Potaka". Leadership New Zealand. 22 September 2020. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
^ Jacobsen, Lavinia (19 November 2021). "Negotiators Appointed for Mōkai Pātea Waitangi Claims Trust". Mōkai Pātea Waitangi Claims Trust. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
^ Franke-Bowell, Jonah (6 November 2022). "Tama Potaka announced as National's pick to contest Hamilton West by-election". Stuff. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
^ Franke, Jonah; Ward, Stephen (10 December 2022). "National records resounding victory in Hamilton West by-election". Stuff. Retrieved 10 December 2022.

[e-tang-1] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Husband, Dale (9 October 2022). "Tama Potaka: For Māori, there's no economy without identity and society". E-Tangata. Retrieved 12 December 2022.

[2] "Our team: Ariana Paul". The Southern Initiative. Retrieved 12 December 2022.

[Dux-3] Mathers, Joanna (19 July 2015). "Getting our dux in a row". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 12 December 2022.

[4] "Alumni journeys – Tama Potaka". Leadership New Zealand. 22 September 2020. Retrieved 12 December 2022.

[5] Jacobsen, Lavinia (19 November 2021). "Negotiators Appointed for Mōkai Pātea Waitangi Claims Trust". Mōkai Pātea Waitangi Claims Trust. Retrieved 12 December 2022.

[6] Franke-Bowell, Jonah (6 November 2022). "Tama Potaka announced as National's pick to contest Hamilton West by-election". Stuff. Retrieved 6 November 2022.

[7] Franke, Jonah; Ward, Stephen (10 December 2022). "National records resounding victory in Hamilton West by-election". Stuff. Retrieved 10 December 2022.

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 {{NZ parlbox footer}}
 On 6 November 2022, Potaka was selected as the National Party candidate for the [[2022 Hamilton West by-election]] caused by the resignation of independent MP [[Gaurav Sharma (politician)|Gaurav Sharma]] who had been expelled from the Labour Party.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Tama Potaka announced as National's pick to contest Hamilton West by-election |first=Jonah |last=Franke-Bowell |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/300732155/tama-potaka-announced-as-nationals-pick-to-contest-hamilton-west-byelection |work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |date=6 November 2022 |access-date=6 November 2022 }}</ref> On 10 December 2022, Potaka won the election, beating Labour candidate Georgie Dansey. Potaka gained 6629 votes compared to  Dansey's 4344, a margin of 2285.<ref>{{Cite news |last2=Ward |first1=Jonah |last1=Franke |first2=Stephen |date=10 December 2022 |title=National records resounding victory in Hamilton West by-election |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/news/300761903/national-records-resounding-victory-in-hamilton-west-byelection |access-date=10 December 2022 |work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]]}}</ref>
 ==References==