User:Ngataig

George NGATAI was born in Whakatane in 1971 to Hinewai Perera Matehaere of Ngāti Awa and Ngahuaotetau Richard NGATAI of Ngati Maniapoto. He is the youngest of 8 siblings and 5 brothers and two sisters and is married to Raewyn Bhana. George NGATAI attended Pāroa School, Whakatane Intermediate and Whakatane High School. His father worked at NZ Forest Products for more than 30 years. His mother was a leader of her own hapū and Iwi within Ngati Awa and was one of the first people to be trained as a trustee for Maori Land in the Whakatane area. She was a trustee on the Kiwinui Block, Rangitaiki 29A1 block and Te Paroa Lands Trust and also a large Pukehina Lands trust. In 1987 GEORGE moved with his parents to Invercargill and there he attended Kingswell High School. He became a young leader there and was instrumental in advancing kaupapa Maori programmes and advance te reo in his School. George NGATAI was a participant in the National Manu Kōrero speech competitions entering in both junior and senior Maori competitions hence his fluency of speaking in public arenas. George NGATAI was first involved in public office when he stood as the first student representative on the Kingswell Board of Trustees under the Tomorrows Schools strategy. George went into completing his seventh form year however wanted to finish school and start working. He asked his parent if he could do so and their response was that as long as he got a job he could leave school. He did so and in August 1989 he was offered 4 jobs with government agencies where he chose to work with Housing New Zealand. Unfortunately when he returned to advise his parents they had said no finish the year and see if the job is available the following year.