Quick Facts
Biography
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. He has Māori ancestry through both of his parents, who were schoolteachers, and he affiliates to Ngāti Hauiti, Whanganui, Taranaki, and Ngāti Toa. He was educated at Huntley School and Te Aute College, where he was classmates with Julian Wilcox, Aidan Warren, Billy Weepu, Karl Te Nana and Alistair Toto and became dux in 1993. 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. He passed the bar exam and became an attorney at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett.
Potaka is a graduate of Te Panekiretanga o Te Reo Māori
Potaka married Ariana Paul in 2008, and they have three children.
Potaka worked for Rudd, Watts and Stone (now Minter Ellison), various public policy roles, with Lake Taupō Funds, and Bell Gully. Potaka then spent seven years based in Hamilton, working as general manager corporate services for Tainui Group Holdings. He subsequently moved back to Auckland where he was a senior advisor at the New Zealand Superannuation Fund. 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.
Political career
| Years | Term | Electorate | Party | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022–2023 | 53rd | Hamilton West | National | ||
| 2023–present | 54th | Hamilton West | 24 | 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. During the by-election campaign, Potaka stated that Hamilton had become known as the "ramraid capital of New Zealand" in response to the nationwide surge in ram raids in 2022. He also said that he wanted "Hamilton West to be the best city to grow up and grow old in."
On 10 December 2022, Potaka won the election, beating Labour candidate Georgie Dansey. Potaka gained 6974 votes compared toDansey's 4541, a margin of 2433.
On 19 January 2023, Potaka was named as National's spokesperson for Māori development and associate spokesperson for housing.
During the 2023 New Zealand general election held on 14 October, Potaka retained Hamilton West by a margin of 6,488 votes over Labour candidate Myra Williamson. Following the formation of the Sixth National Government of New Zealand, Potaka was appointed as Minister of Conservation, Minister for Māori Crown Relations: Te Arawhiti, Minister for Māori Development, Minister for Whānau Ora, and Associate Minister of Housing (Social Housing)
On 15 January 2024, Potaka and Prime Minister Christopher Luxon met with the Māori King Tūheitia Paki to discuss several of the Governent's policies concerning Māori including the proposed Treaty Principles legislation and plans to roll back the use of Māori language in the public service. On 20 January, Potaka and fellow National MP Dan Bidois attended a national hui of unity convened by King Tūheitia at Turangawaewae Marae. Potaka defended Luxon's decision not to attend the national hui and disputed several of the speakers' claims that the Government was underpinned by White supremacy.
