Ihaka Cotter - Te Whenua Moemoeā Delegate

Ihaka is a business owner and operator for 39 years of XZACT Move Pty Ltd managing his staff, trucks, vans, finances and budgets. He holds Chairman positions on a number of community organisations and is a board member of MARSS Australia Inc (Migrant and Refugee Settlement Services) and the ACT Community Language Schools Association. 

He was honoured with an Order of Australia Medal, OAM by the Governor-General of Australia, Her Excellency the Honourable Ms Sam Mostyn AC for his distinguished service to the Māori communities across Australia and New Zealand. He has a long standing and valued relationship with government, the New Zealand High Commission in Canberra and other corporate organisations. Ihaka has been invited to speak/emcee at many events including Australian Citizenship Ceremonies and local, interstate and overseas corporate events. Ihaka is also a Justice of the Peace in New South Wales, Australia.

Ihaka’s work spans the numerous regions and states in Australia.  He has fostered cultural pride and identity among youth and adults alike. He has a Te Ao Māori worldview which reflects the values of whanaungatanga and manaakitanga and continues to uplift and unify Māori, Pacific communities and multicultural Australia. Ihaka is honoured to serve the people and his communities.

He has very high aspirations of ensuring that the Māori culture will continue to grow and flourish in all parts of Australia. His ambition is to provide our mokopuna with the resources and opportunities that they need to understand about who they are and where they come from as they make Australia their home away from home. Ihaka values being a husband, father, grandfather and friend and believes strongly that he has the best of both worlds residing both in Aotearoa and Australia.

Ihaka and his wife Trish tutor kapa haka in the Canberra/Queanbeyan and surrounding areas. Tumanako Māori Culture Group was established in 2003 and since its inception the group has always been made up of many nationalities. Tumanako has performed and travelled locally, interstate and overseas.