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Eru Thompson - Chairperson

Cultural Advisor, Facilitator, Consultant, Insurance Broker, Kaumatua
A member of Te Kawerau a Maki, Ngati Mahanga, Te Ahiwaru, Ngati Te Ata and Te Waiohua decent.

An active board member of the Mana Whenua tribes, Cultural Advisor, and Kaumatua to Te Kawerau a Maki and Te Waiohua, of the Tainui waka. Eru's background is hugely diverse and spreads across several disciplines. He is a recognised expert in Maori issues and actively supports many organisations within the Auckland region as a Cultural Advisor and a Tainui Kaumatua.

Eru has held many leadership roles in the Counties Manukau Region for several community organisations including the amalgamation of the seven district councils that made up the Auckland Regional Economic Development organisation's Maori component, as Chairman.

Chairman of the Manukau Institute of Technology's Runanga Advisory board, which is the Maori Community Stakeholder forum that provides the Cultural advice and support to the Manukau Institute of Technology.

He is a Trustee and the current Chairman of the Manurewa marae, with his Trust Board members revamped the marae to it's present beauty, allowing relationships to occur in a M.O.U partnership right across the Manurewa and Counties Manukau region, as a way of promoting the marae

He is a member of the national Te Atamira Taiwhenua's Kaumatua board of the Department of Internal Affairs providing advice to the Department.

Eru was co-opted onto the Counties Manukau District Health Hospital Advisory Committee, picking up a position for Manawhenua on the Community and Pharmacy Advisory board and now holds a tribal role on the Manawhenua Health Board of the region. Eru was instrumental in starting the Nga Uri a Mahanga Tribal Trust Board, signalling the rights of Manawhenua Hapu decendants, to have a voice, and be acknowledged in their own tribal boundary. He continues to provide support to the Waitakere, Auckland and the Manukau City Councils in a supportive kaumatua and cultural capacity

He was Past Chairman of the Nga Tapuwae College Parents committee which provided whanau support to the students, parents and the Kura. He also held the Chairman's role of his son's local Kohanga Reo, Whaia te Matauranga Te Kohanga Reo.

Eru's no nonsense attitude to the mana of the Treaty of Waitangi, and how it evolved, committed him and his people to the total delivery of it's contents. Promoting the Treaty of Waitangi not only because of it's principles, but because he believes Maori have been true to it's kaupapa, and that Aotearoa needs to lead when it comes to it's Indigenous peoples rights, on a global stand.

Eru helped setup the first Maori Mental Health Community Workers Support group Te Tira Manaaki, in Counties Manukau whilst employed by South Auckland health, with a view to providing Cultural support to Maori community workers in a mainstream setting.

He went on to hold a Tribal position on three Police Maori Advisory boards in the Auckland Region, actively participating in Local issues.

He currently continues to advocate for Maori inclusion in all environments of the Auckland Region, with a passion to promoting the development of Rangatahi in Leadership roles, an area that he advocates passionately.

Eru Thompson has been very pivotal in the ongoing development of Manukau Cities Cultural environment along with others, continues to support his community as one of the key leaders in the Auckland region.

Maaku ano tooku whare e hanga, ko nga poupou a roto, ko kaitiakitanga, ko manaakitanga, ko whanaungatanga,
naaku iti neki
Eru Thompson. Paimarire.