Tony Spelman - Ngati Hikairo

Tony is involved in tribal management for his Iwi Ngati Hikairo in Kawhia as Secretary of Te Runanganui o Ngati Hikairo. He is also involved in a Mangere community education and employment organisation as Chair of the Board of METTCi (Mangere Education and Technical Training Incorporated).

Tony has worked on the development process that led up the May 2004 Hui in Hamilton, was a member of the Transition Team for Tangata Whenua along with Atareta Poananga. He currently serves as the Tangata Whenua Co-Chair of the Taskforce.

In the Health sector Tony is a Community Participant in the credentialing process for Counties Manukau District Health Board Clinicians.

Since 1984 Tony has worked in the field of Human Resources and Organisation Development within the Public Sector and since 1990 has worked with the Treaty of Waitangi in the life and work of Public Sector organisations, in both central and local government.

Before that Tony worked for the Manukau City Council, as Manager of Governance and Democracy looking at the question of how communities participate in the affairs of local government as well as the effective development of sustainable Tiriti/Treaty relationships with Mana/Tangata Whenua.