Keynote Speakers : Sir Tipene O'Regan

Sir Tipene O'Regan
Sir Tipene O'Regan is Assistant-Vice-Chancellor Maori at the University of Canterbury, Chairman of Ngā Pae o Te Maramatanga, the Centre for Maori Research Excellence at the University of Auckland and Upoko of the Awarua Runanga of Ngai Tahu. He has published and lectured extensively over many years on Ngai Tahu traditional history, Polynesian migration, Treaty issues and the evolution of biculturalism and the wider politics of Māoridom.
In more recent years he has been a noted contributor to the debate on the forward development of the Māori economy and the modernising of tribal institutions. He holds three Honorary degrees ; a D.Litt from the University of Canterbury and Honorary doctorates of Commerce from both Lincoln University and Victoria University of Wellington.
As Chairman of the Ngai Tahu Maori Trust Board he led the Board through the hearings of the Ngai Tahu Claim before the Waitangi Tribunal and the subsequent negotiations with the Crown culminating in the Ngai Tahu Treaty Settlement of 1998. He was a major architect and negotiator of the Treaty fisheries settlements of 1989 and 1992 and the founding Chairman of the Treaty of Waitangi Fisheries Commission.
He is a Distinguished Fellow of the Institute of Directors and an independent director of a number of companies in both New Zealand and Australia He was the founding chair of the Ngai Tahu Holdings Corporation, Sealord Group Ltd and Te Tapuae o Rehua Ltd. He is a former Deputy Chairman of Transit New Zealand, and former Director of Meridan Energy Ltd and Television New Zealand Ltd. He is currently Chairman of Clifford Bay Marine Farms and Australian Bight Abalone Ltd (Aust) and a director of Whale Watch Kaikoura Ltd and Clean Seas Tuna Ltd (Aust). He also holds a number of advisory and consultancy positions. He was created a Knight Bachelor in 1994.