kia ora
Ko Tākuta Ferris tōku ingoa.
I am an independent Member of Parliament for Te Tai Tonga, guided by a deep commitment to whakapapa, whānau, and the wellbeing of the people I serve.
I am a descendant of Takitimu, Kurahaupō and Horouta waka. My whakapapa ties me to Kāi Tahu and Kāti Māmoe in Te Waipounamu, to Ngāti Kuia, Ngāti Apa and Rangitāne in Te Tauihu o Te Waka a Māui, and to Ngāti Kahungunu and Ngāti Porou. I was raised in the small coastal village of Pōrangahau, where I developed a close affinity to the land and the sea. I understand that it is this connection that grounds me in knowing who I am and where I come from — my identity, the land, and the ocean are one and the same.
Grounded in te ao Māori, my leadership reflects the values of manaakitanga, rangatiratanga, and a belief that systems must work for our communities — not the other way around.
I first stood for Parliament in the 2020 general election, where I was unsuccessful. Standing again in 2023, I was honoured to win the seat of Te Tai Tonga, which spans four island groups — from Wellington in the north, across the entire South Island, to Rakiura (Stewart Island), and out to Rēkohu and Rangiauria in the Chatham Islands.
Before entering Parliament, I dedicated more than two decades to education and kaupapa Māori development. I held senior leadership roles at the Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology (NMIT) as Director of Māori Education, and later at Massey University as Senior Māori Advisor, Principal Adviser Māori, and Pou Tikanga. In these roles, I worked to embed Te Tiriti o Waitangi into institutional practice, strengthen partnerships with iwi, and create pathways for Māori success.
My focus has always been on lifting outcomes for tauira, supporting staff, and reshaping systems to better reflect the aspirations of whānau and hapū.
Earlier in my career, I spent over a decade as a lecturer at Te Wānanga o Raukawa, contributing to the growth of kaupapa Māori education and helping to nurture the next generation of Māori leaders. Across all of my work, I have remained committed to advancing equity in health, education, and housing — areas where too many of our whānau continue to be underserved.He tāngata marae ahau, and I remain closely connected to my communities.
I am just as often found on the paepae as I am diving for kaimoana and supporting kaupapa across the motu. As a leader of Tamatea Arikinui, kapa haka plays a significant role in my life — grounding me in whakapapa, history, and kōrero tuku iho, and reminding me of the responsibility we carry to bring to life the vision our tīpuna held for us as mokopuna.In Parliament, I am known for being principled, accessible, and grounded in the realities of my electorate.
Te Tai Tonga spans vast and diverse communities across Te Waipounamu and beyond, and I take seriously the responsibility of representing those voices — from rural communities to urban centres, from rangatahi to kaumātua. I am a strong advocate for honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi and ensuring Māori perspectives are not only heard, but acted on.
For me, the future is one where our tamariki and their whānau are safe and supported — where we do not have to worry about our children being treated unfairly, and where everyone feels a deep sense of belonging to this whenua. It is a future that truly recognises Te Tiriti o Waitangi in the betterment of the collective.Outside of my work, I am deeply connected to my whānau and community. I value time spent on the moana, particularly diving — a practice that reflects both sustenance and connection to te taiao.
Whether gathering kai, being on the water, or spending time with loved ones, these moments ground me in what matters most.Ko te kai a te rangatira, he kōrero. Ko te tohu o te rangatira he manaaki.
Ko te mahi a te rangatira he whakatira i te iwi.I believe politics should always come back to the people.
My focus is simple: to serve with integrity, to uplift the voices of my electorate, and to help build a future where our tamariki and mokopuna can thrive as Māori.