Te Poa Karoro (Paul) Morgan is a modern Māori leader advancing his people into a more positive future carrying their history with them. His high intellect and astute business acumen are well respected throughout Aotearoa, and he is an avid user of social media to communicate back to his people.
Paul was born and raised in Wellington “i roto i te rangimarie me te manaakitanga ki ngā tangata katoa”. His father’s whakapapa is from Te Tau Ihu o Te Waka a Maui and his mother is from Te Tai Tokerau. He grew up in a home filled with visiting whānau from Northland or the top of the South Island and new arrivals to Wellington in search of work. His father, Uncle Kiwa would often employ the new arrivals of young men in his building business; his mother, Aunty Vera would seek out work for the girls. From an early age, Paul learned good work ethic, manaakitanga, whanaungatanga and whakapapa.
Rathkeale College, Victoria University and Stanford University provided his formal education. While attending hui as a young man with his parents, Paul honed his listening skills and photographic memory allowing him to record his tribal history and stories from the old people. He has dedicated his life to serving his people. In 2009 he was awarded a QSM for his contribution to Māori business and significant developments within the Māori community. That same year the Listener Magazine rated him as the most influential Māori Leader outside of government.
Formally Paul was the Chief Executive of FOMA for twenty years, New Zealand’s largest Māori business network with assets of $10 billion, He currently chairs Wakatū Incorporation, and along with the Board manages an asset base of $300 million. Seventy per cent of the Wakatū Incorporation assets are held in land and water space, a diverse portfolio of vineyards, orchards, residential properties, large retail developments, office buildings and marine farms. Based in Nelson, Wakatū owners descend from four iwi - Te Ātiawa, Ngāti Rārua, Ngāti Koata and Ngāti Tama. The legacy of Wakatū is to preserve the land and resources for future generations - He taonga tuku iho.
Paul Morgan May 2016, Wild Tomato, Nelson Tasman and Marlborough's magazine https://wildtomato.co.nz/2016/05/paul-morgan/
Paul Morgan Queen Service Medal 2009 for services to Māori business and Māori https://gg.govt.nz/images/paul-morgan
Paul Morgan Formerly, CEO of the Federation of Maori Authorities http://www.fomana.co.nz/innovation/
Wakatū Incorporation website https://www.wakatu.org/
Ropata Stephens, Ngāti Rarua, Te Atiawa, Ngāiterangi, Trustee, Te Awhina Marae