Kuao Langsbury
Upoko

E Kuao, e pōua

Kei te ringa i raupā i ngā mahi hei whāngai i te iwi

Kei te toki rau tangata

Kei te Ika ā Whiro o Te Kerēme

Kei te Upoko,

He tauira tou!

He tipua tou!

E au tō moe, e oki, e oki e

Ko mātou ka hopo ā haere ake nei

Born and raised at Ōtākou, Kuao Langsbury maintained his linkage with the whenua and hapu of Ōtākou Rūnanga. From a young age Kuao was involved at the governance and management levels for the Rūnanga, Iwi and wider Maori community.

Kuao was a member of the Ngai Tahu Trust Board for 17 years and the Upoko rūnanga of Ōtākou, Chairman of the Board of Directors for, Ngai Tahu Finance Ltd, Ngai Tahu Fisheries Ltd and Ngai Tahu Holdings Corporation. Since 1991 Kuao remained the Manager of the Araiteuru Kokiri Centre and a Trustee of the Araiteuru Marae.

Kuao Langsbury’s whakapapa to Ōtākou is through his mother Roimata Josephine Whatu (nee Karetai) and the tipuna Karetai and Te Hu.

Kuao’s long period of association and service with the Iwi and Rūnanga provided him significant insight into the representation required for the Rūnanga and the table of Te Rūnanga o Ngai Tahu. He always had the best interests of the Rūnanga in his internal and external roles for the Rūnanga.