Canterbury Rugby League welcomes Mathias Pitama as first Mana Whenua Director

Canterbury Rugby League (CRL) has appointed Mathias Pitama as its first Mana Whenua Director on behalf of local iwi Ngāi Tūāhuriri.

The appointment follows a comprehensive constitutional review undertaken by CRL in 2025 in response to changes under the Incorporated Societies Act, which culminated in unanimous club support at the November 2025 Annual General Meeting.

Prompted by a desire to deepen engagement with the region’s substantial Māori league community and align with local iwi aspirations, CRL leadership, including former Chair Phil Borell and current board chair Janelle Riki-Waaka, established the dedicated board seat. Designed to provide cultural guidance and governance oversight in accordance with tikanga, the initiative formalises an enduring partnership between the sporting organisation and mana whenua.

Reflecting on the decision, CRL board chair, Janelle Riki-Waaka, said: “We see this as an opportunity to exemplify the positive contribution a partnership with mana whenua can make to the ongoing success of our game and its delivery for our communities.”

“While revising our constitution, the Board saw an opportunity to strengthen our engagement with mana whenua…

“inspired by the fact that our largest league community group is Māori, and by our desire to establish a relationship with local iwi and support their aspirations in their takiwā,” Riki-Waaka said.

Pitama brings more than four decades of deep grassroots and elite rugby league experience to the board table, having played for Rangiora, Papanui, and the Northern Bulldogs, alongside representing New Zealand during his playing days.

With three generations of his whānau embedded in the local game, including his son, Queensland Cup Redcliffe Dolphins player Sheldon Pitama, and grandson Te Koha playing for Celebration Lions, Pitama offers a vital blend of historical knowledge, operational insight, and cultural leadership.

Under the initial agreement, Pitama will serve a three-year term, after which the board will engage more broadly with all mana whenua groups across the takiwā.

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