Mark Solomon, the former kaiwhakahaere (Chair) of Ngāi Tahu's governing council, speaks with Nic Lowe about leadership in this highlight of WORD Christchurch 2021.

Listen to Tā (Sir) Mark Solomon in conversation with Nic Lowe at Word Christchurch 2021

In 1998, on the eve of Ngāi Tahu reaching settlement with the Crown, former foundryman Mark Solomon stepped into the role of kaiwhakahaere (Chair) of the iwi's governing council, Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu. Taking the place of Sir Tipene O'Regan, he had taken up a high-profile position as one of the most visible Māori leaders in the country. His memoir Mana Whakatipu (co-authored with Mark Revington), details his years at the helm of the tribe.

Mark Solomon:

I'd gone out to Tuahiwi bitterly cold, and got there before the home people arrived for a mihi whakatau. It's freezing, so when I responded I just stood up and gave the response. Came to the hongi and the haruru and I get to one of the elders, Jono Cross. And he goes "Are you in a hurry, boy?" My response was "No, why?" to which he replied, "You've got your coat on."

I said, "Yeah, 'cause its freezing, man." All he said was, "No. It looks like you're ready to run."

That November we had a hui down at Ōraka Aparima, at Colac Bay. Anyway it was freezing. My turn to speak on the paepae so I stood up and I took my coat off. I could hear a young girl behind us say to her grandmother, "What's he taking his coat off for? It's freezing." She said, "He's showing respect to the people."

So Jono's little question - "You in a hurry boy?" - was a lesson that when you stand up in front of people, you take your coat off. It's a traditional thing, a bit like Asians when they handle business cards. It's always with two hands with the name facing you and they present it. And if they ever present it from a single hand it's always from the right. There's a simple rationale: all traditional Asian swordspeople were right-handed, To hand something with your left leaves your right hand - your weapon hand - free, so it's taken as an insult. You stand up in a paepae, you take your coat off 'cause you say "I'm here to talk, I'm not here for war."

Nic Lowe:

When you actually took on the role of kaiwhakahaere were you ready for it?

Mark Solomon:…

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details