Kerepeti Edwards

Kerepeti Edwards is a prominent member of the Ngātiwai iwi, known for his activism in advocating for Māori rights and the protection of ancestral lands and waters. Recently, he led a protest landing on the Poor Knights Islands, a site of cultural significance, to oppose the recent amendment to the Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Act, which he argues undermines Māori authority and customary rights. Edwards has been vocal against what he perceives as threats to the Treaty of Waitangi and the broader rights of tangata whenua, emphasizing the deep connection of Ngātiwai to their ancestral waters and lands.