Tā Mark Solomon (Ngāi Tahu and Ngāti Kurā) has been Kaiwhakahaere of Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu since 1998. He is a strong advocate for the Māori economy and was instrumental in setting up the Iwi Chairs Forum in 2005. Tā Mark believes a true rangatira is a servant of the people. He is especially proud of his tribe’s achievements in education and in the development of the iwi savings scheme, Whai Rawa, which encourages iwi members to save for their future. He is a committed advocate of the sanctity of whānau and he takes a strong stance against whānau violence. He is passionate about his people and is determined to facilitate both iwi and wider Māori success, by unlocking the potential of the Māori economy for the good of all.