Estelle Pērā-Leask

I te taha o tōku pāpā, he uri āhau nō te Whakatōhea ki Opotiki, he uri anō hoki nō Ngāti Ruanui ki Taranaki ko Karia Pera tana ingoa.

I te taha o tōku māmā, he uri āhau nō Kāi Tahu ki Rakiura, ko Ngaire Hanning tana ingoa.

Ko Esther Pura ki Whenua Hou tōku tipuna, 

Ko Motupōhue tōku Mauka

Ko Ohekia te awa

Ko Rakiura te motu

Ko Estelle Pura Pērā-Leask tōku ingoa.

I'm a dedicated kaitiaki (guardian) of the natural environment, committed to ensuring the voices of Māori are heard and valued in conservation in Aotearoa. 

I've been an active conservationist for many years, when I first began volunteering on Whenua Hou.  I'm chairman of Bluff Hill Motupōhue Environment Trust, a director on the board of Predator Free 2050 Ltd and trustee on Predator Free New Zealand Trust, Kea Conservation Trust and a mana whenua representative at Environment Southland.

I was privileged to be named a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to conservation and Māori in the 2022 Queen's Birthday Honours.

 I was born and raised in Bluff and learned from a very early age the responsibility of kaitiakitanga, manaakitanga and whanaungatanga.  These kupu among others relate in Te Ao Māori to the obligation we have to protect our unique native biodiversity.  It is a tragedy that Rakiura continues to lose native species to predation by pests, the mana, the tapu and wairua of Rakiura is so diminished.  I'm committed to supporting this important kaupapa, and proud to be a part of Predator Free Rakiura!

Kia uru ora O Rakiura, kia kaha, kia maia, kia manawanui mō tatou ā mō kā uri, ā muri ake nei.
With strength, bravery and steadfastness we are resolved to succeed in our mission to return Rakiura to life, for us and our children after us.