Brendan Flack (Kāi Tahu, Kāti Mamoe, Kāi Te Ruahikihiki) is a Tangata Tiaki for Kāti Huirapa, Chair of the East Otago Taiāpure Committee and is the Pou Tuarā for Coastal People : Southern Skies, helping guide and support the five community anchor sites.
Brendan is project leader of the CPSS funded grant ‘Ruruku’ which is about bringing the community together to wānanga around the planning and construction of a traditional sailing canoe. This project is based in Karitane with Hau te Ruruku ki Puketeraki waka club and Kāti Huirapa ki Puketeraki hapū. For over ten years, the community at Puketeraki has worked alongside CPSS-affiliated researchers leading out on dozens of teaching and research programmes.
Brendan also leads the He Pataka Wai Ora Project, that monitors the health of the Waikouaiti River, has an important role in the development and testing of the Marine Cultural Health Index (MCHI) tool and is also involved in the Marine Metre squared programme (www.mm2.net.nz) as well as working for Kāti Huirapa Rūnaka ki Puketeraki.