Forty Years of Service by Master Carver & Kaumātua Rei Mihaere Honoured with Hamilton Civic Award
Hamilton City Council has recognised master carver, cultural leader, and long-serving community advocate Rei Mihaere with a prestigious Hamilton Kirikiriroa Civic Award, acknowledging more than forty years of service to whānau, schools, marae, and the wider community.
“To be honest, I am still in shock about it. It’s a humbling experience, as I wasn’t expecting it,” said Rei Mihaere. “I have always believed that when we reconnect our tamariki to their culture, their whakapapa, and their own sense of worth, they stand taller. It has been my privilege to walk alongside them, their whānau, and our community. This award belongs to all of us who believe in lifting our young people and helping them thrive.”
The revered whakairo expert and Kaumātua for both Te Kōhao Health and Kirikiriroa Marae, Rei has dedicated his life to strengthening cultural identity, supporting disenfranchised whānau, and reconnecting tamariki and rangatahi with te ao Māori. His impact spans generations and reaches deep into the cultural fabric of Kirikiriroa.
“We absolutely applaud Rei for being recognised with this Civic Award. His contribution to this city, and to almost every community within Kirikiriroa, has been immense,” said Lady Tureiti Moxon, Managing Director of Te Kōhao Health. “Through his carving programmes, cultural leadership, and unwavering service, he has uplifted whānau for generations. It couldn’t have happened to a better person, and we are thrilled that Hamilton City Council has honoured him in this way.”
Likewise, one of his three nominators, artist Hakahaka Tāne, describes Rei as “a taonga to our community and most deserving of the 2025 Civic Recognition Award,” highlighting the profound cultural value of his lifelong dedication.
Through the Tipuaki Programme, recently featured on SevenSharp, first established at Hillcrest Primary School and now expanded to fourteen schools in the Hillcrest Rōpū, Rei has created alternative educational pathways for young people, particularly those for whom mainstream schooling has not met their needs.
These carving programmes foster cultural identity, aroha, awhi, confidence, and intergenerational pride, transforming lives across the Waikato. Schools involved in Tipuaki report improved attendance, engagement, and academic outcomes for participating tamariki.
“Rei’s Tipuaki Programme has changed outcomes for tamariki across our schools, improving attendance, restoring confidence, and giving them a sense of achievement and cultural pride. His impact is real, measurable, and profound. He is truly deserving of this recognition,” said Project Manager Andrew Roche, another nominator backing the Kaumātua.
Rei has also championed gender equity in traditional arts, creating opportunities for wāhine and tāhine to participate in whakairo through the use of compressed fibre board. By challenging historic boundaries and fostering inclusivity, he is reshaping cultural participation and paving the way for a more equitable community.
Board governor Denise Kingi, also in the trio of nominators, said: “Rei’s leadership comes from deep cultural wisdom and a lifetime of service. He empowers tamariki and whānau with gentleness, humility, and unwavering dedication. His work has healed, inspired, and transformed our community for more than 40 years.”
The Hamilton Mayor noted in the official letter that Rei’s leadership has “enriched the wider life of our city and strengthened Hamilton’s cultural vibrancy.”
Rei will receive his Civic Award alongside 16 other honourees at the Civic Awards Ceremony on Monday, 17 November 2025, at the Central Court Pavilion, Hamilton Gardens, from 3.30pm to 6.00pm.