Utiku Potaka has long served Mōkai Pātea-nui-tonu in the treaty claims space having chaired the Mōkai Pātea Waitangi Claims Trust since its inception in 2012 and previously led the Mōkai Pātea Claims Committee formed in 2004.  Over this time he has built an extensive understanding of the treaty settlement process and provided substantive evidence to the Waitangi Tribunal.

Utiku is a delegate on Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Hauiti and previously was its General Manager for almost 2 decades.  He has been actively involved in iwi development and is the kaitiaki of tribal kōrero tuku iho.

His career has centred on Māori programmes within the public service and his current role as a researcher for Whakauae Research Services builds on his experiences both in the iwi and the government sectors.

Utiku’s appointment to the treaty negotiations team in late 2023 endorses the nomination by Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Hauiti, acknowledges his life-long experience in iwi development and in particular Ngāti Hauiti, his broad knowledge of treaty negotiations and his commitment to the settlement process.