Dr Hirini Kaa (Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Kahungunu, Rongowhakaata) is Kaiwhakatō (director) of Te Kākano Leadership Initiative. An historian by training, he has worked for his iwi, for social services, as a researcher, for the Anglican Church and his book Te Hāhi Mihinare was a finalist at the Ockham Book Awards.