Bayden Barber

Bayden Bernard Barber (born ) is a New Zealand politician and Māori leader. He is currently the chair of Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated, the legal entity representing the people and hapū of Ngāti Kahungunu iwi. From 2016 until 2022 he was a Hastings district councillor.

Early life and education Barber was born in Hastings in to Edward Barber and Marama Tiakitai, the oldest of four children. Through his mother he is a descendant of Ngāti Kurukuru chief Tiakitai. He had previously been a member on the council's Rural Community Board for the Poukawa subdivision.

Barber came second in the 2017 Hastings mayoral by-election, securing 23% of the vote. Fellow incumbent councillor Sandra Hazlehurst defeated him, winning with almost double the number of votes.

6,788 44.85 5th elected

5,252 23.79 2nd not elected

7,629 53.10 5th elected Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Inc chairmanship

2022 election Barber put up his hand to run for the chair position when he learnt that the incumbent, Ngahiwi Tomoana, intended for the 2022–2025 term to be his final. Barber would have big shoes to fill as Tomoana was the country's longest serving iwi chair, having been in the post for 26 years. After winning, Barber acknowledged the contributions the outgoing chair had made to Ngāti Kahungunu. The iwi board met following the cyclone, receiving reports from each representative on their respective rohe. The iwi used Facebook and their website as communication channels during the aftermath of the disaster.

Takitimu Seafoods The iwi-owned Takitimu Seafoods faced massive losses in revenue to the tune of $6.9 million for the 2020/2021 financial year. The business had reportedly lost $15 million for the iwi's asset holdings company. The impact of Cyclone Gabrielle was pointed to as a contributor to the failure, with them having to cease operations for six weeks.

The iwi had earlier hosted the Samoan Prime Minister Fiamē Naomi Mata'afa in Hastings in June. Barber pointed to the common whakapapa between Samoa and Ngāti Kahungunu through the Tākitimu waka as a key connection between them. Barber wanted to secure funding for housing and climate resilience in Hawke's Bay following the devastation brought by Cyclone Gabrielle earlier that year in the region.

A Ngāti Kahungunu iwi hui ('meeting') was organised by Barber hosted at Waimāmara Marae on 16 December 2023 in response to the National government's policies. A second hui for all iwi was called by Kīngi Tūheitia at Tūrangawaewae on 20 January 2024; Barber attended alongside over 10,000 others. Barber attended a hui in Waitangi and then returned to Hawke's Bay for Waitangi Day 2024 celebrations that were held in Clive and at the Regional Sports Park.

In an op-ed for Bay Buzz in March 2024, he strongly disagreed with the actions of the National government. In attendance were Kīngi Tūheitia, Rātana church leader Manuao Te Kohamutunga Tamoa, and Sir Robert Gillies (the last surviving 28th Māori Battalion soldier). Kotahitanga ('unity') was the key value of the gathering.

Māori wards In August 2024, the Hastings District Council held a meeting on whether to keep its Māori ward; the council voted unanimously in favour of keeping it. Barber spoke "passionately" in favour of keeping it at the meeting. Barber would later speak at the launch of the pro-wards For Wards Hawke's Bay group in July 2025. Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Inc endorsed the pro-wards position at the 2025 local referendums on the issue, encouraging people to vote.

National Iwi Chairs Forum in Hastings From 31 October to 2 November 2024, the National Iwi Chairs Forum was held at the Toitoi events centre in Hastings, hosted by Ngāti Kahungunu and various other Post Settlement Government Entities from Hawke's Bay. Barber told Bay Buzz that housing remained a strong priority for the forum. He said the previous Labour government had been "very supportive" of iwi providing housing but he did not think the incumbent National government would be as helpful. Barber was re-elected with 62% of the vote to Hokianga's 36%.

Second term

The Hui interview Following the election, Barber spoke to Julian Wilcox on the Hui. He spoke positively of the new younger members on the iwi board. He listed the geopolitical situation, national politics and the Māori wards debate as some of the bigger challenges the iwi was facing. He met directly with the party's co-leaders and separately with Tākuta Ferris.

Other endeavours Barber owns the consultancy company Wana Consulting alongside his wife. He became deputy chair of Local Government New Zealand's Te Maruata Executive Committee in 2020.

From 2016 to 2017 he studied at Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi where he completed a Bachelor of Māori performing arts. In 2018, he studied a Te Panekiretanga o te reo Māori diploma at Te Whare Wānanga o Aotearoa.

Personal life Barber has resided in the seaside settlement of Waimārama with his wife Myra Christy since 2001. Together they have seven children.