Taranaki iwi leader rubs shoulders, and shares ideas, with Barack ObamaLiana Poutu Former U.S. President Barack Obama with the 20-strong Wāhine Toa group, including Liana Poutu, chairwoman of Te Kotahitanga o Te Atiawa - the governance group of Taranaki's largest iwi. ANDY JACKSON/STUFF Liana Poutu heads up Taranaki's largest iwi and she was one of 20 women from the Wāhine Toa group who sat down with former US President Barack Obama. From a range of groups pitched to meet with Obama, the Wāhine Toa group was the only one chosen. ​READ MORE:* 'He is gifted': Barack Obama draws standing ovation in Sydney* Parenting advice from Barack Obama to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern* An evening with Barack ObamaSIMON WATTS/AP Barack Obama during an official welcoming ceremony at Government House in Auckland last Thursday. She revealed Obama was welcomed into the room with karanga and he greeted each of the Wāhine Toa group with a hongi.

Source: Stuff March 25, 2018 04:41 UTC