Reclaiming the usage of Māori place names. As a member of the New Zealand Geographic Board, Sir Tipene is at the centre of the debate on considering official alternative Māori place names such as Te Waipounamu for the South Island, and recognising Whanganui. Sir Tipene is a distinguished Māori leader and scholar from Ngāi Tahu providing leadership on numerous boards including as former Chair of the Ngāi Tahu Māori Trust Board, and directorships including Te Ohu Kai Moana, the Sealord Group Ltd, Transit NZ, TVNZ, and Meridian Energy. He is Assistant Vice-Chancellor (Māori) and has an Honorary Doctorate in Literature at University of Canterbury, Honorary Doctorate of Commerce from both Lincoln University and Victoria University, and is a Distinguished Fellow of the Institute of Directors.