Herearoha Francis SKIPPER
(Chairperson) BA, PGDipMgtSt, MBA (Waikato). Ko Kerepēhi, Makomako, Wharekawa, Piritahi ngā marae. Ko Ngāti Horowhenua, Ngāti Tipa, Ngāi Te Umu, Ngāti Kapu, Ngāti Hura ngā hapū. Ko Hapu-a-kohe, Kohukohunui, Maunganui ngā maunga, ko Piako me Whakatiwai ngā awa e rere atu ki Tīkapakapa moana, ko Hauraki te whenua. Herearoha holds a senior leadership role at the University of Waikato, is Director of Te Ara Tupu Ltd (business), serves as Trustee for Ngāti Tamaterā Treaty Settlement Trust (iwi), Tainui Waka Cultural Trust (community), GH Tawhai Trust (whānau), and sits on several governance boards representing iwi as a Treaty partner. She has extensive networks with community organisations, business sector, and government agencies throughout Aotearoa, and Indigenous communities internationally. She specialises in strategy, business development, leadership transformation, governance, finance, transformative praxis, policy, and te reo Māori revitalisation. Herearoha manages major research projects in the fields of Taiao, Hauora, Mātauranga, and te Reo Māori. She provides leadership in Kaupapa Māori methodology that promote the vision, values, and aspirations of whānau, hapū, iwi. She brings with her a suite of skills and experience to facilitate an exciting era of transformation for Ngāti Pāoa. Herearoha has extensive expertise in financial management, revenue generation, commercial growth, develops business plans, writes annual reports, reports on the strategic deliverables, develops funding proposals, oversees contracts and budgets, manage employment contracts, and manages the overall operations. She works confidently and professionally with a wide range of stakeholders, with established relationships nationally and internationally. Other fields of expertise include: Tribal Leadership – Cultural and Corporate, fluent in te Reo Māori; Event Management – Te Matatini, Tainui Regionals, Academic Awards, Kīngitanga Day, Conferences, Symposiums, Workshops, Strategic Planning, Presenter, Facilitator; Judging & Head Adjudicator – Kapa Haka Festivals, Hauraki Manu Kōrero; Publications, Editor, and Peer Reviewer; Alumni of New Zealand Women in Leadership. Herearoha’s role is to serve her people through navigating complex environments, managing collective aspirations, design and implement high-level strategies, engage with diverse stakeholder interests from Crown agencies and multinational companies to marae committees and individual opinion holders, and, simultaneously manage the day to day needs for whānau. |
|
Mihingarangi FORBES
(Deputy Chair) Tēnā koutou katoa Ko Whakatiwai te poutokomanawa - Nō Kaiaua āhau. Ko te tuatahi me whakapāpaku kē au i au i mua i a kōutou i ōku rangatira, tēnā kōutou katoa. E āku whanaunga tēnā rā kōutou katoa. My name is Mihingarangi Forbes I am part of the Anaru whānau from Kaiaua. I’m married to Arthur, a first generation Samoan-New Zealander and we are raising four tamariki in Auckland. I’ve been a journalist for the past 25 years. Much of my work has focused on fighting for vulnerable whānau, investigating organisations and holding those in power to account. I expect all organisations that represent beneficiaries or shareholders to be transparent, have open communications and be good listeners. The decision to stand as a Trustee for NPIT means I will expect you all to hold me to these same standards. I have a good understanding of governance versus management. It’s important to me, that Trustees adhere to the objectives and purposes of our Trust; which are to promote education, spiritual economic, social and cultural advancement of Ngāti Paoa. To undertake commercial activities while caring for our waahi tapu, taking care of our babies and our kaumatua. Our post settlement journey has just begun, we’re going to need some good currents and friendly winds to get our waka up and sailing alongside our neighbouring iwi. Me taipari whakarewa waka ngā whakaaro kia eke waka noa tātou. |
Kerrin LEONI
Kia ora, my name is Kerrin Leoni and I whakapapa to the Wikiriwhi-Pokaitara line (Thompson Whanau) of Ngati Paoa. I believe I have the credentials and governance experience to serve as a good board member for the Ngati Paoa Iwi Trust. I am a member of the Waitematā Local Board (elected member). I am a part of the roopu Ngā Uri o Ngāti Paoa Ki Waiheke which works towards building our relationship with the Waiheke local community, so we can focus on how we can protect and regenerate the Waiheke marine environment as mana whenua to the island. In addition I am also an active member of my other Iwi which focus on bringing Iwi members together in Auckland. I am founder of charitable organization Mana Aroha providing global experiences and employment for Maori and Pacific Island rangatahi. I have a degree in Maori Development with a Social Services major and two Masters. The first being in Youth Development and the second in International politics and economics. As a mother of five year old twins I am motivated to contribute to the future of Ngati Paoa. |
James RATAHI
Tēnā koutou katoa Ko Kohukohunui me Taupiri ōku maunga Ko Whakatīwai me Waikato ōku awa Ko Ngāti Paoa rāua ko Ngāti Māhuta ōku Iwi Hapu Jim has an extensive background in film and television working across many creative roles including directing, editing, camerawork and production. Throughout his career he has worked in the Māori sector producing various Māori television shows with the focus on promoting Te Reo Māori and telling Māori stories. He however prefers to be behind the camera than in front of it! More recently Jim has been working in the Māori tourism space helping Māori tour providers market their products internationally. He is also a manager of the Hawaiki Project a social initiative that connects indigenous tribes globally through cultural exchanges for taiohi. Jim is passionate about Te Reo Māori and the revitalisation of Māori identity as our platform for growth. He actively participates in marae and iwi activities and is in Kaiaua weekly to visit his parents who live in the papakainga on whanau owned whenua of Pingao. He feels a deep affiliation to this whenua that has nurtured generations of his whanau and kaumatua and hopes to do his part to ensure many more generations to come benefit from it as he has. Given his background in communications and media, Jim is outspoken on the need to have better communications to our people. He would like to see us embrace digital tools to facilitate connection among us and enable those whanau living away from kainga and marae to engage in iwi matters. He also wishes to see us communicate better to enable whanau to make informed decisions about their future and the future of our iwi. Jim’s aspiration for Ngāti Paoa is to celebrate our cultural identity and create a solid future for our tamariki. |
Tania Aroha Rochelle TARAWA
Tania is a lawyer by profession having practiced in the areas of commercial law, governance and in the Waitangi Tribunal. She holds Commerce (B.Com) and Law (LLB) degrees from the University of Auckland and was admitted as a Barrister and Solicitor in 2008. Tania is an experienced Director and a member of the New Zealand Institute of Directors. She holds international qualifications in Project and Programme Management and has held numerous governance roles on both public and private Trusts and Boards. Tania is an economic development specialist, she has specific capabilities and experience in strategic leadership, policy development and relationship management at senior levels within central and local government. Tania holds an executive management role as the Group Director (Mana Whakahaere) of Partnerships and Inclusion at a large national social services organisation operating in the Mental Health, Addictions and Social Housing sector. Previously, Tania led Maori Economic Strategy and Outcomes at Auckland’s Regional Economic Development Agency (ATEED) and led the Maori economic development programme for Auckland Council. Before that, she led strategic projects and oversaw the implementation of the 2014 Tamaki Makaurau Treaty Settlement for the Department of Conservation in Auckland. Tania is committed to Maori Development and in particular economic, social and cultural restoration of Ngāti Paoa and in particular her hapu, Te Uri Karaka. She has acted in a legal capacity for other iwi of Tamaki Makaurau and has been involved in tribal governance for 15 years in various capacities. She has an in-depth understanding of the history of Ngati Paoa governance through its various entities and a thorough understanding of the relevant issues in the current Treaty settlement space. She offers her considerable skills to advance the aspirations of Ngati Paoa and prepare the pathway for a post-settlement future for Ngati Paoa. Born and raised in Manurewa, her favourite place in the world is alongside her husband Charles (Royal), next to Tikapa Moana. Two years ago they made the decision to relocate to Kaiaua and purchased a home just a few hundred metres from Wharekawa Marae. They now split their time between Auckland and Kaiaua. |
Tui TAWERA
Ko Rataroa te maunga, ko Puukorokoro te awa, ko Tiikapa te moana, ko Makomako te marae, ko Ngaati Paaoa te iwi. Ko Tui Tawera tooku ingoa. Growing up in Kaiaua Tui attended Hauraki Plains College until her whaanau moved to Taamaki Makaurau in her late teens. She currently resides in Manurewa with her two daughters – Waimarie who attends secondary school and represents Aotearoa in softball as a Junior White Sox player and Waimapuna-Poppy who attends Kura Kaupapa in Manurewa. She has been a primary and intermediate teacher for over 12 years in South and East Auckland. Her leadership skills and maatauranga Maaori are key strengths she provides through an educational setting as well as to her whaanau. Tui received a tono from her whaanau and accepted the nomination to be a voice for her whaanau, marae and hapuu as a trustee. Tui holds a bachelor of Education which she obtained from the University of Auckland, along with a Post graduate diploma in Maaori and Indigenous studies. She is passionate about the revitalisation of te reo Maaori and was successful in securing a TeachNZ bilingual education study award to complete a year of Maaori immersion at The University of Waikato. Tui continues to develop her knowledge of te reo Maaori by attending waananga and kura reo. Tui is passionate about the development of and improving outcomes for our people and ensuring they are adequately supported. In her career, she leads the Maaori unit at the intermediate she works at and supports other staff to upskill their understanding of Te Ao Maaori. She is a part of the Kaahui Ako where she works alongside a collective of teachers towards ensuring positive outcomes for tauira Maaori. Tui is a current trustee for her Marae in Waikato and although new to governance, she is eager to learn and share her experiences and whakaaro. If elected, Tui is committed to her role and is ready for the new challenge to provide for her Iwi. She is strongly supported by her extended whaanau who are proud and know her input to the trust will be valuable. |
Mystique TOWNSEND
My name is Mystique Townsend I’m from Glenbrook south of Auckland . I’m a mother of 3 young children and work as a coordinator in the Motorhome industry. My tane and I enjoy spending our spare time on our small Lifestyle block making improvements. Being a descendant of Paoa (through my mothers side and my nana Hera Hikaiti Paul) I feel privileged to have the opportunity to submit this application. My aim is to be approachable for our iwi members to have their concerns heard and ensure to take an active approach on these concerns. Protecting the mahi of our tupuna and us their descendants is of upmost importance to me . Most recently experiencing the humble fight to protect Putiki bay on Waiheke island has only reinforced the drive we need to continually have for our iwi. Proactivity and having an awesome attitude are my key strengths. A good listener who is reasonable and fair would be highly suited, to ensure our goals as an iwi are effectively achieved, fortunately I can raise my hand to that. Most people around me would describe me as being “down to earth” and “on to it”, I would love to bring my skills and personality to the Ngati Paoa iwi trust as a trustee. |