Governance

Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga Board of Trustees

Mike has a lifelong connection to his marae, Ruahāpia. Apart from serving on numerous marae committees he has also been the grounds-keeper for the past 30 years. This is what helps him remain humble, with his feet on the ground.

Mike has had extensive governance and director experience. He has been a board member of TToH since 2003, serving the past eight years as Chairperson. He has also been on the board of Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Inc since 2010.

Mike believes that good governance principles and a good dose of common sense go a long way together. This has led to his involvement with numerous boards and committees representing the interests of Iwi and Hapū. He feels privileged and honoured to have been given these opportunities.

His current register of interest and commitments are :

Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga - Chairperson
C2C2B7 Land Trust - Chairperson
HBRC Māori Standing Committee – Deputy Chairperson
NKII Board - Alternate Heretaunga Representative
HB Museum Trust - Member
HB Health Trust - Member
Ruahāpia Marae - Committee Member
Te Whare Wānanga Tapere o te Waka Takitimu - Trustee
IoD- Member
IoD East Coast Sub-branch – Member
Waingākau Housing Development Ltd – Director

Previously:

Ngāti Kahungunu Asset Holding Company – Deputy Chairperson
Te Matau a Maui Voyaging Trust – Chairperson

Kane continues to find it a privilege to be able to contribute to the grassroots of Paki Paki and the wider Heretaunga community. He volunteers his time on boards, committees, groups and anywhere else he can support community, hapū and whānau wellbeing, particularly through his roles at Taraia Marae, Houngarea Marae and among many more.

Through Kane, the Paki Paki community supported Taraia Marae to elect its first inaugural representative on Te Haaro in 2021. An important aspiration that has been held by many of the Pakipaki kaumatua for over two decades.

Other governance interests and commitments are:

Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga – Deputy Chairperson
Taraia Marae – Chairperson & Trustee
Houngarea Marae – Treasurer
Houngarea Marae Hapū Trust – Treasurer & Trustee
Heretaunga Tamatea Settlement Trust – Trustee
Heretaunga Tamatea Pou Tahua Ltd – Director
Waingakau Housing Development Ltd – Director
Institute of Directors – Member
Paeroa 2G4B2 & 2G4C – Trustee
Pakipaki Whare Karakia Charitable Trust - Trustee

Moana is a teacher at Omāhu School, and has held governance roles on the school board of trustees.
Before training as a teacher at Massey University, she was employed by the early Māori Affairs Department, Te Tira Ahu Iwi, and Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga.

She is humbled to have been elected by her Omāhu whānau and hapū to participate in the development of Kahungunu.

Donna is a kaitiaki for Mihiroa and Taraia Marae. She is also a member of the TToH Audit and Risk Committee, and feels “lucky and privileged” to be part of TToH.

She sits on Awhina Whānau Services Board as a Trustee, and served on the Flaxmere College Board of Trustees for four years from 2004 to 2008.

Donna loves to see whānau succeed in whatever they do. Her other mahi is:

Pouaka for Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiarangi, delivering Tourism Maori LV3 and 4
Kaitiaki o Waimārama Maori Tourism
Pou Tikanga o Hastings Girls’ High School
Kaiāwhina for Hawke’s Bay Regional Hospital/Child Health Team at Flaxmere

Occupation: Māori Entrepreneur

Any other experience you have in a governance roles:

I was the Ruahāpia Marae Trustee Representative 2016 - 2018 I succeeded the seat from our pā morehu Papa Jim (Hēmi) Pānapa. I had learnt so much at the time but felt overwhelmed by the role and decided to learn a little more about business and now that I have done so, I have returned with more confidence and awareness of what my role is a marae trustee for the Te Haaro Board.

Special skills you bring to the board:

I am passionate and culturally aware, I also am a business owner myself of Kiino Kommz Ltd a Māori Professional Entertainment entity and will be launching in 2022 my new business based around Māori Recreation. I have a background in local HB Māori media and am a wahine of the community. My iwi also recognise me as the Kahungunu Emcee and I am proud to hold these potae for my iwi and my community.

Your aspirations for Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga:

To protect the mana and mauri that was set by our founders and tīpuna who established Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga and to uphold the vision Te Haaro o te Kaahu ki tuawhakarere.

We are living in a time of fear and uncertainty, due to the release of an unknown virus. I bring a stable perspective and unwavering belief to hold fast to what you know is right and believe the future is bright if we all remain together as one! Kōkiriritia, ki te toa takitini!