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:

1. Ngāti Kahungunu Asset Holding Company – Deputy Chairperson

2. Te Matau a Maui Voyaging Trust – Chairperson

Various roles in community support and governance

Experience in Governance Roles: Deputy Chairperson of Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga, Chairperson & Trustee of Taraia Marae, Treasurer of Houngarea Marae, Trustee of Houngarea Marae Hapu Trust, Trustee of Heretaunga Tamatea Settlement Trust, Director of Heretaunga Tamatea Pou Tahua Ltd, Director of Waingakau Housing Development Ltd, Member of Institute of Directors, Trustee of Paeroa 2G4B2 & 2G4C, Trustee of Pakipaki Whare Karakia Charitable Trust, Chairperson of Aute College

Special Skills: Extensive experience in governance and community support

Aspirations for Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga: To contribute to the grassroots of Paki Paki and the wider Heretaunga community

Educator/Rongoā Pharmacist

Experience in Governance Roles: 6 years governance experience with Te Haaro as Mangai for Omahu MarAE, Te Kaahu Scholarships, Waingakau Housing Development Board observer, NZ Institute of Directors governance & financial training recipient.

Special Skills: Moana-Lee is privileged to represent Ngai Te Upokoiri, nga hapu o Omahu. Working alongside whanau, hapu and iwi building capacity and capability.

Kaitiaki for Mihiroa and Taraia Marae Experience in Governance Roles: Trustee of Awhina
Whānau Services Board, former Trustee of Flaxmere College Board of Trustees (2004-2008)

Special Skills: Pouaka for Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiarangi, Kaitiaki o Waimarama Maori Tourism, Pou Tikanga o Hastings Girls' High School, Kaiawhina for Hawke's Bay Regional Hospital/Child Health Team at Flaxmere

Aspirations for Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga: To see whānau succeed in whatever they do

Regional Councilor Experience in Governance Roles: Regional Council, Deputy Chair of Ngāti Kahunngunu Iwi, Executive of N.Z Māori Council,
Co-Chairman of Mangaroa Marae Committee

Special Skills: Transdisciplinary academic with a firm grounding in Matauranga Māori, accomplished carver of 30 years, and Moko artist of 18 years

Aspirations for Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga: To continue rediscovering the potential of our people to be innovative and unafraid to dream beyond their years. We are the mokopuna our Tipuna have been waiting for.

Business owner, youth worker, administrator, health framework assessor, and various other roles.

Experience in Governance Roles: Second term on Te Haaro. Trustee on Tamatea Pōkai Whenua, Waimārama 3A1D, Waimārama 3A6B6B Incorporated, Waimārama Kura, Te Orihau Charitable Trust, and transitioning Trustee for Kairakau Lands Trust.

Special Skills: Quality and Compliance, Health Sector, Business Acumen, Legislative knowledge, Event Management.

Aspirations for Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga: To continue to grow the services available that allow for our people to live better lives where their health and wellbeing is safe and thriving.

Former Kohanga Reo employee, current Kohanga Reo Whānau - Ngā Pāharakeke Köhanga Reo Experience in Governance Roles: Trustee of Te Kura o Pakipaki Board of Trustees (2011-2016), working with marae Trustees - Houngarea and Taraia

Special Skills: Bachelor of Arts in Toi Maori (Raranga)

Aspirations for Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga: To represent my marae, hapu, and iwi with honesty and integrity. I am excited to learn and develop in my governance role and am truly thankful for my hapori who trust in me to be their voice in the development and progress of our whanau, marae, hapu, and iwi.

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!

Experience in Governance Roles: Marae committee trustee, Committee member of Te Pae Oranga and Kahurānaki Marae Committee

Special Skills: Procedural operations writing and training, Health and safety

Aspirations for Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga: Leah aspires to support her people in the way her tipuna supported her. She hopes that Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga (TToH) continues to perform in a tika and pono manner in serving the people, regularly reviews its performance and the managers' performance, and continues to prioritize staff wellbeing at all level.

Experience in Governance Roles: Trustee of Matahiwi Marae, Gazetted tangata kaitiaki, Secretary of Komiti Haahi Ratana Matahiwi Pariha, Founder of Piri Pono innovative & interactive learning programs for tamariki, Treasurer of Ngāti Kahungunu Waka Kaihoe

Special Skills: Te kauwae runga me te kauwae raro Maori world view, inherited knowledge

Aspirations for Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga: To support the CEO and staff in carrying the organisation to its full potential and uphold Māori Mana Motuhake.

Experience in Governance Roles: Treasurer of Te Awa o Te Atua 3B5B Ahu Whenua Trust, IBM - YOUNITED Student Association - EIT

Special Skills: Waha kōrero i te Ao Karanga, Manaakitanga, leadership skills, effective communication, problem-solving

Aspirations for Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga: To continuously improve the quality of services provided by Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga.

Service Lead for Provider Engagement & Development for Health Hawke's Bay.

Experience in Governance Roles: Toto Ltd (Waipatu Papakainga), Hiki ki te Rangi (Waipatu Papakainga), Ae Moko Ltd (Nga Kākano Foundation).

Special Skills: With over 18 years of experience in Health & Social Services, I started with Kaumatua cares for Nga Kākano Foundation in Te Puke, then moved through roles in reception, administration, finance, and eventually became the Practice Manager for their Hauora. I have a deep understanding of the Health industry and extensive customer service experience from working in the NZ Post and Trustpower call centre. Although I have a degree in accounting, my passion for working for whānau led me to stay in Primary Health Care. After moving back to Heretaunga in 2018, I served as the Practice Administration Manager and then Practice Manager of Hauora Heretaunga at Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga. Witnessing whānau needing help navigating other systems and injustices inspired me to pursue a law degree, which I am currently in my third year of. To gain practical experience in law, I became the Executive Manager of Oranga Tamariki for our Region, Gisborne to Wairarapa, overseeing risk for our tamariki and OT. Although the role was disestablished after 5 months, it provided valuable insights into another system our whānau had to navigate. Currently, I work for Health Hawkes Bay as the Provider Engagement & Development Service Lead, supporting providers of Primary Health Care to look after our whānau.

Aspirations for Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga: My hope is that TToH enables whānau to navigate the many complicated Health and Social Services systems to make well-informed decisions for themselves and their whānau. I envision Taiwhenua as a training ground to build up our own whānau, hapū, and iwi capabilities for succession and employability in New Zealand and internationally.