RAHUI PAPA
Ngā Aho Here
Chairman
Rahui Papa is an orator, spokesperson, and recognised authority on Waikato reo and tikanga.
Rahui has a background in broadcasting and education and has served on the Waikato-Tainui Governance Group since its inception.
Rahui has previously chaired the Waikato Tainui Executive, Te Arataura, and served as a director and member of various holdings companies, ministerial committees, and national and local boards.
Rahui plays an integral role in the Iwi Leaders’ Forum, providing advice to Ministers and Crown officials on matters of national significance.
KAREN VERCOE
Ngā Aho Here
Trustee
Ngāti Pikiao, Ngāti Mākino
Deputy Chief Executive, Māori Strategy & Performance, Department of Internal Affairs, previous CEO of Te Arawa Lakes Trust and founder of KTV Consulting Ltd. Passionate about Māori business, Māori development, and using data and insights to support community aspirations.
Recipient Dame Mira Szászy Māori Alumni Award at the Aotearoa Māori Business Leaders Awards. Master of Management Degree - University of Auckland.
RIKIRANGI GAGE
Ngā Aho Here
Trustee
Te Whānau ā Apanui, Ngāti
Porou, Whakatohea,
Ngāti Maniapoto
Currently CEO of Te Rūnanga o Te
Whānau, holding Directorships
TWA Holding Limited, TWA Fishing, Te Huata Charitable Trust and Te Huata International and a member of the Ministry of Justice project Inaia Tonu Nei.
Rikirangi is an active member of the Ringatū Church and is a negotiator for Te Whānau ā Apanui treaty claims.
Previous special roles held by Rikirangi include past Director of Te Ohu Kaimoana, Māori Television, Te Papa and New Zealand Geographic boards, Treaty of Waitangi Fisheries Commission representative at the Convention on Biological Diversityin Argentina, and member Ministerial Advisory committee for the Oceans policy and Board of Enquiry for the New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement.
KIRIKOWHAI MIKAERE
He Aho Tapu
Tuhourangi, Ngāti Whakaue
Kirikowhai is a leading Māori data and information specialist focused on harnessing information to empower indigenous community development. She is a consultant with over 20 years’ experience advising Ministers, government agencies, tribal, community and private sector organisations with practical statistical analysis and innovative place based data solutions.
Kirikowhai is currently the lead technical advisor to the Aotearoa New Zealand National Iwi (Tribal) Chairs Forum - Data Leadership Group, leads the independent trust Te Kāhui Raraunga and holds governance positions across the private sector and government, including with her tribe (Chair - Tūhourangi Tribal Authority, Trustee – Te Pumautanga o Te Arawa), Māori Health provider Manaaki Ora Trust (Deputy Chair), the New Zealand 2023 Census Programme Board, and is a Ministerial appointed member of the New Zealand Science Board.
KERRI-ANNE HANCOCK
He Aho
He uri a Kerri Anne nō te whānau Rogers– nō Ngāti Whakaue (Ngāti Tunohopu, Ngāti Hurungaterangi, Ngāti Te Rorooterangi) nō Ngāti Rangiwewehi me Ngāti Tarawhai anō hoki.
Kerri Anne’s professional background is fairly diverse across both the public and private sector, and includes Treaty settlement negotiations, environmental kaupapa and leadership positions within her iwi. In 2019 Kerri Anne was awarded the Emerging Leader award in the Westpac Rotorua Business Excellence Awards for the work she has done in her governance positions for Ngāti Rangiwewehi.
Today, Kerri Anne is the Kaiwhakahaere (Practice Manager) for Te Kāhui Raraunga. She is a Trustee on Toi Kai Rawa – a Charitable Trust focused on accelerating Māori economic development in the Bay of Plenty and Ngāti Whakaue Assets Trust (Ngāti Whakaue’s commercial Treaty settlement entity). Kerri Anne is also managing director for Kaupare Law and Consultancy which undertakes strategic planning and te reo Māori focused kaupapa nationwide.