Te Mana Whakahaere

Vanessa brings extensive governance and executive experience, with a proven record in iwi, commercial, not-for-profit and community leadership.

Iwi: Raukawa, Ngāti Tūwharetoa

Appointee: Skills-based

Term ends: 28 July 2029

Vanessa is an experienced director, trustee, and consultant with a background in executive management. She serves on commercial, investment, and not-for-profit boards, including chair of the Tūaropaki Power Company, co-chair CNI Iwi Land Management Ltd and member of the Medicines New Zealand board. A former Treaty of Waitangi negotiator for Raukawa, she has a strong record of working with iwi, government, and communities to deliver positive outcomes. Vanessa was appointed a member of the Waitangi Tribunal in December 2024.

Bryan took up the deputy chair’s role again in April 2021 after having previously served as chair and, earlier, deputy chair.

Appointee: Skills-based

Iwi: Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Koata, Ngāti Kuia, Samoan

Term ends: 28 July 2026

Bryan is a past director of Kordia Group Limited, a telco and media business that provides network and technology solutions in New Zealand and Australia. He is also the director of Te Puna Manawa, a health services provider to disadvantaged youth and high-needs Māori and Pacific Islanders in the Waitematā region. Bryan has held directorships with Quotable Value, Aotearoa Credit Union and Property IQ and holds an executive MBA from Auckland University.

A chartered accountant since the early 1970s, Robert provides financial, organisational management and taxation advice.

Appointee: Skills-based

Iwi: Ngāti Kahu, Te Rarawa, Te Paatu

Term ends: 28 July 2029

Robert has been a Chartered Accountant since the mid-1970s, providing financial, organisational, management and taxation advice to small businesses, Māori Trusts and Charities working in the not-for-profit sector. He holds a number of governance positions including as a director and trustee of Toi Māori Aotearoa Group, Ngāti Hine Health Trust Group and Te Tai Tokerau Māori Trust Board Group.

Stephen is an experienced executive who has extensive experience across the local government and health sectors.

Appointee: Ministerial

Iwi: Raukawa, Ngāti Ranginui

Term ends: 30 September 2028

Stephen is currently Chief Executive at the Taranaki Regional Council having previously served in the same role at the Southland, Kaipara and Thames-Coromandel District Councils.

He has held governance roles with Milford Sound Tourism,  Lakes District Health Board and the Department of Corrections. Of Ngati Raukawa and Ngati Ranginui descent, Steve was awarded a Bachelor of Management Studies from the University of Waikato, and is a Chartered Accountant Fellow (FCA) with Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand.

Jon provides public relations, communications, risk and strategy advice and support to not-for-profit, commercial, and government organisations.

Appointee: Ministerial

Iwi: Raukawa, Ngāti Maniapoto

Term ends: 15 June 2027

Jon provides public relations, communications, risk and strategy advice and support to not-for-profit, commercial, and government organisations. Jon is the owner of Stokes Communications Ltd, and a former award-winning journalist. He has also had a successful career in sales and marketing management. Jon has governance experience across a range of sectors including agribusiness, commercial development, forestry, and iwi development.

Professor Jacinta Ruru is Aotearoa’s first Māori Law Professor, one of our leading Māori legal scholars and in 2022 became a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to Māori and the Law.

Apointee: Skills-based

Iwi: Raukawa, Ngāti Ranginui and Ngāti Maniapoto

Term ends: 1 March 2026

Professor Ruru is Aotearoa’s first Māori Law Professor, one of our leading Māori legal scholars and in 2022 became a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to Māori and the Law. Prof. Ruru has lectured at Otago University for more than 20 years and her research interests are in areas such as tikanga Māori and Indigenous laws, Māori land law, Te Tiriti o Waitangi/Treaty of Waitangi and United Nation’s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and the decolonisation of New Zealand’s research sector and legal education.

Katie is an experienced executive leader in the areas of business, strategic leadership, transformation, law and governance.

Appointee: Skills-based

Iwi: Ngāti Mahuta, Ngāti Whakaue

Term ends: 31 July 2027

Katie is an experienced director and executive leader in the areas of business, strategic leadership, transformation, law and governance. She has worked in a diverse range of organisations as an executive leader – including ASX100, Fortune 500, public sector and start-ups in sectors as diverse as food/FMCG, financial services, technology, aviation, sport, education and telecommunications. She has undergraduate degrees in law and arts from the University of Otago and a master’s degree from Trinity College in Dublin, is a graduate of advanced management programme at global business school INSEAD and is a qualified lawyer in Australia, New Zealand and Ireland. Katie is also a chartered member of the Institute of Directors and member of Global Women.

Turi recently stepped down as Deputy Chairman of Ngaiterangi Runanga and the Settlement Trust. He currently serves as the Māori Relationships Manager and Kaumātua for Seeka Industries and is a Director on Te Awanui Huka Pak. He is an experienced director with a background spanning the education, Māori development, and primary sectors.

Appointee: Ministerial

Iwi: Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāti Ranginui

Term ends: 2 November 2026

Turi is a former school principal across all levels of the compulsory education sector, a former Acting Co‑Chief Executive and Director of Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, and a former Director of Māori at the Open Polytechnic of New Zealand. In 1998, he was awarded the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to education. He has served as a director on the Muka Tangata Workforce Development Council and the Food and Fibre Centre of Vocational Excellence Council, and was Co‑Chair of the Bay of Plenty Regional Skills Leadership Group. He is also a Ministerial appointee to the Māori Advisory Group to the Minister of Education.

Steve Tucker is a seasoned governance and executive leader with over three decades of experience spanning private enterprise, public sector, cooperative, and startup environments.

Appointee: Skills-based

Iwi: Te Āti Haunui-a-Pāpārangi

Term ends: 30 October 2028

Steve’s governance portfolio reflects deep expertise in financial oversight, strategic transformation, and innovative leadership across sectors such as manufacturing, education, technology, and impact investment. He has led complex acquisitions, chaired audit and risk committees, and driven brand and culture initiatives. His governance contributions include chairing boards and committees for organisations such as Gallagher, Asmuss, and Eastpack, with previous roles at Taska Prosthetics, Goodnature, Methven, Rakon, and Wintec. He has also led multi-million dollar investment programmes including CAPRINZ and Purpose Capital.