Te Mana Whakahaere

Te Mana Whakahaere is the council that oversees Te Wānanga o Aotearoa.

Members of Te Mana Whakahaere are appointed for their ability to help Te Wānanga o Aotearoa fulfil its mission in alignment with the requirements of the Education Act 1989.

The council consists of nine members. Three members are appointed by the Minister for Tertiary Education. Six are appointed by Te Mana Whakahaere in accordance with the Direct Appointment of Members to Te Mana Whakahaere Statute 2015, as amended or replaced from time to time.

Vanessa Eparaima

Council Chair | Skills-based appointee

Raukawa, Ngāti Tuwharetoa

Vanessa moved back into the chair’s position in April 2021 after having previously served for a number of years as chair, then deputy chair for a period, helping lead the council through a busy time of change for Te Wānanga o Aotearoa.

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Bryan Hemi

Deputy Chair | Skills-based appointee

Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Koata, Samoan

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

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Katie Bhreatnach

Skills-based appointee

Ngāti Mahuta, Ngāti Whakaue

Katie is an experienced executive leader in the areas of business, strategic leadership, transformation, law and governance. Katie has undergraduate degrees in law and arts from the University of Otago and a masters degree from Trinity College in Dublin. Katie is also a member of the Institute of Directors.

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Robert Gabel

Skills-based appointee

Ngāti Kahu, Te Rarawa, Te Paatu

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

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Jacinta Ruru

Skills-based appointee

Raukawa, Ngāti Ranginui and Ngāti Maniapoto

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

View Jacinta Ruru’s profile