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.
Appointee: Skills-based
Iwi: Raukawa, Ngāti Tuwharetoa
Term ends: 28 July 2025
Vanessa is a business consultant, company director and former chief executive in the tourism sector.
She sits on a range of commercial, investment and not-for-profit boards, including the Tūaropaki Trust, and is co-chair of forestry land management company CNI Iwi Land Management Ltd.
Vanessa was the inaugural chair of Raukawa Iwi Development, a high performing iwi commercial company, and remains a director. She is the former executive chair of the Raukawa Settlement Trust.
Vanessa is a passionate advocate for Māori, the community and for environmental issues. She has a strong history of working with the wider community, kaumātua, iwi chairs, Ministers, Members of Parliament, and numerous stakeholders to achieve positive outcomes for those she serves.
Married to Ngarepo, she is the proud mother of three adult tamariki and one amazing mokopuna, Keita.
Additional positions held:
- Director, Tūaropaki Trust
- Director, Tūaropaki Power Company Ltd
- Director, Te Puia Tāpapa
- Director, CNI Holdings
- Director, Te Pūkenga Work Based Learning