About us

David Taipari is a vastly experienced advocate for our people and has a broad range of skills gained through more than 30 years involvement in Māori development and local government.

He has held a wide range of roles in rūnanga, Māori trust boards, Treaty negotiation, marae trusteeship, economic development, conservation boards, the Hauraki Gulf Forum and standing committees of district councils.

David has been a member and chair of the Board since its inception in 2010.

He is selected for the Board by the Marutāhu Mana Whenua representatives.

Of Ngāpuhi descent, Tau grew up in Otara, South Auckland. He went on to be involved in union organisation, community development, and early childhood education. With a political career spanning two decades, Tau won the Northern Māori electorate in 1993 and served the following term as the Minister of Māori Affairs. After becoming a list MP in 2005, Tau also chaired the Māori Affairs Select Committee from 2008 to 2014. Currently, Tau is a Board member on the Crown Forestry Rental Trust.

Tau is appointed to the Board representing mātāwaka.

Of Ngāti Hau, Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Mahuta, Ngāti Whāwhākia and Tainui, Tony is the CEO of the Papakura Marae. With previous experience as a Funding and Planning Manager in Māori Health for the Counties Manukau District Health Board, he has more than 20 years of experience in community development and social policy including 10 years as Manager, Community Development with Manukau City Council.

Tony was made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2022 New Years Honours list.

Tony is a representative of mātāwaka. 

Edward Ashby holds board positions on several Te Kawerau ā Maki entities and is the CEO of the Te Kawerau Iwi Tiaki Trust. He has a background in cultural resource management and experience working with local and central government, Treaty settlements, and iwi commercial and social development.

The Waiohua – Tamaki Alliance rōpu selected Edward to represent them on the Board.

Pongarauhine (Honey) Renata of Ngaati Whanaunga, Ngaati Puukenga is General Manager for Ngaati Whanaunga Incorporated - mandated body for treaty negotiations. With 25 years of experience in whaanau, hapuu and iwi development Honey has held and currently holds roles within Māori Trust Board, Ruunanga, Treaty Negotiations, Marae, Whaanau land Trusts, Hauraki Gulf Forum. Previous experience working in Housing, Fisheries, Matua Whangai, Education, Working with Councils - Regional and District.

Honey is selected by the Marutāhu mana whenua representatives.

James Brown recently retired chair of Ngai Tai ki Tamaki, 2009 – 2022 however he remains Managing Director of Ngai Tai ki Tamaki Property Company, Whenua Limited.

He owns and operates a private consulting company, Moehewa Limited based in Commercial Bay and this consultancy specialises in south pacific infrastructure projects and has government agencies and private enterprise as its clients located across the pacific and south-east asia. 

James is also kaumatua for The ICE Base, (since 2018) and chair of the ICE Base Foundation (since 2021) a connector of Maori and Pasifika rangatahi with their education options and professional careers. Over the past four years (2018-2022) the ICE Base has directly connected over seven hundred (700) Maori and Pacific Island talent into tertiary education across Aotearoa. The ICE Base is located in six (6) countries including UK, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Aotearoa.

James is currently designing and delivering Māori leadership courses for Maori emerging talent and future leaders as a continued part of his commitment to empower and enable ‘ngā taonga i tuku i hoa’ or the materialisation of Māori talent, emerging Māori leadership in every Māori DNA.

James was selected by the Waiohua-Tāmaki mana whenua representatives.