Tairāwhiti Local Advisory Committee - mihi mai rā.

Read more about the members of the Tairāwhiti Local Advisory Committee.

ERANA REEDY (Chair)
	Erana is a CEO of Radio Ngāti Porou and brings extensive business, communications, and governance experience across various industries. A strong advocate for Māori voices and education, she previously worked as Associate Producer for Māori Television and founded Wīwī Media Limited. Erana holds a Bachelor of Arts from Waikato University.
TEE MONTGOMERY (Deputy Chair)
	Tee is a passionate community advocate, working for Te Rūnanga o Tūranganui a Kiwa after previous roles including Iwi Liaison Advisor at Gisborne District Council. She has contributed to education governance, serving on the boards of Te Kura Māori o Ngā Uri a Māui and Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Horouta Wānanga, and is active in local sports governance.
JORDAN WALKER (Member)
	Jordan is a creative freelancer and postgraduate social anthropologist currently undertaking an MA. Jordan has strong logistical and production management skills and is highly connected across Tairāwhiti’s diverse communities. Jordan has recent governance experience with Outline Aotearoa.
Dr RAANIERA TE WHATA (Member)
	Dr Raaniera Te Whata (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Pōrou) is an independent researcher with the University of Otago's Centre for Sustainability and Takarangi Research. Living in Te Tairāwhiti, he applies his expertise in cultural and environmental services, with a commitment to protecting future generations through sustainability and conservation.
SARAH COMBER (Member)
	Sarah Comber is an experienced stakeholder engagement and community development leader with more than 20 years’ involvement across local government, infrastructure, and commercial sectors. She has extensive expertise in strategic engagement, partnership development, and working with communities, iwi, government agencies, and industry stakeholders. Sarah has led major community resilience and infrastructure engagement programmes and is recognised for her collaborative approach, strong regional networks, and ability to bring diverse perspectives together to support effective decision-making.
KARARAINA NGATAI-MELBOURNE (Member)
	Kararaina Ngatai-Melbourne (Ngāti Porou) is a respected educator, community leader, and advocate for te reo Māori and mātauranga Māori, with more than 35 years’ experience in education, including leadership roles as Principal, Deputy Principal, and Lead Teacher. She serves as a trustee on several marae, whenua, and charitable trusts, and plays an active role in strengthening cultural, community, and whānau wellbeing across Te Araroa and Matakaoa. Kararaina brings extensive governance experience and deep connections to her iwi, hapū, and wider community.
KERYN GOLDSMITH (Member)
	Keryn Goldsmith is a respected Māori community leader with more than 30 years’ experience working alongside whānau, hapū and iwi across Te Tairāwhiti and nationally. She brings extensive governance, advisory and community development experience through leadership roles with marae, charitable trusts and Civil Defence emergency management initiatives. A Justice of the Peace, Keryn is recognised for her integrity, strategic insight and ability to represent diverse community perspectives. She has strong connections across iwi, community and public sector networks and is committed to strengthening community resilience and wellbeing.

The map below shows the area that the Tairāwhiti LAC covers