Georgina joins our Māori Advisory Rōpū as the Chair. She has whakapapa connections to Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Raukawa.

Georgina is the current Chair of our Tairāwhiti Local Advisory Committee.

Georgina is involved as a whanau voice for a number of health advisory committees such as the Te Whatu Ora Data & Digital, National Palliative Care Steering Group, Pharmac Consumer Advisory Council, Royal Australian New Zealand Obstetricians & Gynaecologists He Hono Wahine and works full time for Tairāwhiti Toitu Te Ora Iwi Māori Partnership Board.

Georgina also volunteers for Coastguard Tairāwhiti and is an active Justice of the Peace within the Tairāwhiti region.

She has experience working within our Māori communities building relationships and pathways to working with Fire and Emergency NZ.

Ko Te Atua o Taiehu te mauka
Ko Takitimu te waka
Ko Otākōu te awa moana
Ko Otākōu te marae
Ko Kai Te Ruahikihiki toku hapū
Ko Taiaroa raua ko Karetai oku tupuna
Ko Waitaha, Kati Mamoe raua ko Kai Tahu oku iwi
Ko Michelle Taiaroa-McDonald toku ikoa

Michelle currently a member of our Otago Local Advisory Committee. She is the Tumuaki of Te Huka Matauraka at the University of Otago and works across multiple committees as well as being an active hapū member of her rūnanga.

Previously she was the Manager of Te Rūnanga o Ōtākou and is director and owner of a fishing company. Michelle has served on many boards and committees and is known in the area for her support across the community, including her role in the Emergency Response Otago team.

She is a dedicated loyal hapū member and the holder of the criminal justice portfolio on behalf of mana whenua. She has a strong belief that when humility, aroha and manaaki drive your model of practise.

He uri ahau no nga Iwi katoa o Tauranga Moana

no Ngai Te Rangi, Ngati Ranginui, Ngati Pukenga me nga Potiki a Tamapahore, me te maha hoki o nga herenga ki Iwi ke atu.

Peter recently retired from Fire and Emergency New Zealand as fire fighter with 40 years career servicing his communities in Auckland to spend more time with his whānau and hapouri Iwi.

Peter serves on many boards and committees with governance management roles, both commercial & residential.

He is passionate joining this rōpū to work alongside our Executive Leadership team to assist with strengthening the engagement and partnerships with our communities.

LANA NGAWHIKA (Member)

Lana has extensive networks throughout the Bay of Plenty Waiariki, Tairāwhiti, and Waikato Tainui regions through her previous role with the NZ Fire Service, studies with the Waikato Tainui College of Research and Development, previous role as Head of Maori Strategy with Fonterra, and current role as General Manager of Te Taura Ora o Waiariki - Te Arawa Iwi Maori Partnership Board.

Lana is a skilled governor and leader, along with her husband Inspector Herby Ngawhika who is the area commander of New Zealand Police for Rotorua district are actively involved in the wellbeing of their community.

Lana’s has active roles within her iwi, marae and has worked in kaupapa Māori roles for the past 20 years.

DR SHARON GEMMELL, MNZM (Member)

Sharon’s iwi affiliations include Te Ātiawa, Ngāti Rārua, Ngāti Toa Rangatira, Taranaki iwi and Ngāti Kahungungu ki Wairarapa. Sharon serves on many boards and holds esteemed positions within her community.

Sharon is currently a member of our Malbourough Local Advisory Committee.

Sharon has been involved in Te Tau Ihu Treaty Settlements since 1992 and this mahi involved working with 9 iwi incl Kai Tahu. She is also co-chair on Te Tau Ihu NZ Māori Council committee and works closely with the Māori Wardens. Sharon was actively involved in tertiary education working with many Marlborough whanau and as a trustee for Rata Foundation, she networks with many community organisations in Te Tau Ihu.

She is a member of many governances and leadership roles, Institute of Directors, and Justice of the Peace. Sharon chairs the Marlborough Branch of the New Zealand Māori Council, the New Zealand Occupational Therapy Board’s Rōpu Tohutohu. Sharon serves on several Professional Conduct Committee (PCC) under the Health Practitioner Competence Assurance Act.

She is a komiti member of Lottery Individual Fun Komiti and is one of the claimant representatives on the Joint Research Committee for Waitangi Tribunal Mana Wāhine Kaupapa Inquiry.

KĀRENA PAKI-JOYCE (Member)

Kārena iwi affiliations include Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Whātua, Te Rarawa, Te Aupouri, Ngāti Ruanui.

Kārena is a member, Deputy Chair of the Northland LAC and holds the newly established Tangata Whenua Portfolio.

She currently works for Stats NZ, Tatauranga Aotearoa as the Regional Manager for our Strategic Engagements and Māori Partnerships Unit.

Kārena has served her community as a Justice of the Peace, Chairperson for Selwyn Park School and Whakamana Tangata as drug and alcohol rehabilitation organisation, secretary of our Kaipara Hapū Advisory Committee, Te Kohanganui. and holds many valued relationships across Te Tai Tokerau and Aotearoa.

Kārena has 14 years with Dept of Conservation where she worked on the treaty settlement portfolios and now sits as a member of the Te Tai Tokerau - Northland Conservation Board. She was also the first Māori elected into the Kaipara District council where she represented her hapouri.