Hiki’s whakapapa extends to all four marae in Tokomaru Bay. She worked as a Clinical Dietitian and Team Leader before retiring from those roles in 2021.

Hiki is the Deputy Programme Lead for the Tairāwhiti Interprofessional Education Programme by Otago University, based at Te Whatu Ora Tairāwhiti, in Gisborne.

She brings significant governance experience from various roles held in the health sector that includes two terms as an elected member of Tairāwhiti District Health Board and is serving her third term on the Dietitians Board.

She served one year in a voluntary capacity as a member of the Board of SuperGrans Tairāwhiti from November 2022 to November 2023.

Erana is CEO of Radio Ngāti Porou since 2010 and has extensive business and communication acumen and mana. She is experienced in all aspects of business operations and management across multiple organisations, social sectors and Boards. Her focus is on education and empowerment to ensure the voices and stories of Māori people, communities and generations are heard and preserved. Previous roles include Associate Producer at Te Tēpu, Māori Television, and founder of Wīwī Media Limited.

Erana has three decades of grassroots iwi, hapu land and industry-based governance experience focused on strategic direction and sustainability of community focused mahi and holds a Bachelor of Arts from Waikato University.

“It is important to build and maintain alliances and partnerships that are mutually beneficial to all parties involved”.

Shane’s whakapapa connects him to Ngāti Porou and Nga Puhi.  

He has two decades’ worth of experience in the security sector, where he currently works as a manager and airport security supervisor. 

Shane previously worked as a community work supervisor for the Department of Corrections and has been contracted to the Ministry of Justice. 

He is connected to the community as a volunteer training staff member for the New Zealand Cadet Forces with the City of Gisborne Cadet Unit and has spent the last 20 years coaching secondary school basketball.  

Tee is a community advocate, having previously held a role as Iwi Liaison Advisor for Gisborne District Council from 2019 to 2022, and currently works at Te Rūnanga o Tūranganui a Kiwa.  

She was on the Board of Trustees for Te Kura Māori o Ngā Uri a Māui for six years and on the Board of Trustees for Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Horouta Wānanga. She is currently a committee member of Surfcity Squash Club. 

Tee is passionate about working to serve the iwi of Te Tairāwhiti through supporting the response at Tairāwhiti Civil Defence. 

Joseph was recently the Cultural and Strategic Advisor at WorkSafe where he spearheaded cultural integration and strategic development initiatives and successfully engaged with Ministers and stakeholders to prioritise programmes that benefit Māori communities.

Joseph was awarded a Queen Service New Zealand 1990 Commemoration medal for services to the Community and Māori. Of notable achievement was establishing the Civil Defence Hub (three hapū of Ruatōria – Tūpāroa, Māhora and Reporoa) and engaged in restoration of many marae, was also the founder of Ngāti Porou Rūnanga inaugural social services initiative and collaborating with local schools and marae to deliver culturally sensitive educational and motivational programmes where he secured consistent funding from the government to support communities-driven initiatives.

Joseph has strong connections across the region and has done extensive work in advocacy and support, particularly with kaimahi, youth and Iwi throughout Te Tairawhiti. Joseph also served as a firefighter for 26 years, 23 years as a professional and 3 years as a local volunteer.

‘Community orientation and service ensures focused problem solving and prevention to build an aware, informed and resilient community’.

Willis is currently the Stakeholder Manager / Pou Arahi for Transport Rebuild East Coast (New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi). He finished with New Zealand Police in 2023 as a Sergeant. He led as an Acting Senior Sergeant for Cyclone Gabrielle as the Operations lead for the Response. Willis joined the Police force after a career as a Meat Worker at Bernard Mathews and as Communication Coordinator for Idea Services (IHC). In his early Police career, he served in Wairoa, then Gisborne and spent time as Constable Whāngaia Ngā Pa Harakeke and Communities Iwi Liaison Officer.

Willis is actively involved in his local community and sports clubs including as Chair of the Young Māori Party Rugby Football Club, since 2020.

“Communication and engagement with all stakeholders and wider community in a collaborative approach will deliver meaningful and sustainable outcomes”.

Jordan is a creative freelancer and works producing local and national creative projects. Jordan is a post graduate social anthropologist and is currently undertaking an MA. With high level logistical management, production management and interpersonal relationship skills Jordan has strong links into a wide cross section of the Tairāwhiti community.

With recent governance experience as Board member for Outline Aotearoa Jordan was also a recent General Ward candidate for Te Tairāwhiti.

“Community awareness, critical thinking and supporting those in need will heighten equity, access, inclusion and well-being for all”.

Dr Raaniera Te Whata (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Pōrou) was raised in the small marae community of Tautoro, south of Kaikohe in Te Tai Tokerau Northland. He also has whakapapa links to Te Whānau-a-Tūwhakairiora on the East Cape. An independent researcher affiliated with the University of Otago's Centre for Sustainability and Takarangi Research, he brings a wealth of cultural knowledge to his work. For the past four years, he has been residing in Te Tairāwhiti, where he applies his expertise as a technician in cultural and environmental services for both public and private sectors.

“Sustainability and understanding leads to meaningful protection and conservation for future generations”.