Te Hiku o Te Ika Conservation Board members

Dr Hinemoa Elder of Waiheke Island 

Appointment Term: 6 August 2025 to 30 June 2027

Dr Hinemoa Elder Nominated by Te Rūnanga Nui o Te Aupōuri. Dr Elder has held and currently holds multiple professional positions and appointments that demonstrate her extensive knowledge, experience, and expertise in psychiatry, mental health and addictions in New Zealand and internationally.

Her expertise is in working with Māori communities, and she has strong links with her iwi. In 2020 she became a director of Te Aupouri Commercial Development Limited and Te Aupouri Fisheries Limited, at the end of 2025 Hinemoa was elected as a trustee of Te Rūnanga Nui o Te Aupōuri.

Iwi affiliation:  Ngāti Kurī, Te Rarawa, Te Aupōuri and Ngāpuhi

Anne-Marie Houng Lee of Kohukohu

Appointment Term: 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2027

Anne-Marie has a Graduate Certificate in Emergency Management and has worked in the Far North as an Emergency Manager, so has a deep understanding of the natural hazards and environs up here.  She recently qualified as a rongoa practitioner (Māori medicene) so has a vested interest in the whenua and ngahere. She works part-time on the Ranui-on-Hokianga, a tourist passenger boat on the upper reaches of the Hokianga. Anne- Marie is acutely aware of the changes to the Harbour environs, and the effects that is having on local communities.

Massey Maahia Nathan of Auckland 

Appointment Term: 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2027

Maahia Nathan, Tumuaki/Principal of Te Pūtahi Māori o Manurewa. On 5 July 2024 a dawn ceremony marked the long-awaited completion of a new multi-million-dollar kura kaupapa Maori campus in Manurewa.  Te Pūtahi Maori o Manurewa is a $47 million purpose-build campus that will house two existing kura:  Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Manurewa a primary school, and Te Wharekura o Manurewa a secondary school.  

Iwi affiliation:  Te Aupōuri, Ngāti Kuri, NgaiTakoto Te Rarawa me Ngāti Mahuta

Mina Pomare-Peita of Hokianga (Chairperson) 

Appointment Term: 1 July 2021 to 30 June 2026

Mina was born and raised in the Te Rarawa rohe, beneath Panguru, Te Reinga, and Tauwhare maunga in a farming whānau, the importance of working hard for the betterment of her kāinga has always been instilled into her by her people. They led by example through their hard work and their unwavering sense of identity. Their teachings shaped the path of not only her career but her decision to dedicate herself to the pursuit of addressing the persistent power imbalance between Māori and the systems designed around us, the pursuit of getting our land back, and ensuring she contributes to growing and enabling more leaders.

Mina currently holds many roles in the community including Tumuaki of Te Kura Taumata o Panguru, Chairperson of Ngāti Manawa marae, a leader in Te Kupenga, a māmā, a mentor to other tumuaki, a board member on environmental boards, and a hapū leader. Mina has a longstanding dedication to education and developing our future leaders using Mātauranga Māori.’

Iwi affiliations: Te Rarawa ki Hokianga, Ngāpuhi.

Tui Qauqau-Te Paa of Ahipara

Appointment Term: 1 July 2027 to 30 June 2027

Tui led the development of the Ahipara Takiwā Environmental Plan which will be used to inform and provide guidance in the drafting of the Te Hiku CMS. Tui has key competencies in understanding the RMA and skills that enable her to understand an application or issue, Tui has recently completed the Environmental Commissioners course. 

Iwi affiliation: Te Rarawa

Wallace Rivers of Auckland 

Appointment Term: 1 July 2020 to 30 June 2026

Wallace Rivers was nominated by Te Rūnanga o NgaiTakoto.  He has 35 years’ experience in the steel industry, providing knowledge and perspective of primary industry to the Board.  He is the Co-Chair of Te Rūnanga o Ngai Takoto and offers extensive knowledge of tangata whenua.

Iwi affiliation: NgāiTakoto.

Joanne (Jo) Shanks of Kaitaia

Appointment Term:1 July 2021 to 30 June 2026

Jo is the Environmental Manager/Educator at CBEC Eco Solutions and FNEC Manager (Te Pokapu Tiaki Taiao o Te Tai Tokerau Trust). She enjoys natural plastering, foraging, swimming, walking, and living in nature.  She has a vast understanding of environmental concerns and community needs in Te Hiku. Jo has experience in collaborating with Te Papa Atawhai, Forest and Bird and schools, on conservation actions such as possum and rat trapping, and propagating of natives using eco-sourced seeds and riparian plantings. Jo has assisted Te Papa Atawhai to reduce waste and increase recycling rates at their campsites. Jo co-ordinates an annual (November) beach clean-up along Te Oneroa-a-Tōhē, in conjunction with the community, local businesses and organisations. removing an average of 5 tonnes of waste.

Sheridan Waitai of Awanui

Appointment Term: 17 December 2015 to 30 June 2026

Sheridan is appointed on the recommendation of Ngāti Kuri Trust Board Incorporated. She was first appointed to this Board in 2015. She brings skills in Māori, iwi and hapū development – conversant in tikanga, kaitiakitanga, and rangatiratanga. Sheridan has strong leadership skills in community and social services sector.

Iwi affiliation: Ngāti Kuri, Te Rarawa, Tainui.