Our People

No stranger to hard work Ngaronoa or Aunty Maxine has hapu, iwi and national prominence for her direct approach to anything Maori. Ngaronoa has literally walked the walk and talked the talk for Tino rangatiratanga over a number of years and was at the forefront of the Maori rights movement with her late husband Hone Ngata. Professionally, Ngaronoa has a Bachelor’s Degree in Matauranga Maori, has worked as a social worker and educationalist providing an immense amount of experience and knowledge in matters pertaining to whanau,hapu and Iwi development. Ngaronoa has also been actively involved in the raupatu process and recently worked to ensure the iwi and hapu achieved settlement.

Te Ruruanga is of Ngati Kahu, Ngati Rangi and Ngati Pango descent and has been our mandated representative for the combined hapu interests as Te Wairoa in negotiations with the Crown (and others’). Te Ruruanga has dedicated much of his life to this settlement process and is excited at the development that will occur as a result of the settlement.  He is business savvy and possesses knowledge in government and settlement processes. A respected kaumatua of Te Wairoa and Tauranga Moana, Te Ruruanga will ensure that the trust is always cloaked in the tikanga and kawa handed down by our tupuna. Further, Te Ruruanga’s business competencies and experience will assist this.  

He maioha aroha ki a tatou kuia ko Hinemoa Geraldine Reweti. Heke iho mai ia i nga kawaitanga a koro ma, kui ma. Toona paapaa ko Tumai Gerald Bennett no Ngati Kahu. Toona whaea, ko Hera Te Wheoro Bennett no konei no te Wairoa. He kuia tino aroha ki nga mokopuna. E kaha ana ia ki te whakaako i a ratou I roto i te matauranga. Ko whiwhi ai ia i te tohu mai te kawana mo toona mahi whakahirahira ki roto te kura. Koia ke te mokopuna pakeke o nga tupuna. A te marama e tu nei ka piki ake ona tau ki te waru te kau ma rima  He wahine whakapono ki toona Atua.  E matatau ana ia i nga waiata tawhito me nga mahi a ringa a o tatou tupuna ….. E te tuahine, tena  koe !!! ….. He iti pounamu  ra koe ki a matou.                           

He maioha aroha ki a tatou kuia ko Neri Nellie Ormsby. Heke iho mai ia i nga kawaitanga a koro ma, kui ma. Toona paapaa ko Tioti Ngawharau no Ngati Kahu me toona whaea ko Ngahiraka Ngarama Tokona no konei no te Wairoa. He kuia tino aroha ki toona marae me toona hapu. Koia ke te whakamutunga o tera tipuranga. He wahine whakapono ki te Atua. E matatau ana ia i nga korero me nga paki waitara a o tatou tupuna. …..E te whaea, tena ra koe !!! ….. He taonga ra koe ki a matou. Pictured: Aunty Nellie (centre) at celebration of Website launch and her 80th birthday

Phillip is a devoted member of the community and is involved in many hapu activities. His leadership has been demonstrated through various projects from sports to social services, religion and Marae development. He brings vast experience in governance and senior management having held positions such as CEO of a large maori organisation managing sizeable budgets and high performance teams. Further, he has played an active role in the raupatu journey and will provide much needed guidance through the establishment phase of this trust. His experience and knowledge, combined with his obvious affinity for hapu development made Phillip an obvious choice for chair, elected unanimously by his fellow trustees.