Our Trustees
KIRIKOWHAI MIKAERE
Ka moe a Mikaere Heretaunga ki a Kirikowhai Poumako ka puta ko Perenara, ka moe a Perenara (Buck) Mikaere ki a Kahoki (Pipo) Eparaima ka puta ko William (Wiremu) Mikaere. Ko William Mikaere tōku pāpā, Ko Kirikowhai Mikaere tēnei e mihi ana.
Kirikowhai is a proud māmā to Kapuarangi Te Awa-i-honoa Mikaere Hayes and Te Wai Kura Erena Hayes, and partner of Selwyn Hayes (Ngāi Tai, Te Ātihaunui a Pāpārangi).
For over 20 years Kirikowhai has specialised in iwi Māori data and information, focusing on harnessing data to empower iwi, hapū, whānau and community development. She has advised tribal, community and private sector organisations as well as ministers and government agencies with practical statistical analysis and innovative indigenous place-based data solutions. Kirikowhai is also is the current lead technical advisor to the Iwi Chairs Forum - Data IwiLeaders Group.
Kirikowhai says it is her honour to Chair the Tūhourangi Tribal Authority and subsequently sit as a director on Waimangu Volcanic Valley and a trustee on Te Pūmautanga o Te Arawa.
She holds multiple governance and advisory roles across the NGO and government sectors. Kirikowhai is passionate about creating pathways of contribution for our people, te oranga whānui o Tūhourangi and the integrated development of our people and our place.
DELIAH BALLE
Deliah (Ngāti Hinemihi, Ngāti Tūohonoa and Ngāti Tutea) was elected onto the Trust in July 2019, following Trust elections on 15 June 2019.
Deliah works as a senior policy and engagement planner with the Te Arawa Lakes Trust’s (TALT) environmental team, Te Papa Ahurewa. She is currently responsible for the implementation of the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management (NPSFM) and Te Mana o Te Wai.
Deliah has been with Te Arawa Lakes Trust for four years and her responsibilities included the Trust’s statutory and Settlement Protocols, overseeing resource consents and leading the gazettal of the Te Arawa Lakes tāonga fisheries bylaws in 2020. She is also a member of the Iwi Chairs Forum technical advisory group for freshwater (ILGF) and a trustee on Te Arawa River Iwi Trust.
Deliah is passionate about protecting the natural resources and advocating for the rights and interests of our people.
WATU MIHINUI
Watu has a wealth of experience and skills in community and hapū development after 40 years in the public service and 68 years as an uri of Wāhiao and Mutukuri Waretini. At heart, she remains a whaka-blonde, penny diver.
From a young age Watu was always at the wharekai learning the ins and outs of manaakitanga, a legacy now entrusted to her uri. They were in fact sent to the marae to be there for her father who sat on the pae, but was not of Tūhourangi Ngāti Wāhiao descent.
In 2010, Watu founded the Te Whare Korero o Tūhourangi Kōmiti, responsible for the renaissance of Tūhourangitanga at Te Pākira Marae. This Kōmiti became the whāngai of Tūhourangi Tribal Authority in 2016; a tribute to Watu’s dear friend, the late Muriwai Ihakara, who unstintingly shared his expertise and skill with our paetapu.
In October 2021, five Tūhourangi tāonga were unveiled at Te Pūtake o Tawa, a project two years in the making, which Watu managed on behalf of Tūhourangi Tribal Authority. A spectacular event produced entirely by Tūhourangi hapū - from tohunga whakairo and ringatoi, to tohunga karakia, tohunga whakapapa, pou kōrero, pou karanga, and kapa haka who superseded all challenges.
WARENA MORGAN
Ko Wārena Morgan tōku ingoa, nō te whanau Morgan, Wikiriwhi, Hiini, Hatō, Haira mē Wīhapi, ōtirā nō Tūhourangi ahau. He mokopuna au ō Eruera raua kō Rangiātuhi (nee Haira) Morgan, Te Autiti raua kō Kahukura (nee Hemopō) Wikiriwhi, mē Karaneihana raua kō Kerera/Niki (nee Hatō) Hiini.
Warena is a current registered Industrial Electrician with 7 years experience in Automation and Controls, CCTV, Alarms systems(including biometric scanners), Project Managing and Supervision of Safety Machinery Guarding and Control Systems.
Warena has had several senior and board level positions on community committee groups and organisations, such as;
President, Whakarewarewa Community Sports Inc: 2018–2020
President, Rotorua Rugby Sub Union: 2020-2021
President, Central Bay of Plenty Rugby Sub Union: 2021-2022
Member of the Bay of Plenty Rugby Judicial Panel: 2021
Chairman of the Rotokākahi Board of Control: 2021
Warena is an accomplished and energetic professional with a solid history of achievement in management and decision-making. A motivated leader with strong organisational and prioritisation abilities. Areas of expertise include financial-delegation, machinery safety and communication.
Warena’s decision to become a trustee, stems from his whakapapa, and to represent his iwi with passion and integrity, developing strong networks and relationships enhancing the mana of Tūhourangi. Warena looks forward to contributing his skills and dedication for the betterment of his iwi.
RANGITIHI PENE
Nō Ngāti Hinemihi, nō Ngāti Huarere ōtirā nō Tūhourangi ahau.
Ko taku tūmanako kia pūtaiki, arā kia kotahi ai te hoe!
Rangitihi is self-employed and work in the education sector. At a time, he worked for the Ministry of Education and taught te reo Māori at Rotorua Lakes and Raukura. Rangitihi was also Head of Te Kura Māori at Toi Ohomai/Waiariki.
Rangitihi sits on the paepae of both Te Pākira and Hinemihi Marae and as part of Te Whare o Tūhourangi, organise hīkoi and wānanga for Tūhourangi. Rangitihi composes for Te Kapa Haka o Tūhourangi Ngāti Wāhiao, Raukura and Ngāti Tarāwhai.
One of Rangitihi’s other passions is coaching basketball, to the point where he sits as President of the Rotorua Association and helps to run the National Māori Basketball Tournament.
Rangitihi is the Chairman of the Hinemihi Marae and led the 2019 delegation to London that convinced the National Trust UK to return our precious Hinemihi carvings. Rangitihi is also one of Tūhourangi’s elected trustees on the Te Arawa Lakes Trust.
As a Tūhourangi Tribal Authority trustee, Rangitihi is acutely aware that we have not yet achieved Equity, as an affiliate of Te Pūmautanga o Te Arawa. Equity is about gaining financial fairness and satisfaction from Te Arawa’s Treaty settlement. In particular, an account needs to be taken of our population, resources, the number and value of our claims. Rangitihi is determined to help our people achieve Equity for the betterment of all of our people for generations to come.