Overview
According to Maramataka\The Māori Lunar Calendar, the phase of Okoro is a time to review, reflect, discuss new learning, and be creative. At this gathering, on iwi whenua, you'll hear about local history, cultural values and narratives from Board Chair, Marama Royal and engage in kōrero that fosters whanaungatanga — strengthening relationships and networks through shared experiences. There’ll be workshops and panels about iwi governance, independent directorships, economic resurgence, commercial ventures and more, creating space for meaningful dialogue and collaboration.
*Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, one of the hapū from the wider Ngāti Whātua iwi are located in and around the Tāmaki isthmus, in the largest city in Aotearoa, we hold firm to our mana motuhake, history, culture, identity and language.
Every tribal member of Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei can trace their whakapapa to our shared ancestor Tuperiri and are descended from the three hapū; Ngā Oho, Te Taoū, me Te Uringutu, collectively referred to as Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei. We are the tangata whenua of Tāmaki with our mana over the land and sea being underpinned by take tupuna (ancestral relationships), take raupatu (taking of the land and sea by traditional warfare), ahi kā (unbroken occupation) and tuku whenua (traditional gifting of land ) .
Today, the collective affairs of the sub-tribe are looked after by the Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Trust with approximately over 7000 registered hapū members throughout Aotearoa and the world. We celebrate our direct lineage from our common tupuna Tuperiri and the legacy our many tūpuna have left behind. This legacy is what has enabled our strong and everlasting connection to our whenua, our rohe and to each other.
Agenda
8:45am Gather at the waharoa in front of Ōrākei Marae
9:00am Pōhiri
9:30am Kai/kapu tī, whakanoa
9:50am Keynote: Hītori o Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei - Marama Royal
10:00am Workshop: Te Tiriti o Waitangi /Treaty of Waitangi - Precious Clark
5 min BREAK
10:55am Panel 1 - Iwi governance, moderated by Jim Mather.
5 min BREAK
12:00pm Panel 2 - Independent governors on iwi boards, moderated by Rangimarie Hunia
12:45pm Lunch, networking
1:30pm Event concludes
Optional extra
1:30pm - 3:00pm Hikoi - sites of significance (weather permitting)
The Agenda is subject to change
Marama Royal
MInstD
Marama was born and raised in Tāmaki and had the privilege of receiving her education at Queen Victoria School in Parnell. She has extensive experience in strategic planning, relationship management, leadership, governance, and organizational change. Marama has been a Director of Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Trust since 2010 and has served as Chair since December 2017.
Marama also holds a number of Chair and Directorships roles across various organisations and trusts; Chair Ngati Whatua Orakei Reserves Board, Chair Ranginui 12 Trust, Chair SkyCity Community Trust, Pro-Chancellor AUT, Co-Chair Auckland Police Taumata, Chair – Pou Take Ahuarangi NICF (National Iwi Chairs Forum), Member Pro-Care Co-Operative Board, Member Eden Park Trust - Member.
Marama is a current serving Justice of the Peace and an Independent Marriage Celebrant which are her voluntary roles within the community. Marama is passionate about achieving positive outcomes for whanau, especially our kaumatua and is a servant of her people.
Facilitators
Dr Jim Mather
CFInstD
Jim is of Ngāti Awa, Ngāi Tūhoe, Te Whakatōhea and English descent and grew up in Te Teko, Ōtara and Māngere. He is a Chartered Accountant and Chartered Fellow of the Institute of Directors, and the founder of a specialist Māori development consultancy. Jim holds a Bachelor of Business Studies (Accounting), an MBA from Henley Business School in England, and a PhD in Māori economic development from AUT University.
With more than 25 years’ business management experience, Jim has held senior leadership and governance roles across private, government and iwi organisations. He completed his final Chief Executive role in 2018 with Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, following nine years as Chief Executive of Māori Television and earlier leadership of the Pacific Business Trust. Jim is passionate about Māori development and strengthening the organisations he serves. A former New Zealand Army officer, he served six years and was awarded the Sword of Honour.
Precious Clark
Precious Clark (Ngāti Whātua,Te Uri o Hau, Waikato, Ngāti Paoa, Ngāti Hē and Pākehā) is the founder and Chief Executive of Maurea Consulting, an organisation with a vision to see Māori culture drive Aotearoa New Zealand forward.
A creative at heart, Precious designed the highly acclaimed Te Kaa - Igniting your Māori Cultural Competency training programme and drives Maurea’s aspiration to help people fall in love with Māori culture.
Precious weaves her skills as a facilitator, cultural practitioner, business woman, professional director, lawyer, leader and teacher to deliver engaging training programmes and services that support New Zealand to leverage off our unique cultural landscape.
Current directorships: Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Trust; Director of Whai Māia Ltd and Chair of Te Taumata-a-Iwi (Māori Advisory Board to Auckland Museum).
Previous governance roles: Auckland Regional Amenities Funding Board, Centre for Social Impact, Trustee of Foundation North, Director on Whai Rawa Ltd (Property and investment), Chair of Te Tira Kautū (Māori Advisory Board to Southern Cross Health Society), member of the Independent Māori Statutory Board and the ASB Community Council.
Panellists
Panel 1 - Iwi Governance
Gina Rangi
MInstD
Gina is chair of Tūaropaki Trust, an ahu whenua Trust based at Mōkai, north of Taupō. Originally a beef, sheep and dairy farm, Tūaropaki established the Tūaropaki Power Company, a geothermal power generator. It subsequently sold a 25% stake to Mercury Energy. Today the trust is worth over a billion dollars, making it the largest Māori land organisation in the country, by asset value. Gina has been a Tūaropaki trustee for 25 years, and chair for four years. She is leading the Trust through a significant transformation including a re-write of the Trust order, ending lifetime appointments and introducing regular elections, and the establishment of a separate commercial board.
Gina trained as a lawyer and in that capacity has experience in Tiriti settlements, governance disputes and environment law. She is a member of Te Arawa (Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Whakaue and Ngāti Tahu-Ngāti Whaoa), Raukawa and Maniapoto.
Charlie Rahiri
Charlie Rahiri (Ngāti Ranginui, Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāti Pūkenga, Ngāti Paoa) is a respected Māori governance leader with experience spanning local, regional, and national levels. He currently serves as Chair of Ngāti Ranginui Iwi, guiding strategic direction, tribal development, and inter‑iwi collaboration across Tauranga Moana. Professionally, Charlie is a Divisional Manager at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, where he has advised ministers and prime ministers on complex policy, international engagement, and Crown–Māori relationships.
Across his governance roles, Charlie is deeply committed to strengthening capability within iwi and Māori organisations. One of his most significant challenges and passions is helping our people understand the distinct roles and responsibilities of governors, and the importance of separating governance from operations. He advocates for a servant‑based leadership ethic, grounded in humility, accountability, and collective purpose, as a pathway to stronger, more future‑focused Māori institutions.
Tori Ngataki
MInstD
Ngāti Tamaoho, Ngāti Amaru, Waikato; Ngāti Ruapani ki Waikaremoana, Ngāi Tūhoe, Ngāti Maniapoto
Tori Ngataki is a governance leader guided by her whakapapa and a deep commitment to her people and future generations.
Raised at Whaataapaka Marae on the shores of the Manukau Harbour in Tāmaki Makaurau, Tori strives to carry an intergenerational lens, blending ancestral wisdom with contemporary leadership and service.
Across complex and high-stakes environments, Tori is known for clarity, calm, and disciplined stewardship—supporting organisations to thrive sustainably while honouring their communities.
She serves as Chair of her Iwi Ngāti Tamaoho and on the executive board of Waikato-Tainui, Te Arataura, working at the intersection of iwi, government, and institutions with humility, purpose, and enduring impact.
Whaimutu Davies
DistFInstD
“E noho koe ki te ngaki I nga werawera a o matua tipuna mo nga uri whakatipu”.
Whaimutu Dewes, of Ngāti Porou and Ngāti Rangitihi descent, is guided by the teachings of his elders to advance the aspirations of future generations. With a background in law and commerce, he is a Distinguished Fellow of the Institute of Directors and has an extensive governance career spanning economic and community development. His current roles include Chair of Ngāti Porou Forests Group, Deputy Chair of Transpower New Zealand, and board member of Taumata Māori (Adjunct to Sport NZ Ihi Aotearoa).
Whaimutu has previously chaired Ngāti Porou Seafoods, Aotearoa Fisheries and Sealord, and served on the boards of Contact Energy, Ngāti Porou Holding Company, Housing New Zealand, and Television New Zealand, as well as advisory boards to the Treasury, the Department of Corrections and AMP New Zealand. He also served on the Independent Panel reviewing New Zealand Rugby governance. A committed advocate for te reo Māori, he and his wife Judy consider raising bilingual children and mokopuna among their greatest achievements.
Panel 2 - Independent Directorship in Iwi Governance
Lisa Tumahai
Lisa has 25 years of extensive governance experience. A proud member of Ngai Tahu, she is dedicated to ensuring the thriving of her Iwi and hapu through her impactful work.
Currently, she is the CEO of Pokeka Poutini Ngai Tahu Ltd, where she focuses on advancing the commercial, environmental, social, and well-being aspirations of Poutini Ngai Tahu.
In addition, she is the Deputy Chair of the New Zealand Climate Change Commission, her passion for climate action also extends to her role as co-chair of Hinemoana Halo Partnership Fund Ltd, a dual ocean and climate resilience initiative promoting rapid carbon deceleration across Aotearoa and the Pacific through nature-based solutions.
Lisa contributes to several boards, including the University of Canterbury Council, The Waitangi National Trust and Development West Coast. In recognition of her services to Māori development, she was awarded the Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2023.
Jim Quinn
CMInstD
Jim is an experienced director, chief executive and executive manager.
He is currently chair at ComplyPro and a director at Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Whai Rawa Ltd, WEL Networks Ltd and Brosnan Ltd. He is also a partner in QLG Advisory. His governance experience includes Eastland Group, Smart Co Ltd, MCom, Lyttleton Port, Ngāi Tahu Tainui GoBus Ltd, Tubman Heating Ltd, Shape Energy, Ubiquitome and Intilecta.
His executive career included being the inaugural CEO of KiwiRail, Chief of Strategy at Auckland Council, and CEO of Express Couriers joint venture between New Zealand Post and DHL. He has had General Management roles in New Zealand Post, Advantage Group (EFTPOS Industry), WEL Energy, QED Software and New Zealand Couriers.
Nanaia Mahuta
Nanaia Mahuta is a senior Māori leader, former Cabinet Minister, having served 27 years in Parliament. She made history as the first wahine appointed as Minister of Foreign Affairs and as Minister for Māori Development.
Affiliated with Waikato-Maniapoto, and Ngapuhi, Nanaia’s leadership is values based and grounded in tikanga. She has demonstrated an ongoing commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Across her public career, she has been a leading advocate for Indigenous rights, intergenerational wellbeing, the Māori economy and the integration of Indigenous knowledge into policy, diplomacy, and economic development. Her ministerial leadership contributed to strengthening New Zealand’s approach to inclusive trade, climate engagement, and Indigenous-to-Indigenous international collaboration and political inclusion.
Nanaia now works across governance, research, and advisory roles. She is Project Lead for Tauhokohoko – Indigenous Trade, an Honorary Professor at Te Kotahi Research Institute (University of Waikato), and an Independent Director on a range of tribal governance boards, supporting Indigenous-led, future-focused systems change.
Additional information
Should you have any dietary, mobility, cultural or other requirements, you can let us know on the registration form.
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Branch event cancellation policy
Regrettably, registration fees cannot be refunded when cancellations are received within two working days prior to any branch event. See our standard terms and conditions for more information.
Contact
Becky Hare
Auckland Branch Manager
+64 27 642 1099
+64 9 905 4804
Becky.Hare@iod.org.nz
Our sponsors
The Auckland branch acknowledges the generous support of
