Whakamana: valuing Māori Board members’ expertise and experience in the state sector

Panel Discussion

Speaker(s): Rawinia Higgins , Robin Hapi, Pania Gray
Date: 7:00am — 9:00am, 18 June 2024
Venue: KPMG Wellington*
Location: 44 Bowen Street, Thorndon, Wellington 6011
Price members: $50.00 incl GST
Price non-members: $100.00 incl GST

Overview

Rawinia Higgins and Robin Hapi DistFInstD will share their insights on how tikanga Māori and Te Tiriti o Waitangi adds value to state sector board discussions and decision-making.

The panel will also share their thoughts on the ways that all state sector board members can lead on a board that gives mana to Te Tiriti o Waitangi, tikanga and te reo Māori. They will also explore how non-Māori state sector board members can best support their Māori board colleagues to leverage their expertise and experience.

The event has been designed to ensure that there is plenty of time for open floor discussion.

Moderated by Pania Gray CMInstD.

Panellists

Professor Rawinia Higgins

PFHEA, FRSNZ

Professor Rawinia Higgins (Tūhoe) is the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Māori and Engagement at Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington.

Professor Higgins is a member of the Waitangi Tribunal, a Board member of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand, and the current Chair and Commissioner of Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori - The Māori Language Commission. Professor Higgins is the first woman to be appointed to this position. She was elected as a Pacific Region representative on the Global Taskforce for the UNESCO International Decade of Indigenous Languages.

Professor Higgins has been appointed to a number of governance and advisory board roles for government, Māori and iwi. Her research expertise is Māori language revitalisation and, more specifically, language planning and policy and she was instrumental in shaping the current Māori language legislation and policy framework.

Robin Hapi

DistFInstD

Robin Hapi (Ngati Kahungunu) is a prominent Māori leader and professional company director with an impressive record of significant governance roles with successful businesses. Robin received the Insignia of a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2015 for services to Maori, the community and governance.

Robin is currently the Chair of Te Mana Whakahaere (Governing Council) of Te Wānanga o Raukawa.

Member of the Board of Kainga Ora and Chair of its Finance, Risk and Audit Committee.

Robin’s many governance roles have included directorships with Callaghan Innovation, Māori Economic Development Advisory Board, NZ Trade & Enterprise and Serco, to name a few.

Robin is an alumni of Hato Paora Maori Boys College, of which he says was a life changing moment that set him up for his future. He started his work career within Maori Affairs and become the CE of the Treaty of Waitangi Fisheries Commission in 1994.

Robin is a strong advocate for Maori and is actively involved with voluntary social, cultural and environmental issues in his home town of Foxton. He was President of the Foxton Rugby Club, Chairman of the Foxton Save our River Trust and contributes to many other governance roles within his community.

Moderator

Pania Gray

CMInstD

Pania Gray has been a member of the Institute of Directors since 2013. She became a Chartered Member in 2018, following her attendance at the Company Directors Course.

Based in Wellington, Pania has a mix of privately-held company, public entity and not-for-profit governance experience. Pania currently holds the following governance roles:

Managing Director, Kororā Consulting Limited
Independent Board Director, Education Services Limited
Deputy Chair, New Zealand Qualifications Authority
Council Member, Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington
Board Member, New Zealand Film Commission
Independent Member, Ministry of Health Risk and Assurance Committee
Independent Member, Te Mātāwai Audit and Risk Committee

Pania is a member of the Institute of Directors facilitator pool. She delivers the Governance Essentials and Governance in the Public Sector courses – both in-house and as part of the public series. Pania is also called upon to facilitate Board evaluation discussions, on behalf of the Institute of Directors.

In 2022, Pania attended the Advanced Directors Course and was selected for the IoD’s Mentoring for Diversity programme. She thoroughly enjoyed and benefited from both professional development experiences.

Pania joined the Wellington Branch Committee in 2023 and sees this as an opportunity to contribute to the ongoing expansion of diverse member engagement experiences for Wellington-based members.

Additional information

Covid-19 precautions

By registering for this event you are confirming that you agree to adhere to our Covid-19 health and safety measures. If you are unwell or have any Covid-19 symptoms please do not attend this event.