TERAU KUPENGA 

PRINCIPAL

After graduating from Auckland University with an LLB, Te Rau practiced law in Auckland and Wellington, specialising in litigation.  For the past ten years, Te Rau has held a number of senior executive positions in the private and public sector.  These have included most recently, Deputy Secretary for the Environment, where he helped to lead the Crown’s position on Iwi Rights and Interests in Freshwater; and as part of the leadership team at the Ministry of Education, taking a leading role in Maori educational achievement.  Te Rau also holds a number of governance roles, including Director of Te Runanganui o Ngati Porou, Trustee of the Eastland Community Trust and Trustee of Nga Taonga – Sound and Vision Archive.  In 2016, Te Rau co-authored Mauri Ora – Wisdom from the Maori world.

Tel: 027-463-0900

Email:

HOLLIE SMITH 

SENIOR CONSULTANT

Born in Taihape and raised in Wellington, Hollie graduated from Te Panekiretanga o te Reo Māori (Insitute of Excellence in Māori Language), and with a BA and GDipArts from Victoria University and the University of Hawai'i (Mānoa).

Hollie has worked in public sector policy design and implementation over the last 10 years across education, training and employment, and been involved significantly in the Māori language sector, specialising in intervention logic for language planning and policy design informed by the application of sociolinguistic and language revitalisation theories.

Tel: 021-036-8840

Email:

SARAH APANUI

SENIOR CONSULTANT

Sarah has spent the last 15 years working in the financial services industry, most recently at Māori investment advisory firm, Taupo Moana Funds. Over the 9 years she worked at Taupo Moana, her roles included Investment Analyst, Investment Advisor, Investment Operations Manager and most recently General Manager.

Sarah has also worked in London (Northern Trust), Vancouver and at Perpetual Trust in Wellington, involved in funds management, trust administration and investment advice.

Sarah holds a Bachelor of Commerce and Administration majoring in Money and Finance, and Economics from Victoria University. Sarah is also an Authorised Financial Adviser.

Tel: 021-214-5986

Email:

RIPEKA HOERARA

CONSULTANT

Born and raised in Wellington, Ripeka has whakapapa links to Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Kahungunu ki Te Wairarapa and Ngapuhi.

Ripeka has worked within the natural resource sector, including treaty negotiations, Iwi rights and interests policy, as well as resource efficiency and innovation. Ripeka graduated from Victoria University with a BA in Māori Resource Management and Political Science as well as an Honours degree in Māori studies. Ripeka has had experience in both public and private sector working both for Iwi and Crown entities. Ripeka attended Turakina Māori Girls’ College where her passion for Māori politics and interest in mātauranga Māori was ignited.

Tel: 027-826-9402

Email:

RUBEN KEARNEY-PARATA

INTERN

Ruben is currently studying towards a degree in Māori Resource Management and Political Science at Victoria University Wellington. In his studies, he has particularly enjoyed researching the political engagement and voter habits of rangatahi Māori (Maori youth). Ruben was born and raised within his tribal region of Kapiti, north of Wellington.  In his spare-time he is an active member of his tribal community, assisting to hold hui (meetings) about the important issues of today.  After his studies Ruben hopes to return to his iwi to support tribal development. 

Tel: 021-233-6617

Email:

TAIMANIA CLARK 

SENIOR CONSULTANT

Taimania has undergraduate degrees in Arts (Social Policy)(Hons) and Business Studies (Economics) and a Master of Arts (Social Policy)(Hons) from Massey University. Before joining Te Amokura, Taimania was a Senior Policy Analyst at the Ministry for the Environment, she also spent time working as an advisor to the Chief Executive. Taimania also has experience working for iwi and community organisations, focusing mostly on social development.

Taimania was raised in Gisborne. Her whānau are from Rangitukia and Tikitiki on the right side of the Waiapu valley! 

Tel: 027-653-8271

Email:

KARA WAETFORD

SENIOR CONSULTANT

After completing a BCom at the University of Auckland Kara spent several years in manufacturing management with Nestle. Over the past fifteen years Kara has held executive roles in retail with JB HiFi, Warehouse Stationery and The Warehouse. His most recent role as GM of Warehouse Mobile involved the creation & launch of NZ's leading virtual network in partnership with 2 degrees. 

An analytical and strategic thinker Kara has a range of core competencies including sourcing, project management, consumer insight, negotiation and ideation. 

Kara was born and raised in Auckland and has whakapapa links to Ngāpuhi and Ngātiwai.

He is Advisory Chair for the boy's hostel of InZone Education and a keen coach of cricket & soccer. 

Tel: 021-241-7982

Email:

JACK FLETCHER

CONSULTANT

Jack graduated from Victoria University with an LLB, and has a diploma in Māori and Pacific Development from the University of Waikato.  During his time at university Jack was involved with Community Law Wellington as a volunteer and advocate at the Epuni Care and Protection Residence, and the Rights Education Project.  Prior to joining Te Amokura Jack worked as a solicitor in sunny Nelson, which is where he grew up.  Jack is passionate about te reo Māori and has whakapapa connections to Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa.  He also enjoys playing softball and baseball, and has competed at a national and international level.

Tel: 027-351-5765

Email:

TIPENE KAPA-KINGI

CONSULTANT

Tipene was raised in Te Tai Tokerau, he boasts heritage to Te Aupōuri, Ngāti Kahu ki Whaingaroa, Waikato and Te Whānau a Apanui.

Tipene graduated from Victoria University in 2017 with a BCom majoring in Accounting and Te Reo Māori. He is also a graduate of Te Panekiretanga o te Reo. Prior to joining Te Amokura, Tipene worked in the professional services sector as an accountant and business consultant. Tipene has experience in various areas including business strategy, business case and feasibility development, organisational planning and performance, financial reporting and tax compliance. Tipene’s passion lies in the betterment of te iwi Māori, he firmly believes positive social and cultural outcomes for Māori can be driven by catalysing economic development and leveraging opportunities to increase wealth and prosperity of whānau, hapū and iwi. 

Tel: 021-081-89903

Email:

BELLA CRONIN-STONE

INTERN

Bella is currently in her second year of an LLB/BA at Victoria University of Wellington. She was raised in Titahi Bay, just north of Wellington with whakapapa links to Ngati Kahungunu ki Te Wairoa and is also of Niuean descent. In her spare time, Bella enjoys playing the piano and hockey, in which she has competed at a national level.

Tel: 021-266-3444

Email:

PIRIPI WINIATA 

SENIOR CONSULTANT

Piripi has whakapapa links to Ngāti Rongomaiwahine and Ngāti Kahungunu ki Te Wairoa. He graduated from the University of Auckland with a conjoint Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Commerce, before going on to do a year of te reo Māori full immersion at Te Wānanga Takiura.  At university, Piripi received the Tawera 10K Scholarship in Business, the Manukura Trophy, the Gina Rudland Memorial Cup and the Judge Karina Williams prize in Law.

Prior to joining Te Amokura, Piripi enjoyed a career in the law, working in litigation, mostly practicing as a Crown Prosecutor in Auckland. In that time, Piripi was re-classified as an intermediate Crown Prosecutor. He also continues to pursue te reo Māori.

Tel: 021-028-40662

Email:

CATH NESUS

SENIOR CONSULTANT

Cath has worked at senior levels of the Public Sector in New Zealand and Australia. Her experience spans policy development, leading legislation initiatives, the design and implementation of stakeholder engagement processes and leading and working with teams to build capability and improve performance.   Most recently, she led Te Ture mō Te Reo Māori (Māori Language Act) which was passed in 2016. A critical thinker, experienced in navigating diverse and complex situations, she has proven experience of working both within Māori and government contexts.

Tel: 027-450-7002

Email:

KARLI RICKARD

CONSULTANT

Karli graduated from Victoria University with an LLB/BA (Social Policy and History (Hons)). Prior to joining Te Amokura Karli worked for Victoria University of Wellington’s Faculty of Law as the Kaitakawaenga Ture – the Māori Law Students’ Co-ordinator. During her time at University Karli was involved with Ngā Rangahautira – the Māori Law Students Association, Wellington Community Justice Project and Community Law Wellington as a Volunteer and Advocate at Epuni Care and Protection Residence.
Karli was also born and raised in the thriving metropolis of Gisborne.

Tel: 027-855-2965

Email:

KIEREN GERA

CONSULTANT

A descendent of Ngāti Pūkenga and Ngāti Whakaue, Kieren grew up in Rotorua and Wellington, before moving to the UK in 2017. She brings experience in human rights and gender mainstreaming, having most recently worked in Amnesty International's gender, sexuality and identity programme in London. Prior to this, Kieren worked in social policy at Oranga Tamariki and the Ministry of Social Development.

Kieren is passionate about changing systems to be more evidence-based and people-centred, which is why she is undertaking a Master's in Data Science at the University of Manchester. As part of this, she wants to ensure that systems centre Māori expertise and frameworks as a way of upholding Te Tiriti and improving outcomes for all.

Tel: +44 7391 099077

Email:

HEREWINI AMMUNSON

INTERN

Herewini is a third-year student at Victoria University of Wellington working towards an LLB/BA. He was raised within one of his tribal regions of Wairarapa, however, has other connections to Te Arawa, Ngati Rārua and is also of Samoan descent. Herewini currently is a volunteer at the Wellington Community Law Centre and has a passion for legal issues relating to Te iwi Māori, Te Tiriti o Waitangi and social justice. 

Tel: 027-748-1766

Email:

RAWINIA NGATAI

OFFICE MANAGER

Rawinia (aka, Ra) enjoyed a long career in the public sector, primarily in administration and finance roles, having worked previously with the Department of Māori Affairs, Te Tira Ahu Iwi (Iwi Transition Agency), Te Puni Kōkiri, the Office of the Māori Trustee and Hato Pāora College in Feilding.  Ra is married to Vaughn and has two sons, Sonny and Luther, who keep her just as busy as the Te Amokura whanau.

Rotorua is “home” for Ra where she has whakapapa links to Te Arawa, Ngati Whatua and Ngai Tahu.

Tel: 027-478-9153

Email: