Ko te amorangi ki mua, ko te hāpai ō ki muri.

After graduating from Auckland University with an LLB, Te Rau practiced law in Auckland and Wellington, specialising in litigation. From 2005 to 2017, Te Rau held a number of senior executive roles across government, including Deputy Secretary for the Environment, and Deputy Chief Executive roles at the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development. Te Rau holds a number of governance roles including with Te Runanganui o Ngati Porou and advisory roles with Statistics New Zealand, the Reserve Bank of New Zealand and the Ministry of Defence. In 2016, Te Rau co-authored Mauri Ora – Wisdom from the Māori world.

Lil’s career has spanned more than 30 years’ across the public service and wider state sector. Authentic leadership, vision and strategy, , leading change, problem solving and driving results have been key features of her career.

Prior to joining Te Amokura, Lil was the inaugural Tumu Whakarae (Chief Executive) of the Office for Māori Crown Relations – Te Arawhiti (Te Arawhiti), the agency that reported to the Minister for Māori Crown Relations, the Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations and the Minister responsible for the Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Act. She was the public sector lead on Maori-Crown relations.

Lil’s leadership was critical across the public sector system in supporting the journey of the Māori Crown partnership and helping the Crown to build on the sense of renewal in Māori Crown relations established through the Treaty settlement process.

Lil has also worked extensively in Australia based at the Australia New Zealand School of Government working across the public service both federally and within Queensland on engagement, partnership and capability programmes.

Lil was born and raised in Panguru, a settlement in the northern Hokianga Harbour and belongs to Te Rarawa and Ngapuhi.

Sarah's analytical mind and experience in senior roles within the private sector mean that she is adept at solving complex problems in challenging environments and devising strategic solutions.

At Te Amokura, Sarah is part of the management team that leads and manages the projects and staff in the Wellington office.

Sarah holds a Bachelor of Commerce and Administration, majoring in Money and Finance and Economics, from Victoria University.

Glenys has 36 years’ experience across the education sector including early learning, primary, secondary and tertiary education. Her specialist area is Māori medium education pathways. She has held senior leadership and management roles in kura, the Education Review Office and the Ministry of Education.

Glenys has recently been responsible for leading the redesign of the national curriculum (Te Marautanga o Aotearoa) where she worked with education experts and leaders, whānau and Ministry officials to lay the foundation for an authentic indigenous curriculum that supports the aspirations of ākonga, their whānau, hapū and iwi.

Glenys holds a Bachelor of Education from Victoria University as well as Post Graduate Diplomas in Education (VUW) and Social Sector Research and Evaluation Methodologies (Massey University).

Hinerangi is a Māori communications specialist with over 25 years of experience, primarily in the public sector, as well as for the private sector and her hapū. She recently led strategic communications at Te Tari Whakatau (formerly Te Arawhiti) during a period of significant change.

Her career has included roles as a communications manager, Press Secretary (2014–2016), working with global advertising agencies, leading national communications campaigns, and partnering with her Kāi Tahu hapū on pounamu management and cultural revitalisation projects.

Hinerangi holds a Bachelor of Broadcast Communications – Journalism and is a graduate of Te Panekiretanga o te Reo Māori. She began her career as a journalist for Mana Māori Media and One Network News.

Raised in Te Waipounamu (the South Island), she enjoys time with her mokopuna, sharing good kai and company, and being outdoors.

Born and raised in Te Taitokerau, Kelvin brings a wealth of experience across various sectors, including Education, Local Government, Central Government and the private sectors. Graduating from the Auckland College of Education with a diploma in teaching, Kelvin spent over two-decades within the education system holding an array of teaching roles, and notably serving as Principal at both Karetu School and Kaitaia Intermediate.

In 2008, Kelvin entered Parliament as a Member of Parliament and was the Deputy Leader of the Labour Party from 2017-2023. During this time, Kelvin held many significant Ministerial roles, including Minister for Māori Crown Relations: Te Arawhiti, Minister for Children with responsibility for Oranga Tamariki, Minister of Corrections, Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Education (Maori Education). As a descendant of Whetoi Pomare, one of the signatories to Te Tiriti o Waitangi, Te Tiriti was the backbone for his Ministerial portfolios. As the architect of Te Arawhiti – the office for Maori-Crown Relations, Kelvin’s passion is to support the realisation of Maori aspirations and to support the Crown to be an excellent Te Tiriti Partner.

Taimania has worked across several complex public sector work programmes in the areas of Crown Māori Relations, Māori Development, Natural Resources and Education. Taimania has experience in designing and implementing systems to improve consideration and implementation of Treaty commitments in policy development and is well versed in the machinery of government.

A critical thinker with a drive to deliver high quality outputs and outcomes, Taimania can provide leadership and support for specific projects or general capability for any team.

Taimania has extensive experience working for iwi and community organisations, focusing mostly on social development.

Taimania has an undergraduate degrees in Arts (Social Policy)(Hons) and Business Studies (Economics) and a Master of Arts (Social Policy)(Hons) from Massey University.

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

Te Wehi Wright is a product of Kōhanga Reo and Kura Kaupapa Māori Aho Matua.

He completed a conjoint BA/LLB majoring in te reo Māori, Māori studies and Resource Management at Te Herenga Waka, Victoria University of Wellington and has spent the past five years working in the private sector, focusing on measuring and building the cultural capital of organisations.

Before joining Te Amokura, Te Wehi worked for Tuaropaki Trust, one of the most successful intergenerational trusts in Aotearoa, specialising in increasing the cultural capital of the Trust. He has project management experience and has worked in strategy design, innovation, engagement and policy.

Rawinia (aka, Ra or Whaea 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 whānau.

Rotorua is “home” for Ra where she has whakapapa links to Te Arawa, Ngāti Whātua and Ngāi Tahu.

Mākere hails from Ngāti Porou and supports the operations of the Tairāwhiti office. She has worked and has experience in justice, education, health and wellbeing, Māori development, and food and beverage sectors.

The East Coast called her home in 2017 where she supported the establishment and management of Hāti Nāti Cafe and Out East Tourism. Prior to this she supported the establishment of Te Pā o Rākaihautū, was a production assistant for Te Amokura Productions, and worked in administration for the Office of the Chief Judge of the Māori Land Court and Waitangi Tribunal.

Her experience working within different environments and with various groups enables her to navigate varying settings, keep people to task, and respond to challenges as they arise.

Lynette joined Te Amokura after 15 years with Whakaata Māori as their Head of News and Current Affairs and Planning. Lynette's extensive experience in Māori broadcasting and the media sector underpins her abilitity to co-design and implement a multi platform approach to weaving a 'good story'. Her relationship management is exceptional and has built strong rapport with iwi and te ao Māori leaders.

Problem-solving and planning is king to executing any task at hand and Lynette brings this strength to the teams she works with. She quickly identifies the problem or goal and takes you on the journey to achieve it.

Lynette has executive level knowledge of operational Human Resources disciplines and has experience in financial literacy, people management and high-level strategic design.

Matanuku joins Te Amokura after almost 21 years as a founder and partner in the law firm Kahui Legal. He became a barrister in March 2023; and will provide both legal and advisory services focussed on corporate, commercial, public law and Treaty of Waitangi issues. Matanuku has appeared as counsel in all of the senior courts through to the Supreme Court, the Maori Land Court and the Waitangi Tribunal. He has acted as a Treaty of Waitangi settlement negotiator and helped Ngati Porou to negotiate their bespoke foreshore and seabed agreement with the Crown. In 2012 he chaired the Ministerial Panel to Review Te Ture Whenua Maori Act 1993. He was also one of two statutory reviewers for the 2022 review of the Intelligence and Security Act 2017.

In addition to working as a lawyer Matanuku has 20 years of governance experience. He is the current Chair of the Eastland Group, a director of the New Zealand Merino Company, and a member of the boards of Callaghan Innovation and New Zealand Trade and Enterprise. He has been the Deputy Chair of Aotearoa Fisheries (now Moana New Zealand), Chair of Sealord Group and was the inaugural Chair of the Ngati Porou Holding Company.

Phil is a Māori technology and transformation practitioner with nearly 20 years' experience delivering complex projects and programmes across the public and private sectors. Beginning his career as a Business Analyst, he has worked extensively across digital, service, and operational change - translating strategy into practical delivery and measurable outcomes.

Phil is deeply committed to growing Māori participation and leadership in technology. He has founded and led Māori workforce and capability initiatives that support whānau into high-value digital roles, and he brings a strong interest in future-of-work and AI impacts for Māori and regional communities.

Alongside his delivery work, Phil contributes to governance and community development roles across agriculture and environmental kaupapa. Born and raised in Tairāwhiti, he remains closely connected to his whenua and brings a relationship-led, outcomes-focused approach grounded in kaupapa Māori.

Phil holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Postgraduate Diploma in Business and Administration.

Pele is a graduate of Auckland University with a Bachelor of Education and Master of Arts, and is one of the first graduates of the Kura Kaupapa Māori Diploma in Teaching in the formative years of the Kura Kaupapa movement in Auckland (now Te Kura Takiura).

She moved back to the East Coast to help lead the establishment of Kuranui, a kaupapa-ā-Iwi model of education.

Pele has a wealth of knowledge which ranges from grassroots community kaupapa to the public sector and provides extensive advice and support across the tari.

Over the past twenty years she has been instrumental in producing a stream of outstanding graduates from the small East Coast towns of Tolaga Bay and Tokomaru Bay. Her upbringing instilled in her a love of mātauranga, te taiao and haka.

Mikaia was educated entirely in te reo Maori and is a graduate of Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington. As an Honours graduate, since university her work choices have seen her consciously develop her passions by engaging in roles in policy and research analysis, procurement, cultural representation for Aotearoa, governance and management focusing on kaupapa Māori research and evaluation. Mikaia is equipped with the necessary communication, project management and research skills to collate and present information effectively to a variety of audiences.

Prior to joining Te Amokura, Mikaia worked in management roles, including most recently as the Research Manager for Te Mātāwai, which included managing the strategic research agenda for the organisation to discover, explore and reveal the many unique layers of te reo Māori revitalisation.

Outside of work, Mikaia is a proud member of Whangara-Mai-Tawhiti Kapahaka; and is the current Chairperson of the Nōnā Te Ao Trust, which supports rangatahi Māori to reach their full potential in education, leadership and employment.

With over 10-years as a professional sportsperson, Nehe brings strategy, leadership and high-performance capability to Te Amokura. With a depth of experience in health and wellbeing, Nehe has a system level focus on delivering better outcomes for Māori.

Hailing from Te Tairāwhiti, and with whakapapa to Ngāti Porou and Tapuika, Nehe debuted for the Ngāti Porou East Coast rugby team in 2021, winning his only game for the season against Poverty Bay, and importantly, allowing him to claim a 100% winning streak for his tribal team!

In 2015, Nehe was awarded the World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the year, having played a key role in the All Blacks winning the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

Awhina joined Te Amokura in early 2020, and has since been involved in a number of projects within the areas of policy, research and strategy that utilises her analysis, interpretation and writing skills. She has worked across a number of public sector work programmes in the areas of Māori Development, Conservation and Social Development.

Awhina graduated from the University of Auckland with a BA (Māori Studies) and BHSc with a focus on Public Health and Māori health research.

Prioir to joining Te Amokura, Awhina worked at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade working in the multilateral space on environmental issues.

Awhina was proudly born and raised in Gisborne with whānau ties to Tikitiki and Rangitukia.

Luke is of Ngāti Raukawa-ki-te-tonga and Tūwharetoa descent. He was born and raised in Titahi Bay but hails from the Rangitīkei/Manawatū. As a registered clinical psychologist, Luke comes with over 20 years experience in health, whānau ora and high performance. His PhD focused on Tāne Ora – Māori Men’s health in the High Performance context.

Perhaps his greatest claim to fame is having a teenage daughter who constantly picks out his parental contradictions.