New Board

Nga Aho Whakaari are please to annouce their new Chair and new Board.  Tearepa Kahi has stepped down after three years as Chair of Nga Aho Whakaari.  Ella Henry was unanimously voted on as the new Chair.

Ella  is of Ngātikahu ki Whangaroa, Ngāti Kuri, Te Rārawa descent.  She has Bachelor of Arts (1990, University of Auckland), Master of Philosophy (1995, Management Studies, University of Auckland), and is a PhD Candidate in Māori Development, Te Ara Poutama, Auckland University of Technology, which she has just completed. Ella is a Senior Lecturer in Māori Development at AUT, and is the mother of three wāhine atāhua.

Ella writes, “Ka nui te mihi ki a koutou ngā kaihoe o te waka Ngā Aho Whakaari, tena koutou katoa. I have had the good fortune to be involved with Nga Aho Whakaari since its inception in 1996, and believe passionately in its Kaupapa, to empower Māori practitioners, and to represent our interests across the spectrum in Aotearoa New Zealand. This organisation began with that agenda, which has over time evolved and progressed the interests of our constituency.

I have been a member of the Executive, from 1996-2000, and acted in advisory and supporting role, assisting with strategic planning 2001-2003. However, in recent years I have been pre-occupied with completing my PhD, which I hope to finish in December 2011, and believe that I can make a further contribution to Ngā Aho Whakaari in the future. “

The new Board is Christina Milligan, Lara Northcroft, Lavinia Kingi, Lawrence Wharerau, Noa Campbell, Peter Burger, Quinton Hita, Ratu Tibble and Tearepa Kahi.

Congratulations to all those nominated and who took part in the new election processes.  Nga Aho Whakaari is looking forward to further developments in its organisation including reviewing the tenure of the Board, reviewing the membership fees and updating and fine tuning the constitution.

Ehara taku toa, he toa taki tahi, he toa taki tini.

Tihe mauri ora!