Your Board
TE POARI | TA HOKOTANGAT’
Our Board reflects both Moriori and Ngāti Mutunga o Wharekauri representation, alongside an independent member, in accordance with our governance arrangements.
E hokite ana ta hokotangat’ i ta manamana o Moriori me Ngāti Mutunga o Wharekauri, me itche rangat kai’imi, i rari i ka toho kavameni.
MEMBERS
DI GRENNELL - Chair
Di Grennell serves as Chair of Te Pūhana Ora and represents Te Ika-a-Māui on the board of Ngāti Mutunga o Wharekauri Iwi Trust. She is of Ngāi Tahu and Ngāti Mutunga descent and holds decades of leadership in kaupapa Māori-based work, particularly in whānau wellbeing and violence prevention. She was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2022 for services to Māori and the public service.
HAYDEN PREECE - Trustee
Hayden Preece serves as a Trustee of Te Pūhana Ora and as Chair of Hokotehi Moriori Trust. He is of Moriori descent, based on Rēkohu (the Chatham Islands). In his role as Chair, he leads efforts to revitalise Moriori cultural practices and rights of kaitiakitanga within the rohe. He is committed to strengthening iwi governance and cultural wellbeing for Moriori and whānau in the Chatham Islands.
MONIQUE CROON - Trustee
Monique Croon serves as a Trustee of Te Pūhana Ora. She holds governance roles as Deputy Chair of Ngāti Mutunga o Wharekauri Iwi Trust and Chair of the Chatham Islands Museum, and brings deep community ties and leadership across the Chatham Islands. Monique has been instrumental in leading conservation and whenua restoration efforts, emphasising wellbeing, cultural values, and island sustainability. Her hands-on approach and strategic governance underpin her commitment to iwi and local development.
TIPA MAHUTA - Trustee
Tipa Mahuta serves as a Trustee of Te Pūhana Ora and brings extensive governance experience across iwi, health, and environmental sectors. Of Ngāti Mahuta descent, she hails from Rāhui Pōkeka (Huntly) and was raised at Waahi Pā. Tipa has held prominent leadership roles, including Chair of Te Aka Whai Ora (Māori Health Authority) and Co-Chair of the Waikato River Authority. Her mahi is grounded in advancing Māori health, wellbeing, and the taiao through strategic governance and partnership.
PATRICK BRYANT - Audit & Risk Chair Independant
Patrick Bryant is an accomplished operations leader with extensive experience in corporate and commercial banking, where he’s built and maintained strong stakeholder relationships. He holds an MBA and is skilled in driving team performance and delivering strategic outcomes in dynamic environments. Known for his collaborative approach and commitment to operational excellence, Patrick consistently aligns resources and processes to meet business objectives. He brings a blend of strategic insight and hands‑on execution to support sustainable growth and high‑quality service delivery.
OPERATIONS
WARD KAMO - CEO
Ward Kamo is the Chief Executive Officer of Te Pūhana Ora and the Interim General Manager and Registrar of Ngāti Mutunga o Wharekauri Iwi Trust. He brings extensive experience in governance, iwi leadership, and strategic management, having worked across government, iwi, and corporate sectors. Of Ngāi Tahu and Ngāti Mutunga descent, Ward holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Post-Graduate Diploma in Natural Resources, and is dedicated to strengthening whānau and iwi outcomes through kaupapa Māori development.
NATALIE SMITH - Operations Manager
Natalie Smith is the Operations Manager at Te Pūhana Ora, where she drives operational excellence and supports strategic delivery of kaupapa Māori-led initiatives. With extensive experience in event management and performance improvement, she has a track record of overseeing complex projects and delivering results on time and within budget. Skilled in governance, stakeholder engagement and systems optimisation, Natalie plays a key role in ensuring operational functions of Te Pūhana Ora align with its mission and organisational objectives.
THORNTON LANAUZE-KING - Community Engagement
Thornton Lanauze-King is the Community Engagement Coordinator for Te Pūhana Ora, a role that focuses on connecting, engaging, and uplifting whānau voices. She is of Ngāti Mutunga and Moriori descent and has a background in communications and administration. Thornton serves in local governance and volunteer roles for community-based kaupapa, and is passionate about ensuring equitable access and opportunities for whānau.
JO TAITE - Projects Lead
Jo is a respected Māori development practitioner with a career spanning kaupapa Māori, government, iwi and community sectors. Her work is grounded in a deep commitment to improving outcomes for whānau, hapū, and iwi through strategic innovation, authentic partnership, and mana-enhancing leadership. Jo’s professional journey reflects a consistent focus on building systems and structures that enable Māori self-determination and resilience. She has held senior roles across several government agencies and in the community sector.