Meet our Kaitautoko | Mentors

Piri-Hira has established successful businesses in tourism, fashion, and design and print. She has mentored and supported a number of rangatahi entrepreneurs. While she has great general business knowledge and experience, she specialises in the areas of design, technology, community development and local government engagement.

As the CEO of the Kāpiti & Horowhenua Māori economic development agency for over 15 years then as a self-employed consultant, Daphne has huge experience working with Māori entrepreneurs from start-up to growth to exit. She has mentored and supported clients across a wide range of industries in all aspects of business, management and governance. Her focuses these days are on Māori organisations and leadership development.

Myra’s passion is empowering and advancing Māori/others in education, economic, business and cultural initiatives benefitting whānau, hāpu, Iwi and community. Her work experience includes analyzing, action research & evaluation, managing and operating her Travel, Tourism and Consultancy business.

Liz and her husband Pat established Kelly Hygiene NZ in 1999 distributing washroom consumables and hygiene cleaning systems. As the Kaiwhakahaere of Porirua Whanau Centre, she has established early childhood education, community programmes and housing services for her local community and iwi. Her knowledge about government contracting, local government, developing your team and growing a large business as sought after by those wanting to do well in business.

Narida is an experienced business owner who runs a successful florist business in Martinborough. She is also involved in local government and community roles and is a trustee for Te Matarau a Māui, the regional Māori economic development agency. Narida is skilled in creative design, retail and Māori business networking and is building an intergenerational team around her mahi.

Herani built and sold a network of childcare centres across the Wellington region developing a sound understanding of good business practice, employment relations and how to grow a business by exploiting opportunities and relationships with central government funding agencies. Following a short spell with Te Puni Kōkiri as a business manager, Herani is now the Amotai social procurement specialist for the region.

I am a third generation Māori educationist. Public service and social justice are deeply embedded in my bloodlines. My passion inspires me to contribute to nation building, in innovative and creative ways, that are framed by Sir Apirana Ngata's whakatauāki (proverb) "E tipu, e rea". This proverb speaks to the possibilities of Treaty based models of change that create authentic transformation. As an academic I specialized in Māori education, research and development, for nearly thirty years. My second career has been in senior management and governance. In June 2020 I founded Kathie Irwin and Associates - specialists in education, research and training. I serve as the Founder and CEO. Business is now my vehicle for Aotearoatanga, nation building!

John is a recognised business leader who founded and Chairs Kapiti Island Nature Tours and Lodge, a multi award-winning tourism business located on Kapiti Island. He has 40+ years of management and governance experience across a range of sectors including hauora, indigenous education, tourism and entrapreneurship. His leadership includes chairing local, regional, national and international private and public organisations and he is committed to indigenous led economic development and the growth of extraordinary Māori business leaders.

Peter has been a Māori leader and business owner for over 30 years. He has chaired numerous trusts, not for profits, and national charities. He is currently the chair of Rainey Collins Lawyers based in Wellington and Awarua Te Pakihi Māori o Porirua Māori Business Network. Over the years Peter has provided leadership, advocacy support and business mentoring to numerous Māori businesses in the Greater Wellington Region. He has a wealth of experience across the legal, economic and business sector, and advocates for iwi, hapu and whanau before the Waitangi Tribunal and Māori Land Court. Of Ngāti Porou, descent he is passionate about whanau and the importance of being kind and generous to others. In his spare time he enjoys spending time with whanau and being a part time roadie for his sons’ rock band Holloway.

Matua Whare Akuhata has experience in Consulting and Marketing. A Communications expert with 30 years’ experience in communications, public relations, marcomms and journalism working in both mainstream and Māori media. Passionate about social media, online and new technologies. ​ Former property valuer with experience in Auckland and the Bay of Plenty property markets Extensive network of contacts across business, government agencies and Māori organisations. Governance experience across a range of organisations.

Meet Vernette or Vinnie - the adventurer and achiever extraordinaire with extensive experience in the IT industry. With a passion for living life to the fullest, Vernette has worked all over New Zealand for various organizations. ​ But that's not all - Vernette is a wahine of many talents, from administration and operations management to technical coordination, and impressive project management and directorship positions. ​ Looking for someone who can help with all your online and digital needs? Look no further than Vernette! With her knowledge, skills, and experience in business systems, she's your one-stop-shop for success.

Te Rau has extensive experience in law, strategy, governance, and business management. He has held several senior executive roles 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 has held governance and advisory roles with Te Runanganui o Ngati Porou, Statistics New Zealand, the Reserve Bank of New Zealand, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Defence.

Helmut is an experienced director, executive, and consultant with specialist skills in implementation and change management, business and economic development, strategic analysis and planning, public policy, and finance. Helmut began his professional career in accounting and finance, branching into economic development and management consulting upon completion of an MBA in 1991. ​ His extensive consulting experience covered a wide range of private and public sectors (particularly health). ​ Helmuts work over the last 17 years has focused on executive leadership of mergers, turnarounds, and business improvement initiatives, including inaugural CEO of the education sectors largest systems integrator (TTS limited), a post-merge industry raining organisation (Connexis), The CEO of the health sector IT companies (Patients First & Conporto Health), and now CEO of Te Runanga o Toa Rangatira.

Natalie Smith is an experienced business owner and business mentor committed to supporting pakihi Māori owners with personal and professional growth. With a wealth of experience and a passion for empowerment, Natalie is here to guide you on your unique journey. She'll provide tailored support, insights, and encouragement as you work towards your goals, whether in education, business, or career development. Join hands with Natalie in this transformative program, and together, you'll navigate the path to success with confidence and determination.

Described by various media as a ‘wahine Māori tech entrepreneur’ who has made her mark in the Digitech industry, she aspires to use her influence for social and collective impact and help transform the lives of others. She is also the Managing Director of Ahau NZ Limited, Indigital Blockchain Limited, currently on the Interim Māori Spectrum Trust Board, North Hokianga Development Trust, Āhau Tātai Hono Trust and is a Sir Edmond Hillary Fellow and a Senior Atlantic Fellow through the University of Melbourne ​ Specializing in relationship building, strategy, facilitation and human centred design, Kaye-Maree wants to ensure individuals have the right tools and support to govern their organizations with confidence and competence. She has been working with a range of rangatahi and iwi groups with Te Whare Hukahuka for the past 6 years in the Ka Eke Poutama programme, and loves being involved in lifting the transformative capability of whānau, hapū, and iwi to actively contribute to the growth of New Zealand’s economic potential. She has worked in the realm of Māori and Community development for over 21 years with a career spanning Child, Youth, and Family, The Department of Labour, The Māori Land Court, and NZ Māori Tourism and Community Housing. Previously she has served on the Board of NZ Tech, Te Paepae Arahi, a Māori mental health provider in Lower Hutt, Hui E Community, The Para Kore Trust and was one of the Wellington Representatives on the New Zealand Māori Council. She has recently been involved in Social Enterprise Development, Governance Training, E-Commerce Development, and Whānau Ora Planning, particularly with hard-to-reach families. Kaye-Maree currently resides in Wainuiomata and grew up in Feilding and loves to sing, eat and hang out with her friends.