He aha te mea nui o te Ao? He tāngata, He tāngata, He tāngata!
What is most important in the world? It is people, people, people!

One of our core values, Manaakitanga, encapsulates care and respect for people and relationships. Our organisation is made up of innovative, inspired people who share our vision and are proud of our work.

Board

Featured
Johnny McGregor, Chair
Johnny McGregor, Chair

Johnny was previously an Associate Director of Wakatū. He is a Kono Director, and also sits on the Audit & Risk Committee and Chairs the Human Resource Committee. Johnny’s professional qualifications include a Masters in Education Research. Johnny has extensive experience in senior leadership roles across Aotearoa. He serves on a number of boards and expert advisory groups, and is an Executive Member on the Federation of Māori Authorities. Johnny lives in Wellington and is of Te Ātiawa and Ngāti Rārua descent.

Jeremy Banks, Deputy Chair
Jeremy Banks, Deputy Chair

Jeremy is a previous Associate Director of Wakatū.  He has an Honours degree in Computer Science from the University of Otago and his commercial experience includes running and growing software businesses.  Jeremy is of Ngāti Rārua, Rangitāne and Ngāti Kuia descent.

Pat (Rore) Stafford
Pat (Rore) Stafford

Rore is a member of the HR Committee and Manaaki Board, as well as the Board Kaumatua, which requires him to represent the Board and owners at various hui throughout Te Tauihu and Aotearoa. Rore resides in Maniapoto and is actively involved in local Marae committees. He is of Ngāti Rārua, Kinohaku, Ngāti Tama and Ngāti Maniapoto descent.

Russell (Barney) Thomas
Russell (Barney) Thomas

Barney is the local Iwi Manager for the Department of Conservation and resides in Nelson. He is a Director on the Whenua Board and Chairs the Manaaki Board. Barney is of Ngāti Rārua, Ngāti Toa Rangatira, Ngāti Tama, Te Ātiawa and Ngāi Tahu descent.

Miriana Stephens
Miriana Stephens

Miriana was previously an Associate Director and Scholarship recipient of the Incorporation. Miriana is a Director on the Whenua Board, the Wawata Board (which oversees a JV relationship with T&G), and is a member of the Audit & Risk Committee. Miriana also leads our health-solutions business AuOra. Her qualifications include a Bachelor of Arts in New Zealand History, and a Law Degree majoring in Commercial Law. Miriana holds external directorships in a public and private capacity. Miriana was born and raised in Motueka and is of Ngāti Rārua, Ngāiterangi and Ngāti Ranginui descent.

Jamie Tuuta, Advisory Board Member
Jamie Tuuta, Advisory Board Member

Jamie is a highly accomplished director with a diverse background spanning iwi development, agribusiness, fishing, investment, health, housing, Māori development, tourism, philanthropy, and education.

He currently serves as chair of Whakaata Māori, Taranaki Mounga Project, Sealord, and Pou Tahua (the economic grouping of the National Iwi Chairs Forum), and also holds directorial roles at Moana NZ, Port Taranaki, and several iwi investment vehicles.

Executive Team

Featured
Kerensa Johnston, Chief Executive
Kerensa Johnston, Chief Executive

Kerensa is a lawyer who has worked as a solicitor in the private sector, as a Barrister, and as a legal academic at the Faculty of Law, University of Auckland, where she specialised in Māori legal development, public law, land law and international law. Kerensa joined Wakatū as our General Counsel in December 2012, and was appointed Chief Executive in 2016. Kerensa is the Chair of Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga, the Māori Centre of Research Excellence and the Chair of Ngāti Tama ki te Tau Ihu Charitable Trust. She is a member of the International Association of Corporate Counsel, Corporate Lawyers’ New Zealand and Te Hunga Roia. Her iwi are Ngāti Tama, Ngāruahine and Ngāti Whāwhakia.

kerensa.johnston@wakatu.org

Joe Hanita, Chief Financial Officer and General Manager Corporate Services
Joe Hanita, Chief Financial Officer and General Manager Corporate Services

Joe recently joined Wakatū as our new CFO, having held the role of CFO for five years at Parininihi ki Waitotara Incorporation. His qualifications include a Bachelor of Business and professional certifications as a Fellow Chartered Accountant (CAANZ), Chartered Public Finance Accountant (CIPFA UK) and Member of the IoD. Joe was previously an Associate Director of the Incorporation and holds external governance roles with the XRB, Te Ātiawa and Atihau Whanganui. Joe was born in Masterton but was raised across the rural sector in the North Island and is of Ngāti Kuia, Te Ātiawa, Rangitāne and Ngāti Kahungunu descent.

joe.hanita@wakatu.org

Rōpata Taylor, General Manager Manatū
Rōpata Taylor, General Manager Manatū

Rōpata has been with Wakatū since 2002 and in the role of General Manager since 2007. Rōpata is a graduate of Otago University and has previously worked in the education sector at secondary and tertiary level. He also holds various Trustee and Director roles within the local community. He is the Chair of Ngāti Rārua Ātiawa Iwi Trust. His iwi are Ngāti Rārua, Te Ātiawa, Ngāti Tama, Ngāti Koata.

ropata.taylor@wakatu.org

Iain Sheves, Group General Manager Property and Commercial (Strategy and Risk)
Iain Sheves, Group General Manager Property and Commercial (Strategy and Risk)

Scottish by birth, Iain arrived in New Zealand in 2010 along with his young family. Iain has an Honours Degree in Forestry Management, a Masters in Land Economy and is a professional member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

iain.sheves@wakatu.org

Miriana Stephens, General Manager AuOra
Miriana Stephens, General Manager AuOra

Miriana leads our health-solutions business AuOra. Her qualifications include a Bachelor of Arts in New Zealand History and a Law Degree majoring in Commercial Law. Miriana holds external directorships in a public and private capacity. Miriana also serves on the Wakatū Board and its committees as a Director.

miriana.stephens@wakatu.org

Andy Wotton, Chief Operating Officer
Andy Wotton, Chief Operating Officer

Andy is the Chief Operations Officer for Kono NZ. Andy has been a partner at PwC, a large advisory firm, and since 2016 has been working with a range of leaders and leadership teams as an executive coach. In this capacity he has previously supported the Wakatū senior leadership team and the Kono senior management team. Andy has also worked on a number of commercial projects through management and governance roles with businesses in aviation, farming, recycling and waste reduction, on-line retail and nutraceuticals.

andy.wotton@kono.co.nz