Trust Board

Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei

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  • Te Whāinga

    The Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Trust is the governing entity, with the purpose to receive, administer and protect the Trust’s assets to ensure the cultural, social and commercial development of Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei for the benefit of its members.

    It is the responsibility of the Trust to demonstrate strong leadership for our hapū through good governance, transparent decision-making and, working together with our subsidiaries Whai Māia Limited and Whai Rawa Limited, on behalf of our people.

Strategic priorities developed through our mahi, are underpinned by our mātāpono, the values that help ground us to tikanga Māori, and guided by the vision – “Kia rere arorangi te kāhu pokere ki ngā taumata tiketike”.

Structure and Subsidiaries

He aha te mea nui o te ao? Mākū e kī atu, he tangata, he tangata, he tangata.

Ōrākei Marae is at the heart of our hapū and connects us through whakapapa as uri o Tuperiri. Steeped in its rich culture and history, Ōrākei marae remains the primary hub for the hapū.

As the governing body, the responsibility of the Trust is to lead and manaaki the 'group'. The Group' is comprised of three (3) entities; Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Trust, Whai Māia Limited and Whai Rawa Limited.

Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Trust; has two wholly owned subsidiary companies. These subsidiaries have their own boards of governance with a mix of whānau and independent directors. All subsidiary board members are appointed by the Trust.

Our subsidiary Board members are highly skilled individuals who we have chosen to represent Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei to develop our overall objectives.

Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Whai Māia Limited; is a charitable trust,  responsible for the social and cultural development of our people. The main areas of focus are Employment and Education, Health and Wellbeing, Arts and Culture, Toki Taiao, and managing key relationships. Whai Māia take priority in building the capacity of our people, so they are able to take control of their own destiny.

Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Whai Rawa Limited; is the property development and investment company. The principal objective of Whai Rawa is to maximise the financial or economic returns of the Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei group. The funds generated by Whai Rawa are used to support the tribal development goals of Whai Māia in education, health and employment, with the purpose of supporting Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei whānau for generations to come.

Meet the Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Trust Elected Representatives

  • Marama Royal

    Chair

    Marama has been a Director since 2O1O and served as Chair since December 2O17. Marama has extensive experience in strategic planning, relationship management, leadership, governance, and organisational change. She is passionate about achieving positive outcomes for whānau, especially our kaumātua.

  • Ngarimu Blair

    Deputy Chair

    Ngarimu is the Deputy Chair, Chair of the Settlement Protection Team and the Trust’s appointee to Whai Rawa Limited. He was elected to the Trust in 2OO6 and is active across many kaupapa. He is passionate about Auckland tribal histories and kaitiakitanga.

  • Precious Clark

    Precious is the Chief Executive of Maurea, an organisation that is using Māori culture to drive Aotearoa forward. The Te Kaa Māori cultural competency training programme has won accolades from some of New Zealand’s biggest businesses. Precious is passionate about our reo, tikanga, education, housing and financial success and brings her networks, energy and extensive governance experience to our board in support of whānau success.

  • Renata Blair

    Renata is Chair of Te Reu Roa, a member of the Treaty Protection Committee and member of the Risk Audit and Assurance Committee. He is a Council member for AUT University, a Trustee for Eden Park Trust and is General Manager Māori Business at BNZ.

  • Graham Tipene

    Graham Tipene is a Tā Moko artist who has been involved as a consultant and key artist on civic and Council-led projects throughout Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland. His public work brings Māori kaupapa into the built environment of the city, with major projects including the Waterview tunnel, Victoria Park, Auckland Library, and Tirohanga Whānui Bridge in Albany.

  • Sharon Hawke

    Sharon is a 3rd term Elected Representative and brings a wealth of governance and lived experience to the Trust Board. Sharon has had a long career in Maori media and broadcasting and advancing the rights of Ngā Uri o Tuperiri in Tāmaki and wahine Māori. She is the Trust representative on Whai Maia Board

  • Julia Steenson

    Julia is a Commissioner for the Royal Commission of Inquiry into historical abuse in State and faith based care and a member of the Data Ventures – Advisory Board. Having previously established the General Counsel position at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, she presented on indigenous rights and intellectual property at the World Indigenous People Conference on Education in Toronto.

  • Arekatera Maihi

    Arekatera was recently elected. This is his first term on the Trust Board and brings with him a wealth of historical and cultural knowledge.

  • Tama Davis

    Tama brings with him a wealth of knowledge in governing large health and education organisations, previously ADHB, and now Comprehensive Care PHO, Emerge Aotearoa and Auckland Hospital Foundation. He is the Poutaki Mātauranga Māori at Uni Services – Waipapa Taumata Rau and runs Ahikaroa Enterprises which provides Kaupapa Māori supervision, Te Tiriti and Māori Health Models trainings and cultural audits. Tama is also a whānau director on the Whai Māia board.

Trust Governance Materials

Read our Governance Materials below or visit our Governance Materials webpage here, for more.

  • Read more about the Trust Deed

  • Read more about the Trust Constitution

  • Read more about Trust Governance

  • Read more about our policies

    • Read more about our Health and Safety Policy 

  • Read more about our Term of Reference

Click here to view all Governance Material

Ngā Mātāpono

Tino Rangatiratanga

Kia tū a Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei i runga i tōna anō tino rangatiratanga. 

Self-determination: We are self-reliant as Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, now, and forever.

Rangatiratanga

Kia whakaatu, kia whakatinana i te mana motuhake me te rangatiratanga puta noa i te hapū.

Leadership: To live and practice positive leadership throughout the hapū.

Kaitiakitanga

Kia tiakina ō tātou whānau, ō tātou whenua, ā tātou taonga me ā tātou rawa mō ake tonu atu.

Guardianship: To protect our people, our lands, our resources and our toanga forever.

Whanaungatanga

Kia kitea te mana me te tapu o ia kāwai heke i heke iho ai i a Tuperiri, hei rangitāmiro tātou i a tātou.

Kinship: To embrace and acknowledge the importance of our whakapapa and relationships, and, how these bind us together.

Manaakitanga

Manaakitanga: Ko te whānau kei te pokapū o ngā kaupapa whakawhanake i te iwi. Mā roto i tā mātou tū tangata whenua ki Te Kahu Tōpuni o Tuperiri, e rongo ai te katoa i te rau manaaki o te iwi nei.  

Care and Hospitality: Whānau are the core focus of hapū development. Our host responsibility to others will positively reflect our role as tangata whanua.

Kotahitanga

Kia kotahi te tū, kia kotahi te hoe.

Unity: Stand as one and work together.

Mana Taurite

Kia taurite te whai wāhi atu o ngā uri o Tuperiri, ki ngā painga me ngā aheinga o te ao.

Equity: All hapū members have equal access to benefits and opportunities.

Ahi Kā

Kia kōwhiuwhiutia tonutia te ahi kā, kei pūrēhua, ā, ka kewa: Ka pūmau ki te hiranga o te papakāinga ki Ōrākei, me tōna noho ki te taone nui o Tāmaki Makaurau.

Keeping the home fires burning: To uphold the unique and important role that Ōrākei papakāinga maintains across Tāmaki Makaurau.