Ngā Taratī | Trustees

Teresa Tepania-Ashton, MNZM

Trustee Waihapa Marae

Teresa is the representative for Waihapa Marae. After a 12-year career working internationally with Citibank (during which time she rose from Service Assistant to Vice President), she is now putting those experiences and decades of community and corporate governance back into her people.

Teresa was the CEO of Te Rūnanga-a-Iwi o Ngāpuhi from 2004 – 2011. Today she is CEO of Māori Women’s Development Incorporated – an inspirational and incredibly well-resourced organisation that provides loans and wrap-around support for Wāhine Māori in business, and their whānau.

April Hetaraka

Trustee Mangatowai Marae

People’s person understanding the value and worth of not just whanau but vulnerable communities. Scooping the community to be in the NO of what’s working, what’s not working? Is crucial to learning the environment you will be working within.

I was brought up with family values guided by principles. In today’s world our society fall short of that understanding for our tamariki and mokopuna. We are governed by rules and regulations that bound us to be this way inclined. I will bring to the Kahukuraariki Trust board competency to deliver, a wealth of skill and experience across many sectors relationships including Iwi and hapu.

Nga te manaakitanga he honore ahau ki tenei hononga ki te Tupuna Whaea a Kahukuraariki

Theresa Nelson

Trustee Waitaruke Marae

Roger Kingi

Trustee Te Komanga Marae

Roger has a background as a builder, is Chair of Karangahape Marae (Whangaroa), and Regional Coordinator for Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi. Roger was one of the initial trustees of Kahukuraariki Trust and before that the Ngātikahu ki Whangaroa Trust. Roger lives in the rohe, at Waihapa, and represents Te Kōmanga Marae.

Jean Joseph

Trustee Waimahana Marae

Hone JJ Ripikoi

Trustee Taemaro Marae

JJ is a proud descendent of several iwi, including Ngāti Kahu ki Whangaroa, Ngāpuhi, Ngati Paoa, and Ngāti Hine. JJ currently serves as a Community Engagement Advisor at Statistics NZ and has recently been appointed as the Programme Manager for the Locality in Te Hiku o Te Ika. In this role, JJ plays a critical part in implementing health reforms in the region. JJ is also a trustee for Taemaro Marae and sits on the Kahukuraariki Post-settlement Trust Board, demonstrating his commitment to community involvement in Te Tai Tokerau. He has previously held management positions with Aupōuri Ngāti Kahu Te Rarawa Trust and Creative Nātives, showcasing his experience in leadership and management.

He uri whakaheke a JJ no Ngāti Kahu ki Whangaroa, Ngāpuhi, Ngati Paoa rātou ko Ngāti Hine. E mahi ana a JJ ki te taha o Tatauranga Aotearoa i roto i te tīma Whai Wāhi Hāpori hei whakapiki ake i ngā tataraunga o Ngai Māori ki roto i te Tatauranga Nui o Aotearoa 2023. Kātahi anō kua whai wāhi a JJ ki roto i ngā mahi hauora kia whakahaere i te locality e kīa nei ko te Taikorihi Locality. Atu i ngā mahi, ka noho a JJ hei tarahitī mo tōna marae ki runga i te Kahukuraariki Trust Board. He aroha nui tā JJ ki tōna kainga o Te Tai Tokerau me ngā whānau e noho ana ki roto i tēnei rohe. Kua mahi a JJ i roto i ngā roopu kaiwhakahaere o Aupouri Ngāti Kahu Te Rarawa Trust rāua ko Creative Nātives.

Otangaroa Marae

To be filled in 2025.

Waitangi Wood

Trustee Taupo Marae