Board of Trustees

Hakopa Tapiata

Te Arawa, Ngāti Porou

Heamana

Board Chairperson

Jacob has been a Strategic Advisor to Toi Tangata in previous years, and was elected Chairperson of the board in 2022. He has extensive experience in strategic planning, Māori / marae development and is strongly committed to building the reo capability of his Iwi and marae. His background is in the tertiary area where he has researched and taught in the University sector.

Pania Newton

Ngāpuhi, Te Rarawa, Waikato

Tarahitī

Trustee

Pania has been an active member of the board since 2017. Pania holds a Conjoint Degree in Law and Health Sciences from the University of Auckland and has also acquired qualifications from Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi and Te Wānanga o Aotearoa in the areas of Māori food sovereignty practices and performing arts. Pania is passionate about te taiao, te reo māori me ōna tikanga, health, and justice.

Lewin Husband

Ngāti Maru, Ngāti Hikairo

Tarahitī

Trustee

Lewin is a registered teacher who has taught in both full immersion and bilingual settings. He has been an active member of the board since 2017 and has a strong commitment to education, te reo Māori, physical activity, media studies and music. He is a graduate of Ka Eke Poutama through Te Whare Hukahuka and holds many qualifications in education, Māori media, sport and rec and te reo Māori.

Dr Isaac Warbrick

Ngāti Te Ata, Te Arawa, Ngāpuhi

Tarahitī

Trustee

Dr Isaac Warbrick is a Director of Taupua Waiora Centre for Māori Research at Auckland University of Technology. His research at the interface of kaupapa

Māori, exercise and health science, has looked at the application of mātauranga Māori to physical activity, and shifting from a focus on weight loss, to one that is driven by (and enhanced with) kōrero tuku iho – including the use of the maramataka as a way to (re)connect ‘health’ with the taiao.

Leonie Matoe

Ngaa Rauru, Ngaa Ruahine

Tarahitī

Trustee

No stranger to Toi Tangata, Leonie believes true partnership between the western world and te ao Māori can help to achieve prosperity. Having held leadership roles in both Iwi and the Government sector, her career started in kaupapa Māori public health spanning service design, research, and innovation before moving into indigenous enterprise development with her Iwi, community development, and impact investment.