Cadence Kaumoana
Iwi: Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Mahuta, Ngāti Apakura, Ngāti Rāhiri
Hapū: Ngāti Pourahui, Ngāti Hikairo, Ngāti Apakura
Cadence Kaumoana started as Chief Executive Officer in January 2021 and oversees the 5 different Pou areas within the organisation; Tahua – development and strategy, Tāngata – engagement and communications, Taiao – environmental wellbeing, Maniapoto – culture and heritage, Rauringa – corporate services. Cadence feels privileged to work alongside the very skilled and experienced team of leaders at MMTB.
With settlement nearing its final stages of ratification there is significant organisational focus on the new Post Settlement Governance Entity and the future direction for the Tribe. The current entities; Maniapoto Fisheries Trust, Te Kupenga and the Maniapoto Māori Trust Board are interconnected and operate to support the overall progression of our investments, assets and the wellbeing and prosperity of our Ngāti Maniapoto Whānau. Cadence reports directly to the MMTB Board and looks to provide meaningful and robust opportunities for the over 35,000 (Census 2013) Ngāti Maniapoto tribal members.
Cadence is a strong advocate for whānau prosperity and recognises the value in education as a vehicle to whānau potential realisation. Cadence believes that as Māori we have the answers to our wellbeing imbued within our Toto, immersed in our Reo and alive and evident in our Tikanga. Harnessing solutions to wellbeing and supporting the development and growth of whānau potential is a critical organisational focus that Cadence leads across the organisation. Working for ones iwi comes with many intricacies as well as opportunities to advance critical and meaningful projects to support the development and wellbeing of our people, our whenua and our knowledge.
Cadence’s professional background includes an extensive career in education alongside business ventures, entrepreneurship, governance and directorships. From a whānau perspective, Cadence makes the 5th generation of whānau to reside at Pirongia and is māmā to four sons and kuia to two mokopuna. Cadence is also a Trustee on various whānau Trusts, and has supported whānau and whenua development for over 10 years. In 2013 Cadence completed a Master’s at the University of Waikato and is completing a Doctoral degree at the University of Auckland.
In the beautiful words of Kaa Williamas (Ngāi Tūhoe, Ngāti Manawa, Ngāti Maniapoto) & Tāwhirimātea Williams (Ngāi Tūhoe, Whakatōhea, Te Aupōuri, Ngāti Maniapoto);
Ka haere koe me tō tokoiti, ka haere mātao.
Ka haere mātotoru, ka haere mahana koe.
CADENCE KAUMOANA
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Doug Ruki
Iwi: Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Raukawa
Hapū: Ngāti Te Puta-i-te-muri, Ngāti Peehi, Ngāti Te Kanawa, Ngāti Kikopiri
Doug Ruki is a familiar face amongst our people and no stranger to Maniapoto Māori Trust Board. In 2009 he was contracted to the Board for four months, alongside Haki Tuaupiki and Mataia Keepa, to lead in the design of a Ngāti Maniapoto language revitalisation strategy commonly termed as Te Rautaki Reo a Te Nehenehenui.
Prior to his work with Maniapoto Māori Trust Board, Doug worked in the wool industry, hospitality, early learning, operational and educational leadership for Te Wānanga o Aotearoa. His most recent role was General Manager for MFM Te Reo o te Iwi. His career path has focused largely on capacity building through tribal history, te reo and whakapapa.
Doug is the Acting Manager of the Maniapoto Pou. The Maniapoto Pou is vital to the preservation of Ngāti Maniapoto values, the resurgence of te Reo o Ngāti Maniapoto and the evolution of Ngāti Maniapoto stories and Tikanga a Ngāti Maniapoto. Doug is committed to te Reo Māori and is currently the Ngāti Maniapoto representative on Ngā Paemanu o Tainui (Tainui Reo Cluster of Te Mātāwai).
Doug Ruki
Acting Manager – Maniapoto Pou
Amber-Lee Elliott
Iwi: Waikato-Maniapoto, Ngāti Kahungunu
Hapū: Ngāti Paea, Ngāti Paretekawa, Ngāti Unu, Ngāti Kahu, Ngāti Pahauwera
Amber-lee Elliott has been a valued member of staff since 2011. As the organisation and direction of the Board evolved over this time, so has her contribution and knowledge across many work streams, recently transitioning from Finance Manager to her current role.
As the Tahua Pou Manager, Amber-lee leads in the delivery and achievement of the many strategic priorities of the organisation, including Marae Development through the Provincial Growth Fund to renovate 14 Ngāti Maniapoto Marae, the delivery of early childhood services at our Te Pukeiti Early Childhood Centre, through the Ministry of Social Development uplifting our whānau in training/apprenticeships of creating and entering long-term career pathways and progression towards the completion of the comprehensive treaty settlement of all historical claims of Ngāti Maniapoto.
Prior to joining the organisation and having raised four delightful children, Amber-lee worked in both the Health and Māori Sectors under the Waikato DHB and Te Rūnanga o Kirikiriroa. With a background in IT and Business Management coupled with a strong upbringing of core whānau values and resilient work ethic, Amber-lee is a valued member of the leadership team and organisation.
Amber-lee is proud of her identity and affiliations to Waikato-Maniapoto, Ngāti Kahungunu and Ngāti Maru ki Hauraki. She is guided by an inner passion that asserts “we descend from a long line of predecessors and leaders who have paved the path for us to pursue. Through their examples, we continue to prosper and advance as a people and we remain resilient to continue with their legacy.”
Amber-Lee Elliot
Manager – Tahua Pou
Katherine Barry
Iwi: Ngāti Maniapoto
Hapū: Ngāti Waiora
Katherine joined the Maniapoto Māori Trust Board in 2014 shortly after graduating with a Bachelor of Management Studies (BMSHons) at The University of Waikato, majoring in Public Relations and Marketing. Beginning her journey at the Board as a Communications Co-ordinator, her roles have since transitioned to Communications Specialist, Advisor, and most recently, Acting Tāngata Pou Manager.
The Tāngata Pou is focussed on engagement and communication with our whānau; connecting Ngāti Maniapoto globally. Katherine believes that with over 90% of our people living outside of the rohe, it is vital that we continue to strengthen our reach across the motu on a regional, national and international level.
Other key workstreams that form the Tāngata Pou include the tribal register, distributions and grants, and Iwi Call Centre, which was established to provide whānau support following Covid19 lockdown early 2020.
Katherine feels very privileged to be able to work for her iwi, returning her back home to Piopio on a regular basis.
“Waiho i te toipoto, kaua i te toiroa”
Katherine Barry
Acting Manager – Tāngata Pou
Tramaine Murray
Iwi: Ngāti Maniapoto
Hapū: Ngāti Paretekawa & Ngāti Rahurahu
Born and raised within the rohe, Tramaine has great passion and drive for the prosperity of our Maniapoto Iwi. Tramaine started at the board in 2014 joining the environmental team, Whanake Taiao as an administrator. Tramaine has grown and developed over her time at MMTB as well as externally and upon returning to the board in 2019 she accepted the role of Strategic Advisor for Projects within the Taiao Pou. Tramaine is currently Acting Manager for Taiao.
Tramaine comes with vast knowledge and experience in the taiao space including; GIS Mapping, Resource Management, Regional & Local Government policies and processes as well as on the ground Project Management and implementation.
As a māmā of two tamariki, Tramaine’s commitment and passion for a healthy taiao comes from her close knit whānau upbringing and values held within her whānau and marae.
“It’s very rewarding to be a part of a team that recognises the importance of capacity building to enable and support whānau to achieve their Taiao aspirations for our future generations.”