Sonya Hetet
Chief Executive
Debbie Wright
Office Manager
Debbie Wright
Iwi: Maniapoto, Kai Tahu, Ngā Puhi
Hapū: Ngāti Kinohaku, Apakura, Kātimāmoe
Following the passing of her grandmother (Rora Paki-Titi) in 2006 Debbie felt the pull to return home. An opening for an Administrator at the Trust Board in September 2006 provided her with the perfect opportunity to do so.
Debbie moved into her current role of Office Manager in 2007, where she holds many aspects of the organisation together including office administration, systems management, property and asset management, regulatory and compliance issues.
With her extensive experience in office administration, HR, finance, tutoring and executive support, she is a very skilled and valued team member.
“Undertaking a role that helps keep everything together and ticking over is exciting work. I am privileged to be working alongside a very dedicated, supportive and values driven team who are always willing to learn better ways to do things.” says Debbie.
When not in the office you can find Debbie fishing, gardening and spending time with her husband Bruce, their three children and their cherished mokopuna Mikyla, Kasaia, Ariana, Tamati and Keisha.
Helen Turner
Human Resources and Payroll
Helen Turner
Iwi: Ngāti Pākeha
Helen began fulltime at the MMTB in April 2014, and has since become a well regarded co-worker amongst staff. Helen’s role consists of two parts; Finance Manager and Executive Assistant to the Chief Executive.
Helen’s husband Kingi, her two children and six grand children affiliate to Ngāti Maniapoto, Waikato and Ngāti Apakura, so through returning to Te Kuiti, she saw this as an ideal opportunity to contribute back to her family’s iwi.
Great leadership from the Chief Executive and Chair was also a strong influence for her to apply at the MMTB.
“The people, the colleagues and the vibe here is as if we are a family with a positive atmosphere. Everyone works hard and always supportive of one another” Helen says.
Amber-Lee Elliott
Admin / Finance Support
Amber-Lee Elliott
Iwi: Waikato Maniapoto, Ngāti Maru ki Hauraki, Ngāti Kahungunu ki Mohaka
Hapū: Ngāti Kahu, Ngāti Unu, Ngāti Paretekawa, Ngāti Apakura, Ngāti Paahauwera
Mother of four, Amber-Lee joined the MMTB team in 2011 after returning to Maniapoto. As a recent diploma graduate in Information Technology coupled with over 15+ years’ experience in Office Administration, Human Resources & Finance, she continues to work with and under the great leadership of staff and trustees of the Board.
“It is an honour and a privilege to serve te iwi o Maniapoto me ngā hapū maha”.
Katherine Barry
Communications Co-ordinator
Katherine Barry
Hapū: Ngāti Waiora
Katherine is one of the newer team members at the MMTB. With a Bachelor of Management Studies majoring in Public Relations and Marketing completed at The University of Waikato, this role fitted her well. It has given her the opportunity to put theory into practise and identify how differently things can work in reality. Katherine has always intended of working within the Māori business environment.
“After finishing university, I felt this was the perfect chance to work within this sector, and who better to do it with than my own people” Katherine says.
Vicky Smith
Receptionist / Office Assistant
Vicky Smith
Hapū: Ngāti Pare, Matekore
Vicky joined the MMTB fulltime in 2008 filing the position of Receptionist and Office Assistant. Vicky is involved in a number of land trusts and marae groups, including trustee and secretary for Te Ahoroa Marae. When Vicky was given the opportunity to work at MMTB, she jumped at the chance knowing this would be the perfect time for her to work for and alongside her people.
“The staff here are awesome, always go above and beyond what’s required of them, and none of us mind because it’s for our people” says Vicky.
Ngahuia Herangi
Acting Team Leader
Ngahuia Herangi
Iwi: Waikato, Maniapoto, Raukawa. Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga
Hapū: Ngāti Māhuta, Ngāti Kinohaku, Ngāti Rōrā, Ngāti Huiao, Ngāti Huri me Ngāti Pikiahu
In February 2017, Ngahuia became the Acting Team Leader for the Boards environmental team, Whanake Taiao. Whanake Taiao are a collective of highly skilled, passionate and grounded individuals, who believe in what they do and know why they are here. What she enjoys most about her role is re-connecting with her awa, her people and the wider community.
Ngahuias role consists of planning and implementing projects within the Waipā River catchment, re-connecting our people with our awa, bringing stakeholders together, coordinating meetings and workshops, sourcing co-funding and raising community awareness. She also works across all of the various workstreams in our team.
RongoMata Fitzpatrick
Administrator
RongoMata Fitzpatrick
Iwi: Maniapoto
Hapū: Ngāti Paretekawa, Ngāti Rahurahu, Ngāti Waiora
RongoMata was born and raised in Ōtautahi where she attended Te Kura Whakapūmau and Aranui High School. In 2008, she made the decision to move back home to Piopio as she was passionate about her people and kaupapa Māori.
Mother to Te Koha and Waipuna, she is constantly kept busy at home as well as in the office. Over the last 10 years she has been involved in Te Kohanga Reo o Piopio and working alongside her hapū on the Napinapi Marae Committee.
Starting her role at the Maniapoto Māori Trust Board in April 2018, she believes the Trust Board will be the vehicle to drive our iwi and hapū.
Charmaine Turner
Administrator
Charmaine Turner
Hapū: Ngāti Rōrā, Ngāti Waiora, Paretekawa,
Raised in Piopio, Charmaine has worked within the rohe of Maniapoto since completing school at Piopio College in 2009.
Charmaine has been with Maniapoto Māori Trust Board as an administrator for the last 4 years and likes the variety of work the team engages with.
“I enjoy working for our people, and providing a personalised service to each of our whānau who we interact with. With the support of my kaumātua I have learnt many things along the way, which are invaluable and attribute to me being part of a wonderful team at the MMTB” states Charmaine.
Dawn Magner
Project Manager
Dawn Magner
Iwi: Maniapoto
Hapū: Ngāti Uekaha, Ngāti Mahuta, Ngāti Paretekawa, Ngāti Urunumia, Ngāti Te Maawe
Dawn is a mother of six and her background is in administration and Early Childcare. Prior to commencing her mahi with the MMTB team she held the role of Chairperson for the King Country Playcentre Association and was deeply involved with the Kohanga Reo movement from 1983.
Working for the Board over the past 10 years beginning as an administrator in 2008, she has transitioned into Project Manager, working in the area of ‘Iwi Strategies and Special Projects’ (ISSP). This role consists of developing projects, sourcing funding and implementing activities that build capacity for the organisation and our people. The role also includes event managing various Board external events and managing the Boards Policies and Health &Safety procedures.
“It has been a pleasure working for the Board and in turn our Iwi as we together build a stronger and healthier whanau, hapū, Iwi for the future.”
Jaye Muraahi
Administrator
Jaye Muraahi
Iwi: Maniapoto
Hapū: Ngāti Paretekawa
Jaye began with the MMTB team in April 2018.. Jaye’s role is Administrator for various teams within the organisation, namely Finance, Whanake Taiao and provides General Office Assistance when required. Jaye was brought up on a farm in Piopio where she attended both Piopio Primary and Piopio College. She spends a lot of her time at the Marae and throughout her whole life, she has always been whānau orientated and is now a mother of three, all of which are also attending these same kura.
“After living in Tauranga for only two years, I started missing home and felt the need to return and reconnect with my whānau & marae. Being apart of the MMTB team, also gives me the opportunity to work for our iwi”.
Pia Serancke
Senior Project Manager
Pia Serancke
Iwi: NNgāti Maniapoto, Waikato, Hauraki
Hapū: Ngāti Rora, Apakura, Ngāti Ngawaero, Uekaha
With previous experience in strategic planning, housing development and various leadership roles including holding the position of an MMTB Trustee from 2000 to 2006, Pia had an abundance of knowledge to bring to the Maniapoto Māori Trust Board when taking on the role as Senior Project Manager in 2014.
Pia had decided that she wanted to move home and make a contribution to marae, whānau, hapū and Maniapoto. The great working environment and privilege of working for her tribe is what Pia gets most out of working for the Maniapoto Māori Trust Board.
“It is important we get it right, deliver in a professional manner, walk the talk and help grow a strong and vibrant Maniapoto for generations to come” says Pia.
Marissa Campbell
Administrator
Marissa Campbell
Hapū: Ngāti Te Puta, Paretekawa, Ngāti Unu, Ngāti Waiora
Marissa has been with the Maniapoto Māori Trust Board (MMTB) since 2014. Being fortunate enough to have been brought up in Pureora and Te Kūiti amongst her whānau, Marissa felt that when an opportunity arose to work for her iwi, she jumped at the chance.
“Serving our iwi in a different capacity was a challenge that I was keen to undertake and have enjoyed the many varied aspects that this role sees on a daily basis”.
Marissa has become the key figure with Tribal Registrations, Grants and Scholarships and continues to promote to the iwi that many support avenues of the MMTB that are available for those wishing to further personal growth and development.
“I take great pride in helping our whānau, our marae, our hapū and our iwi cause those four aspects of who are is what makes Maniapoto fabulous”.
Uenukuterangihoka Jefferies
Communications Coordinator
Uenukuterangihoka Jefferies
Iwi: Maniapoto, Te Whakatōhea, Te Whanau-ā-Apanui, Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Awa
Hapū: Te Ihingarangi
Uenukuterangihoka is one of the newer team members at the Board. With a Bachelor of Management Studies majoring in International Management and Te Reo Māori completed at Te Whare Wānanga o Waikato, he has always intended to commit and work within the Māori business environment and Te Ao Māori.
Born and bred under the lofty mountain of Makeo, in Ōpōtiki, Uenukuterangihoka has particular strengths in content creation, videography, communication, tikanga and Te Reo Māori.
“The future belongs to those that prepare for it and working with Maniapoto allows me to prepare for the future in the present. As our movement gets closer to settlement, it is a joy to contribute positively to our thriving and ever-growing iwi of Maniapoto.”