OUR TRUSTEES

Serena has been a Trustee on Te Awahōhonu Forest Trust since 2004 and has been Trust Chair since 2023. She is passionate about good governance and serves as a Trustee on several other Trusts in the rohe. She is proud to have followed in the footsteps of her mother who was one of the founding Trustees of Te Awahōhonu Forest Trust.

She attended Massey University and completed her Bachelor of Business Degree extramurally.

She has held middle management advisory roles with several large iconic businesses and currently serves as a Director of two small family companies.

Serena’s life ambition has been to facilitate the empowerment of Māori to optimise, protect and enjoy their whenua for the kaitiaki of today and of the future.

Ko te whānau te mea tuatahi - Family comes first.

Myka is one of Te Awahōhonu Forest Trusts past Trustee Assistants who have made themselves available to contribute to the future growth of of the Trust. He joined as a Trustee in 2015, the same year his father Tamihana retired as Chairperson from the Trust. Myka’s appointment is a huge honour for him and his whānau.

He first worked as a carpenter in NZ and then Australia. After returning home, he completed a BA Honours in Mātauranga Māori and a Post Graduate Diploma in Secondary School Teaching. He is currently a full time student completing a phD and a part time tutor at EIT.

Over the years, Myka has been involved in several Committees and Trusts. However, he understands that the Te Awahōhonu Forest Trust is at another level to most. This is due to all the hard work put in by all the Trustees since its humble beginnings. His focus is on maintaining the mana that they have installed into the land and the organisation.

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Myka and his whānau are passionate about all things Māori, but in particular waka ama. He is presently the coach for the New Zealand Men’s Team. During his own paddling career, he has represented New Zealand several time at waka ama, and even won 2 consecutive world titles in White Water Rafting.

Born and bred in Wairoa and having attended Te Aute College, Shayne is of Ngāti Kahungunu ki Te Wairoa and Te Whanganui a Orotu.

With a background in the meat works, professional rugby and management and strategic design in Corrections and Health, Shayne completed his Masters in Business Administration (MBA) at Massey University.

After being a Trustees Assistant in 2013, Shayne was elected to the Te Awahōhonu Forest Trust Board in 2015. 

Key drivers for Shayne in his current term are maximizing the opportunity for business growth, protecting our taonga and supporting our whānau to realise their capability.

Heitia has been a Trustee for Te Awahōhonu Forest Trust since 2012. 

Heitia's prior work experience includes working in the freezing works in the 1970’s, the Police through the 1980’s and 90’s and running a small business in the early 2000’s. Since the early 2000’s Heitia has been teaching in Hawkes Bay. Heitia has now taken on the new role of Kaiwhakahaere Taiao for the Trust.

Heitia enjoys time with his family, the outdoors - especially hunting, fishing and diving.

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He has recently served on many Trusts including the Ngā Manaakitanga a Te Hata Te Kani Tuku Iho Trust (Arapaoanui 3C), Maungaharuru-Tangitu Trust and the Anglican Schools Office Trust.

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Heitia believes improved access to health, education and economic opportunities are dreams that can be realised through self-determination - for that to happen sound governance is essential.

Wiremu was elected as Trustee in October 2023. Prior to this he was an Assistant Trustee and has also been actively involved with the Trusts Farm Advisory Group.

Wiremu has a Bachelor in Farm Management majoring in Farm Management through Massey University. He currently works as a livestock representative for Alliance Group Ltd and prior to this was an Agribusiness Partner with BNZ.

Wiremu has a particular interest in Māori Agribusiness and believes that the experience and knowledge he has gained over the past 12 years in the industry will be of great value to the Te Awahōhonu Forest Trust now and into the future.

Robert was a Trustee on Te Awahōhonu Forest Trust from 1999, before resigning from the position in 2023. Robert was Chairperson of the Trust for the last nine years he was a Trustee. His vision and strong governance have been instrumental in the growth of the Trust.

Robert is passionate about Māori Economic Development and growing our Māori capability pathways through education, business and leadership initiatives. He followed in the footsteps of his father who was one of the founding Trustees of Te Awahōhonu Forest Trust.

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Robert was also the Farm Consultant to the Trust from 1992 to 2023 and played a lead role in improving the farming operations to the high performing farming operations they are today.

Robert is currently still involved with the Trust assisting with the Tranche 2 consent applicaiton and will continue to be involved with the Trust as a Pakeke Trustee.

Ka mihi matou ki a koe mo te mahi