Crown appointments to the Waikato River Authority announced
Today Environment Minister David Parker announced appointments by the Crown of five new board members to the Waikato River Authority (WRA).
The WRA was established to set the primary direction to restore and protect the health and wellbeing of the Waikato River, New Zealand’s longest river.
With experience in governance, scientific knowledge, environmental issues and tikanga Māori, the Crown appointees bring a wealth of experience and expertise to the ongoing work of the WRA.
Stuart Kneebone
Reappointed this term as the WRA Co-chair, Stuart Kneebone is a Waikato Regional Councillor and farmer in the Waikato region supporting initiatives that contribute towards catchment health, water quality and biodiversity enhancement in the region.
Stuart Muir
As the owner and operator of Te Nihi Nihi Trust dairy farm, newly appointed WRA board member Stuart Muir brings experience in river restoration, environmental management and agri-business strategy and planning.
Susan O’Regan
Susan O’Regan is a newly appointed WRA board member, who is serving her first term as mayor of Waipā District Council and is also a dairy-farmer who champions various environmental projects, from wetland restoration to riparian plantings.
Shadrach Rolleston
With a public service career spanning over 20 years, Shadrach Rolleston brings to the WRA a wealth of knowledge and experience in governance, engagement, te reo and tikanga Māori, environmental planning and resource management.
Erina Watene-Rawiri
Reappointed WRA board member, Erina Watene-Rawiri is a freshwater scientist who brings strong technical expertise in freshwater management, longstanding community connections, and significant communications and governance expertise.
The WRA has funded projects from the planting of 120,000 native plants in Port Waikato that resulted in an increase in biodiversity to the cleaning of the Mangati Stream for inanga (freshwater fish) species.
The Waikato Awa is an important cultural, economic and environmental asset for Aotearoa New Zealand. It is facing significant challenges in water quality from intensive farming and forest clearance.
The new appointments to the WRA are expected to bring fresh ideas and innovative approaches to these challenges facing the awa.
The Crown-appointed members join five iwi-appointed members of the WRA board. Together they will work towards restoring and protecting the health and wellbeing of the Waikato Awa for future generations.
Tipa Mahuta, Waikato-Tainui (Co-Chair)
Holding a wide range of governance roles including Iwi and local government positions, she was also appointed as Co-Chair of the newly established Māori Health Authority and Chair to Te Puna, Taumata Arowai and Councillor Waikato Regional Council.
Wikiōria Tāne, Maniapoto
Bringing governance experience at marae, Māori Land Block, Land Incorporation and Iwi Authority level, she is a Maniapoto Māori Trust board trustee and works on taiao Resource Management Act matters within Maniapoto and Tainui regions, with a particular focus on protection and restoration of Waipā and Waikato Awa and their environments.
Nachelle Griffiths, Raukawa
Nachelle brings governance experience in commercial entities and Māori Authorities. These include overseeing significant commercial investments in geothermal power generation, agriculture, horticulture, and telecommunication investment.
Roger Pikia, Te Arawa
Roger was a foundation member of the Guardians Establishment Committee, which was the pre-curser to the WRA, tasked with formulating the vision and strategy which became the cornerstone of the Waikato River Settlement and related legislation. Roger is Chair of the Ngāti Tahu-Ngāti Whāoa Runanga Trust and a Trustee on the Te Arawa River Iwi Trust (TARIT).
Danny Loughlin, Tūwharetoa
Danny brings with him over 16 years of experience as Trustee of the Tūwharetoa Maori Trust board, tasked with being the legal kaitiaki for Taupō Waters, including the Waikato Awa.