Governance
The Wi Pere Trustees are responsible to 506 (2017) beneficaries in accordance with the Maori Purposes Act 1991 and Te Ture Whenua Maori Act 1993.
Alan Parekura Torohina Haronga - Chair
Alan is a chartered accountant and former partner of a major international accounting firm with 20+ years in Canada and New Zealand. Alan's experience developed in the area of buying, selling and repositioning small, medium and large businesses.
Alan maintains a range of directorships in various organisations involved in resource development, change management, business transformation and repositioning, market development and intellectual property development to keep abreast of current business issues both local and international.
Kingi Smiler
Kingi is a Chartered Accountant CA, BCA and has a wealth of international business experience including eight years in Toronto working in the business planning and corporate restructuring fields with Ernst & Young. He was a Partner with Ernst & Young from 1990–1997.
His current directorships include: Chairman and Executive Director of Wairarapa Moana Incorporation, Chairman of Ahuwhenua Trophy Committee, Director of Mangatu Incorporation, Director of Integrated Foods Limited, Chairman of the Tarawhiti Land Development Trust (major regional initiative), Chairman of Miraka Limited.
Hector Pere
I am a qualified motor mechanic and hold a New Zealand Advance Trade Certificate In Automotive Engineering. I began my career as an apprentice with the New Zealand Post Office Workshop in Gisborne was then promoted, and subsequently moved to and settled in Auckland.
I served 20 years with this organisation, rising from the floor through to management. I am presently employed with Vehicle Testing New Zealand as a Vehicle Inspector and am also the EPMU union representative for Takanini VTNZ.
Jason Lardelli
Jason has served in various senior executive roles in the New Zealand and Australian financial and insurance sectors over the last 15 years. He has worked within government and private organizations with a focus on business performance planning and early innovation to deliver against ambitious strategic and operational objectives.
He has a progressive outlook to try, test and learn with the aim of building confidence and clarity of direction.
Jason holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Economics (Waikato) and a Master’s degree in Health Management (Massey).
Currently Jason leads Strategic Delivery for a Victorian based Insurer while also operating a private consultancy
Michelle Hippolite
He mokopuna o Te Raumiria Farmer (nee Halbert), o Rongowhakaata Halbert, o Te Kani
Pere. Ko Delena Marsh (nee Farmer) tona mama, ko Michelle Hippolite tenei.
Michelle has held senior roles across the public service for the last 25 years. Currently
contracting to Te Whatu Ora, Health New Zealand on Hauora Māori, she was previously the
Deputy Director-General at Te Papa Atawhai (DOC) supporting them to give effect to the
principles of the Treaty of Waitangi. Prior to that she was the Chief Executive of Te Puni
Kōkiri which progressed Whānau Ora, te reo Māori, Whenua Māori, Housing for Māori to
highlight a few areas. She is driven by advising and making things happen for whānau
Māori, hapū and iwi.
While at Te Papa Tongarewa the repatriation of tūpuna was a priority and under her
stewardship an exhibition about Māori was curated and presented in Paris, Mexico City and
Quebec. As a Policy Advisor in the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet she advised
on the establishment of Māori Television, Māori fisheries and the first Māori aquaculture
arrangements.
Michelle is a Management Committee member for Mangatū Blocks Incorporation, a
member of the Recruitment and Appointments Committee for Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Toa
Rangatira and a Board member of Poitūkohu Māori.
Michelle lives in Takapūwāhia, Porirua the home of her husband Evan’s people and they
are the proud parents of Marsella and Tame.
Te Hira Pere, Director - Pou Tikanga
Te Hira is a current civil servant with a background in Law, public policy, strategic partnerships, and
Crown Māori relations. Proudly Te Aitanga a Mahaki, Rongowhakaata, and Whanau a Kai, decent.
Te Hira has dedicated his career to bridging equity gaps between Māori and non-Māori. Having held
several senior roles across various iwi/Māori entities and Crown agencies, including Te Puni Kokiri,
Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, and Worksafe New Zealand, and now currently at the
Tertiary Education Commission. Te Hira's commitment to empowering Māori communities and
fostering self-determination has been instrumental in his work across both the public service and
private sector.
In 2020 Te Hira co-founded "Whakatipuranga Limited", a Law and cultural consultancy firm
specialising in Treaty settlements, Māori equity, land law, Māori policy and Treaty issues. While in
2023 Te Hira joined Vertilink Infrastructure Group as a director which is a New Zealand based firm
dedicated to the design, development, and management of Vertiports with supporting the
integration of Advanced Air mobility in the APAC region.
Internationally, Te Hira has shared his insights in the United States on Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the
incorporation of indigenous solutions to address systemic inequalities.
Currently leading the Business and Partnerships unit at the Tertiary Education Commission, Te Hira
remains dedicated to effecting positive changes in all that he does.
Te Hira holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Waikato