Ngāti Whakaue Wāhine Toa appointed as Manahautū (CEO) of Ngāti Whakaue Assets Trust

Te Kotahitanga o Ngāti Whakaue Assets Trust is proud to announce Candice Waiti Richards (Ngāti Whakaue, Ngāti Pikiao, Ngāti Mākino, Ngāti Rangitihi) has been appointed as our new Manahautū (CEO).
 
Candice grew up in Rotorua, and has more than 15 years’ experience as a Chartered Accountant and finance professional in large organisations in Aotearoa and internationally, as well as more recently providing financial leadership for Te Taumata o Ngāti Whakaue Iho Ake Trust (Te Taumata) as their Finance Manager.

Pou Taki (Chairperson) Hemi Rolleston says “Candice’s strategic expertise, combined with a proven ability to deliver commercially and her demonstrated service at Ngāti Whakaue marae and hapū level and in our hapori over many years, will be an asset to the Trust.  We are excited to have such a culturally and commercial strong wahine Māori appointed as our Manahautū - to lead our talented operational team and to work alongside our Board.”

Te Taumata o Ngāti Whakaue Pou Taki (Chairperson) Rāwiri Bhana had this to say “Candice’s appointment although a loss for Te Taumata is actually a massive ‘win’ for Ngāti Whakaue.  To appoint someone as highly skilled and driven as Candice, who could have just as easily left to work for multinational corporates but chose to stay within our iwi, says so much about her as a person, as a leader, and as an uri of Ngāti Whakaue.  This is Mokopuna Decision making in action, and Te Taumata fully support her appointment to this role. We look forward to continuing working alongside Candice and the Ngāti Whakaue Assets Trust in providing more intergenerational opportunities to our people”.

Candice says “I am looking forward to the opportunity to be involved in assisting our iwi to achieve mana motuhake, for ourselves and our mokopuna. I will be focussing my skills in collaboration and commerce to ensure success for the Trust and for our iwi more generally.”

The recruitment process for the role was extensive and attracted a high calibre of applicants who had a strong interest in the Trust’s mahi and kaupapa. The Trust was particularly pleased with the significant number of applicants who were wahine Māori or Ngāti Whakaue, and acknowledge Mana Recruitment for their excellent support in the candidate search and appointment process.

Candice will be officially welcomed with a pōhiri in August.

Hemi Rolleston

Pou Taki o Ngāti Whakaue Assets Trust