Governance

HEMI ROLLESTON

Ngāti Whakaue, Te Arawa, Tauranga Moana

Hemi is  a graduate of the Stanford University Business Leaders Bootcamp (2013 and 2015) and was the 2012 recipient of the NZ Institute of Director's Aspiring Director Award (for BOP Branch).

Hemi has held a number of senior executive roles including Chief Executive of Te Awanui Hukapak Ltd and Callaghan Innovation and was recently General Manager of Te Ao Māori and Science Services, at Scion. Hemi is the Chair of Ngāti Whakaue Assets Trust and the Te Awanui Ward Councillor for a Tauranga City Council.

Kerri Anne Hancock

He uri a Kerri Anne nō te whānau Rogers– nō Ngāti Whakaue (Ngāti Tunohopu, Ngāti Hurungaterangi, Ngāti Te Rorooterangi) nō Ngāti Rangiwewehi me Ngāti Tarawhai anō hoki.

E noho ana a Kerri Anne me tōna whānau ki to rātau papakainga ki Mangakākahi – kai raro i te maru o Pukehāngi. Ko Michael Hancock tōna hoa tāne, ā, tokotoru ō raua tamariki, Maraea (10), Justin (8) me Te Waere (6).

Kerri Anne’s professional background is fairly diverse across both the public and private sector, and includes Treaty settlement negotiations, environmental kaupapa and leadership positions within her iwi.  She graduated from the University of Auckland with a bachelor degree in Psychology and Māori Studies. In 2019 Kerri Anne was awarded the Emerging Leader award in the Westpac Rotorua Business Excellence Awards for the work she has done in her governance positions for Ngāti Rangiwewehi.

Today, Kerri Anne is the Aho (Practice Manager) for Te Kāhui Raraunga (the operational arm of the Data Iwi Leaders Group). Prior to this she was Tauwharenga (GM) for Rotoiti 15 Ahu Whenua Trust. Kerri Anne is the Trust’s representative on Kakano Whakatipu Ltd and a Trustee on Toi Kai Rawa – a Charitable Trust focused on accelerating Māori economic development in the Bay of Plenty. Kerri Anne is also managing director for Kaupare Consultancy which undertakes strategic planning and te reo Māori focused kaupapa nationwide.

Taurua Grant

Ko Ngāti Te Rorooterangi te hapū.

Ko Te Kuirau te marae.

Taurua has over 20yrs commercial experience across banking, financial markets, management consultancy and investment management. He is currently the Head of Māori Investment at BNZ. Prior to that he was CEO of Te Arawa Group Holdings and CEO here at Ngāti Whakaue Assets Trust. 

Taurua has held governance roles with Precinct Properties, Mātai Pacific, Kākano Whakatipu and Miro Berries.

Angela Grant

Ko Ngāti Pūkāki, Ngāti Taeotū, Ngāti Tunohopu me Ngāti Te Roro o Te Rangi ōku hapū.

He pākārito nō te whānau Kingi me te whānau Waaka.

Angela brings legal expertise and governance advisory experience to her work supporting iwi, hapū and Māori organisations. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce, majoring in Commercial Law and Marketing, and a Bachelor of Laws. As a practising lawyer, Angela has extensive experience across governance, Te Tiriti matters and commercial matters. After many years in private practice, she was recently recruited to join the in-house legal team at Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei.

Angela serves as Chair of Mangorewa Kaharoa 16, is a trustee of Te Rua a Umukaria, and represents NWAT on the Tahua Ahurea Fund Committee and Te Pae Mātai Committee. She is Māmā to Rukuwainuiātea and Te Kauere o Rēhua.

Angela acknowledges her koeke, particularly her grandmother Maureen, who instilled in her the importance of a life of service to her people and the courage to make difficult decisions. She is passionate about using her legal and governance experience to build enduring prosperity for Ngāti Whakaue.

MICHELLE HINGSTON

Board Observer

Ngāti Te Roro o te Rangi, Ngāti Tarawhai

Michelle is a graduate of the Ngāti Whakaue Governance Essentials Wānanga and is driven by a commitment to give back through effective governance. She has a background in strategy and is a member of the Lake Ōkataina Scenic Reserve Board.

We’re excited for Michelle to share her pūkenga with us as our Board Observer for 2026.

Candice Waiti Richards

Te Manahautū | CEO

Nō Ngāti Whakaue, Ngāti Pikiao, Ngāti Mākino, Ngāti Rangitihi

Candice grew up in Ōhinemutu and has almost 20years of experience as a Chartered Accountant and Finance professional in large organisations in Aotearoa and internationally.

Candice is looking forward to the opportunity to be involved in assisting our iwi to achieve mana motuhake, for ourselves and our mokopuna. She will be focusing her skills in collaboration and commerce to ensure success for the Trust and for our iwi more generally.

shannon james

Kaipaheko | Operations

Ngāti Whakaue, Ngāti Pikiao, Ngāti Tarawhai

He mokopuna ia no te whānau Morrison me te whānau James.

Shannon was born and raised in Rotorua and holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Waikato. Before joining the team, she worked as a Management Consultant and Board Secretary at GHA, where she developed her corporate and governance skills, with a strong focus on achieving positive outcomes for Māori.

Shannon is passionate about te ao Māori and is committed to continually developing her competency in te reo Māori, particularly for the benefit of her three tamariki, Ōkūrei, Parehuia and Taioreore.