Six Board Members have been appointed to represent our rohe on the Āti Awa Toa Hauora Partnership Board.
Hikitia Ropata
Executive Chair / Ngāti Toa Rangatira Representative
Ngāti Toa Rangatira, Ngāti Raukawa, Te Āti Awa, Ngāti Porou
Hikitia is deeply committed to ensuring the delivery of high-quality public services for iwi and Māori. She brings extensive experience in social wellbeing, education, healthcare, local government and iwi affairs.
Over the years, Hikitia has successfully built and led diverse teams and honed her skills in leadership, change management, and governance. She is highly skilled at building strong relationships and partnerships across various sectors and industries. Hikitia believes that excellent leadership is about removing barriers so we can collectively create meaningful, sustainable change to achieve hauora outcomes for mokopuna.
A dedicated advocate for Māori achievement and success, Hikitia holds several other roles including Regional Councillor for Greater Wellington and membership on the Workforce Development Council (WDC) for Community, Health, Education and Social Services. However, for Hikitia, the “…most important job is being the best role model, Aunty and Nanni to my many nieces, nephews and mokopuna”.
Her commitment to those who are the promise of our tomorrow drives her personal and professional life to support hauora outcomes within her community.
Tio Taiaki
Deputy Chair / Te Āti Awa ki Whakarongotai Representative
Te Ātiawa ki Whakarongotai, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Te Āti Haunui-a-Pāpārangi
Tio has extensive governance and leadership experience in Māori health, education, change management, marketing, and community engagement. He is passionate about empowering individuals to lead healthy, active lives and has worked across government, community, and corporate sectors.
His governance roles include chairing the Whātonga Waka Ama board, serving as a board member for Hora Te Pai Health Services Charitable Trust and Diabetes NZ, and contributing to various iwi and national organisations.
As Deloitte’s Associate Director in Māori Health and Equity, Tio combines his cultural knowledge alongside expertise in strategy, project management, accountancy, and marketing to deliver impactful outcomes.
Hinemoa Priest
Board Member / Te Āti Awa Representative
Te Āti Awa, Ngā Ruahine ki te Rangi
Hinemoa has been Kaiwhakahaere Māori and a member of the Joint Leadership Team at Whitireia and WelTec (Wellington Institute of Technology) since 2009. In this role, she has led the integration of te ao Māori and iwi-led kaupapa into industry training and education strategies and services. Prior to this, she served as Māori Liaison Officer at Hutt Valley Polytechnic and WelTec for eight years.
Hinemoa is a strong advocate for education and employment opportunities for rangatahi, particularly in Te Awa Kairangi. In her current role, she manages the Tamaiti Whāngai team, overseeing the development of the annual strategic plan, operational and budget management, and relationship-building with iwi and Māori organisations such as Te Rūnanganui o Te Āti Awa and Waiwhetu Marae. She also manages Māori and Pasifika trade training, ensuring inclusivity across Iwi, Pasifika, and employers, and has extensive experience with mana whenua, marae, kura, and Kokiri Centres within Te Awakairangi.
Dr Vanessa Caldwell
Taura here representative
Kai Tahu, Te Rapuwai, Waitaha, Kati Māmoe
Dr Vanessa Caldwell was appointed Deputy Health and Disability Commissioner in 2021. In this role, she has applied her vast knowledge of ethical practice and patient rights, along with her deep commitment to high-quality, patient-centred care.
Vanessa is passionate about developing consumer and whānau-centred health systems, workforce development, and ensuring that people of Aotearoa have equitable access to high-quality care when needed. Throughout her career, she has developed care services, overseen regional design and delivery, and held several key leadership and governance roles in the health sector.
Vanessa is a registered psychologist with an extensive knowledge of the health system and experience in mental health and addictions. Her previous roles include Clinical Executive, Mental Health & Addictions, MidCentral District Health Board; National Director of Matua Raki. She also has a doctorate in Health Science and an Masters in Business Administration.
Tane Cassidy
Taura here representative
Ngāpuhi
Tane Cassidy has extensive experience in health marketing, policy development, and strategic leadership, with a career spanning multiple high-impact roles in the health sector. He currently serves on our board and Te Awakairangi Health Network where he works to ensure health initiatives are responsive to the needs of iwi Māori and local communities.
As Deputy Chief Executive for Prevention & Partnerships at ACC New Zealand, Tane led injury prevention strategies and forged partnerships across the health sector. He also served as Chief Executive of Te Hiringa Hauora/Health Promotion Agency, where he was instrumental in embedding Te Tiriti-centred frameworks, promoting innovative thinking, diversity and sustainable Māori leadership within the healthcare sector.
Tane has continuously championed the integration of cultural knowledge into health services, ensuring treatments are grounded in te ao Māori and accessible to those who need them most. His work also extends into digital health solutions, as recognised by his 2021 e-Mental Health International Collaborative Leadership Excellence Award.
Dr Taku Parai
Kaumatua
Ngāti Toa, Te Ātiawa, Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Tama
Kaumatua of Ngāti Toa, Dr Taku Parai has contributed to the Porirua community for more than 50 years, and served as a mana whenua representative to Porirua City Council since 1999.
Dr Parai has held numerous roles for his iwi, chairing the Ngāti Toa Kaunihera Kaumatua and contributing to preservation of histories and genealogies, wananga waka and wananga reo.
He chaired the Board of Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira for six years, overseeing the Treaty settlement and the immediate post-settlement period. He chaired Porirua Council’s Treaty Partnership Group from 2002 to 2010 and has been Council Kaumatua since 2011. Taku has an PhD in indigenous Elders/Knowledge Holders – Doctor of Education (EdD) for Indigenous Knowledge and Development from the World Indigenous Nations University.