TŌ MĀTOU TĀNGATA

Pahia has been involved in Iwi governance for over 25 years and is currently the chair of Te Rūnanga o Ngā Wairiki – Ngāti Apa. During his time in this role, he was responsible for negotiating through their difficult coastline agreement, and was also involved in Treaty Settlement negotiations resulting in significant freshwater fisheries for his people. Pahia is no stranger to the fisheries industry through both his experience as a negotiator and his role at Te Rūnanga, which trains its members in all aspects of the marine environment. Pahia is passionate about increasing the knowledge and management of the sustainable utilisation of customary fishing.

Pahia has held the Paepae at Whangaehu Marae since he was just 14 years of age, and has led numerous projects in the advancement of health, housing, youth development, education and suicide prevention.

Bella Takiari-Brame is a chartered accountant with over 16 years’ global experience in strategic financial roles.

She is currently a member of Te Wānanga o Aotearoa Council, an independent member of the Group Audit and Risk Committee of Waikato Tainui, a trustee of the Māniapoto Māori Trust Board, Māngai Māori representative for the finance committee of the Hamilton City Council and was previously a Member of Te Ohu Kai Moana Trustee Limited’s Audit and Risk Committee and a Director on Te Ohu Kaimoana Portfolio Management Services Limited.

Bella's tenure with Te Ohu Kaimoana began in July 2019.

Gail has been the Awarua Rūnanga (Ngāi Tahu) Manager since 2005, working on behalf of the Trust to provide leadership and as a point of connection for hapū and whānau entities. Gail has a wealth of knowledge and experience in fisheries management and in particular the customary fisheries space and the restoration of mahinga kai.

Gail is currently the representative for Te Rūnaka o Awarua (to Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu), a director for Te Ao Mārama Incorporated, Bluff Oyster Management Company, Te Wai Parera, Bluff Community Charitable Trust, Te Waiau Mahika Kai Trust and a member of the Bonamia Governance Group.

Gail commenced in her tenure as a Director with Te Ohu Kaimoana in November 2023.

Dean is a Chartered Accountant Fellow (FCA) and has a decorated career in the seafood industry across commercial and customary fishing sectors, in both governance and management positions. He was in the senior leadership team at Aotearoa Fisheries Ltd (now trading as Moana NZ) and previously Chief Executive of Prepared Foods Limited and Managing Director of Prepack Ltd.  Dean has worked at Te Ohu Kaimoana as Commercial Manager.

Dean has extensive governance experience and currently serves on a number of Ngāti Porou and Iwi Partnership Boards including, Director Te Rūnanganui o Ngāti Porou, Chair Ngā Hapū o Ngā Rohe o Ngāti Porou Takutai Trusts, Deputy Chair of Ngāti Porou Holding Company Ltd and Chairs subsidiaries Ngāti Porou Seafoods Limited and Akaroa Salmon NZ Limited.

Dean represents Ngāti Porou on the Iwi Collective Partnership and Port Nicholson GP Ltd.  He is a director of two Crown Research Institutes, NZ Institute for Plant & Food Research Ltd and NIWA Research Limited and on the boards of Asure Quality Limited, BV-AQ (Singapore) Holdings PTE Limited and the NZ Food & Beverage Group.

Dean commenced in his tenure as a Director with Te Ohu Kaimoana in December 2023.

Dean has extensive governance experience and currently serves on a number of Ngāti Porou and Iwi Partnership Boards including, Director Te Rūnanganui o Ngāti Porou, Chair Ngā Hapū o Ngā Rohe o Ngāti Porou Takutai Trusts, Deputy Chair of Ngāti Porou Holding Company Ltd and Chairs subsidiaries Ngāti Porou Seafoods Limited and Akaroa Salmon NZ Limited.

Nicole is a chartered professional director (CMInstD) with a background in finance and is a business owner within the manufacturing and primary sectors. She has experience across health, energy, conservation, housing and economic development. Nicole is passionate about value add to our economy at whānau, hapū, regional and national levels.

Nicole currently serves as a Director for Kāinga Ora Limited, Top Energy Limited, NZ Blood & Organ Service, Northland Inc and Chair of the International Accreditation Council. Nicole commenced in her tenure as a Director with Te Ohu Kaimoana in December 2023.

Bayden is the current Chair of Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated, the third largest iwi in Aotearoa with over 100 hapū and 90 marae. It also has the second-largest coastline of iwi in Aotearoa. Bayden is from Waimārama and is of Ngāti Kurukuru descent. He is a mandated kaitiaki over his rohe moana and has played an active role in ensuring their local pāua stocks are protected through reseeding and rāhui.

Bayden is a member of the Mai Paritū ki Tūrakirae collective of Kahungunu hapū that work together to support the kaitiakitanga of its coastline. Bayden is also an Independent Director of Beef &Lamb NZ, a Commissioner for Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori, and a Trustee on the Māori Education Trust. Bayden is a Chartered member of the Institute of Directors.

Bayden commenced in his tenure as a Director of Te Ohu Kaimoana in December 2023.

Maru Samuels is a Director to the Board of Te Ohu Kaimoana and brings with him a wealth of fisheries management experience and policy knowledge. He currently serves as a Director for Ngāti Maru (Taranaki) Fishing Company Limited, Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Te Rangi, DeepWater Group, Trident Systems, Inshore JV and Iwi Collective Partnership. Maru is also the In Country Lead for Urchinomics and the Executive Director of Ikanomics Consulting Limited.

Maru originally joined the Board in the capacity of Alternate Director of Te Ohu Kaimoana in February of 2020, and became a full-director on 27 July 2026.

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