Brianna Boxall named Te Mātārae Taupua | Interim Chief Executive of Te Ohu Kaimoana

The Board of Te Ohu Kaimoana is pleased to announce the appointment, effective immediately, of Brianna Boxall (Rongomaiwahine, Ngāti Hine) as Te Mātārae Taupua | Interim Chief Executive of Te Ohu Kaimoana, following the recent resignation of Graeme Hastilow.

Brianna joined Te Ohu Kaimoana in February of 2021 and has served as our Poumatua Whakamahere Ture (General Counsel) and manager of our in-house legal team since 2023. Her work has involved input into strategic projects, high-profile litigation, and more recently supporting our Kāhui entities in navigating governance changes in light of the Māori Fisheries Amendment Act 2024. During her time with us, she was also seconded for six-months to work for Ngāi Tāmanuhiri Trust, to provide operational support to the Chief Executive.

“Brianna has been instrumental across a number of significant kaupapa for Te Ohu Kaimoana since joining our organisation, including the introduction and implementation of the Māori Fisheries Amendment Act, leading our litigation strategy for our 28N rights proceedings against the Crown, as well as managing compliance matters for both Te Kāhui o Te Ohu Kai Moana and our iwi organisations.” says Tumu Whakarae (Chair), Pahia Turia.

“She possesses strong constitutional and institutional acumen, has displayed strong leadership and is held in very high regard among our directors, the wider kāhui and fellow staff. We look forward to supporting Brianna during this time of transition for our organisation.”

Brianna holds degrees in law and history from the University of Auckland and a certificate in Indigenous People’s Rights and Policy from the Centre of Ethnicity and Race at Columbia University in New York City. While studying, Brianna served as Tumuaki Wāhine of Te Rākau Ture (the Māori Law Students Association of the University of Auckland). In 2023, Brianna was awarded the In-House Lawyer Award from the In-House Lawyers Association of New Zealand, and in 2024 she was named as one of New Zealand’s Rising Star Lawyers by NZ Lawyer.

Brianna is deeply connected to both her whānau of Ngāti Hine and Rongomaiwahine, having grown up amongst her wider whānau at Mahia Peninsula.