May 2020

New board appointments

E te whānau o Rangitāne, tēnā koutou katoa

We are excited to announce two new appointments to our Tū Mai Rā Investments Board. It is a great tohu when applicants are of such a high calibre and extensive experience.

Join us in welcoming Sonya Rimene and Marise Kerehi Stuart as our new directors to the Board. They each bring experience, skill and insight to Tū Mai Rā Investments They will work with the 4 existing directors on the board, increasing the total directorship to 6 positions. Their energy and focus will be great for forging the aspirations and mahi of the Board.

Sonya Rimene

Rangitāne, Kahungunu, Te Arawa, Kai Tahu

Sonya, born and raised in Wairarapa, has more than 25 years central government experience including in Māori development portfolios. Her roles have been to influence decision makers to advance and support the aspirations of Iwi / Māori.

An experienced director of 20 years, Sonya is a Trustee on Rangitāne Tu Mai Rā Trust and Wairarapa Moana Incorporation boards.

Sonya has extensive networks across Aotearoa and communities across the health, education, welfare, and justice sectors. She brings strong management experience, strategic thinking, and social consciousness to the Board table.

“I am passionate about our whānau, hapū and iwi. This role is exciting, particularly being able to lead innovative solutions and opportunities to meet and grow the aspirations and dreams of our people,” says Sonya.

Marise Kerehi Stuart

Rangitāne, Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa, Ngāpuhi

Born and raised on a sheep and beef farm in Mauriceville, Wairarapa, Marise is the daughter of Maryann Kerehi Stuart (Ngatuere) and Alan Stuart; mokopuna of Tutahanga Otekai Arahi Ngatuere, and descendant of Tawhirimatea Tawhao Ngatuere.

A Ngārimu VC 28th Māori Battalion scholar, and, Fulbright scholar at Harvard University, Marise is working with Nobel Prize laureate (Economics) Professor Amartya Sen exploring the challenges to Māori economic development. In addition to her studies, she is designing and implementing Māori economic development programmes (in Te Tai Tokerau and the Wairarapa) using lessons from the successful, Māori response to Covid-19.

Marise has extensive experience in governance, health and digital innovations, and a passion for maximising Māori capabilities and wellbeing, through economic development.

Marise is a member of Te Rōpū Whakakaupapa Urutā (National Māori Pandemic Group), as well as the Harvard Indigenous Health Response, supporting strategic advice and advocacy for COVID-19 across Aotearoa, and Indigenous peoples across the globe, respectively.

“I am excited to be joining Tū Mai Rā Investments and continuing the huge amount of mahi invested already by generations of Rangitāne whanau. I am determined to uphold the legacy and dreams of our tūpuna, so that our mokopuna can flourish,” says Marise.