Our Board

Herenga ā Nuku is governed by a Board, with members appointed by the Minister for Agriculture.

To communicate with our board please contact our corporate team.

Chair

Don Cameron

Don Cameron was Mayor of Ruapehu District between 2010 and 2022, and a representative on the national council of Local Government New Zealand. He is a keen mountain biker with a wealth of experience in rural and recreation access issues. He is a member of Ruapehu-Whanganui Rural Support Trust and Rural Health Alliance NZ, is the co-Chair of the Road Controlling Authority and recently helped to set up the Ameku Road cycle and walkway in Raetihi.

Members

Pierre Henare

Pierre Henare (Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Hine) is the current Board Chairman and a founding Director of Tairāwhiti Pharmaceuticals Ltd Group. He has also held Board positions with Māori Incorporations, Māori Land Trusts and with the Māori Advisory Boards to Tairāwhiti District Health and Midlands Health. Pierre has also worked for a range of government departments in both advisory and management capacities.

Helen Mexted

Originally from a farming background in Hawke's Bay, Helen joined the board of Herenga ā Nuku in 2018 and brings a strong mix of governance, executive leadership, and policy, advocacy and strategic communications and engagement experience within public sector agencies, local government, commercial entities, and NGOs. She has a wealth of experience in leading and influencing organisations to deliver sustainable change, enhancing communications and engagement performance, and working effectively with central and local government. Helen is currently an executive at Wellington’s two DHBs, an independent director at Wellington Regional Council’s holding company, and has recently consulted to the Overseas Investment Office and held leadership roles at Local Government New Zealand, the Ministry of Social Development, Public Trust and Federated Farmers. Helen holds a BBS and an MBA, and is a chartered member of the Institute of Directors.

Celia Wade-Brown

Celia Wade-Brown QSO lives in the Wairarapa and was the Mayor of Wellington from 2010 to 2016 and previously a city councillor. She founded the walking advocacy group Living Streets Aotearoa. She is also a trustee of Walk21, the international charity dedicated to improving walking conditions, and a trustee of Te Araroa Trust. Celia is a keen walker, cyclist and kayaker, and has walked the full length of Te Araroa Trail.