Board of Trustees

A heartfelt thank you to every individual who has served on the Tai Wānanga Board of Trustees, from the founding members right up to our newly elected board. Your time, energy, and commitment to the kaupapa have made an enormous impact. We truly appreciate all the work you’ve put in to support our students and our kura.

Annual Account FY 24 + Audit Report

Our Governance

Tai Wānanga is governed by a Board of Trustees (BOT), which operates with the same core duties and legal obligations as boards of other state schools under the Education Act 1989.

Our Unique Governance Model

To best serve the unique needs and national spread of Tai Wānanga, our BOT operates under an Alternative Constitution, approved by the Minister of Education in 2013.
 
This model moves away from the traditional ‘representation-based’ approach in favour of a ‘skills and knowledge-based’ model. This purpose-built design was created to ensure:
  • Continuity of Governance: It overcomes potential uncertainty during the foundation phase and ongoing growth, allowing for the consistent development and implementation of our special learning framework, ethos, values, and culture across all sites.
  • Expert Focus: It ensures the BOT is comprised of members with the specific skills and experience needed to strategically guide Tai Wānanga.
  • Community Input: It maintains a vital role for whānau and wider community input for each Tai Wānanga site.

This alternative constitution is currently under review to ensure it continues to reflect the changing nature of Tai Wānanga.

Board Membership

The Board of Trustees is currently composed of:

  • 3 Appointed Members: 3 appointed by the Minister of Education
  • 2 Parent Representatives
  • Up to 2 Co-opted Members
  • The Tumuaki (Principal): (Ex officio)

All members, excluding the Tumuaki, serve a three-year term.

Parent Representatives

The two Parent positions are filled during triennial elections. A selection panel draws candidates from a pool nominated by the parents and caregivers of current students enrolled at Tai Wānanga.

Key Board Responsibilities

The BOT’s primary focus is on the strategic development and oversight of Tai Wānanga, including:

  • Setting Strategic Direction in line with our ethos, vision, and mission.
  • Developing and Monitoring the Tai Wānanga teaching and learning framework.
  • Employing the Tumuaki to implement the Board’s strategy.
  • Growing the Tai Wānanga movement nationwide.

The Board typically meets every six weeks. Given the national spread of our sites and trustees, technology is often utilised for these meetings.

Tai Wānanga- Board of Trustees

Hone Tipene
Ruakura Whānau Representative
Presiding Member

Ko Taupiri te Maunga
Ko Waikato te Awa
Ko Tainui te Waka
Ko Ngāti Mahuta me Ngāti Māhanga ngā hapū
Ko Hone Winiata Tipene tōku ingoa

I have served on Kura Kaupapa Māori school, Iwi Hapū, Māori Business Consortium, and local Museum Boards, always with a focus on supporting outcomes for Taiohi, communities, and Māori businesses.

In my governance roles, I focus on achieving positive results and recognise the importance of cultivating strong relationships as a key contributor to success, and I am dedicated to enabling others to achieve their highest potential.

Our whānau chose to enrol our mokopuna at Tai Wānanga because its dedication to Leadership, Excellence, Āhurutanga, and Innovation aligns with values that are meaningful to many families.

As a board member, I am dedicated to honouring these principles by being actively involved and following tikanga Māori.

My expertise as a business owner and employer since 2005 includes:

  • Strategic planning and implementation
  • Financial competence
  • Organizational governance
  • Stakeholder engagement and advocacy
  • Whakamānawatia te Kaupapa me te Tangata

Aaron Freeman
Tū Toa Whānau Representative
 

Ko Aaron Vano Freeman tōku ingoa, e tangata Kuki Airani au.
No Mangaia e Atiu e Ta’iti mai aia. E no’o ana matou ki Papaioea.

Kia ora koutou, my name is Aaron Freeman, born and bred in Cannons Creek, Porirua, but our whānau call Palmerston North home. Both of my daughters attend Tai Wānanga Tū Toa in Year 9 and Year 11.

I am delighted to serve on the Board of Governance for Tai Wānanga Tū Toa and look forward to assisting collectively towards navigating our collective waka in whatever direction the winds take us.

I am currently the Pasifika Business Sustainability Lead at Niuvaka Trust in Palmerston North, a charitable trust that seeks equitable outcomes for Pasifika across health, well-being, and social services.

I bring an objective Pacific lens to governance and am here to lend anything I can to assist and support our taiohi and whānau on their voyage together with Tai Wānanga.

Ei mua kotou! Kia Orana e Kia Manuia.

Marcus Taupō
Ruakura Whānau Representative
(Co-opt)

He uri ahau nō Ngāti Tiipa, nō Ngāti Wai hoki.

He kōrero poto mōku, I tipu ake ahau i Tāmaki, ā, kei Morrinsville e noho ana ināianei.

Tokorua ā māua tamāhine e kura ana i konei, arā, i te Kura o Tai Wānanga. Ko taku tūmanako, ka taea e au te tautoko, te hiki i ngā tauira o Tai Wānanga me ō rātou whānau, i ia rā, i ia wiki, i ia marama, nā runga i ngā pūkenga me ngā pūmanawa kei ahau.

I feel truly grateful and excited to see how I can contribute to this beautiful kaupapa here at Tai Wānanga by being present and actively involved wherever I’m able.

Nō reira, mauri ora e te whānau.