Waikato River Authority
Hon John Luxton
QSO
Co-Chair, Crown appointee.
John was a Member of
Parliament from the
Waikato Region for 1986
-2002. He has farming and
business interests in the
Waikato and now serves
as a professional Company
Director.
As a Cabinet Minister
for nine years he held
a number of portfolios
including Lands, Forestry,
Agriculture and Maori
Affairs. He is a graduate of
Massey University – B.Agr.
Sc., M.Mangt.. His career
prior to becoming an MP
involved farming and
International Consulting.
He is a Director of
Landcare Crown Research
Institute and Chairman of
DairyNZ Incorporated.
Peter Buckley
Crown appointee.
Peter is the Chair of
Waikato Regional Council
which has broad-ranging
responsibilities for the
economic, environmental,
social and cultural well-
being of the Waikato
region.
Peter was first elected to
the council to represent
North Waikato-Hauraki in
2007. In 2010 Peter was
returned unopposed and
was re-elected chairman.
Prior to his election to
the Regional Council,
Peter had 25 years
involvement with Waikato
Federated Farmers. His
leadership positions
at branch and regional
level culminated in him
holding the presidency
before becoming council
chairman.
Peter has also been
heavily involved in his
local community working
with schools, sports
clubs, support trusts and
veterinary clubs.
Jenni Vernon
M.N.Z.M
Crown appointee.
Jenni farms in partnership
with her husband on a
drystock farm at Waingaro.
Jenni is currently working
as the strategic planning
and resource management
team leader for the
Waikato District Council.
She has a MMS Hons (1st
Class)
Jenni sits on the New
Zealand Geographic Board,
University of Waikato
Council and is a Trustee for
the Nuffield farming Trust.
Previously she held the
position of past chairman
of the Waikato Regional
Council, National president
of the Young Farmers
Clubs (NZ). In 1985 she
was awarded a Kellogg
Leadership Scholarship
and in 1993 a Nuffield
Scholarship.
Tukoroirangi Morgan
Co-Chair, Iwi appointee.
Tukoroirangi is from
Waikato-Tainui and his
hapuu are Ngati Makirangi
and Ngati Mahuta.
His professional career
includes secondary school
teaching, television
journalism and in 1996
he was elected Member
of Parliament for Te
Taihauauru electorate.
Tukoroirangi was the
former Chairman of Te
Arataura – the executive
board of Waikato-Tainui Te
Kauhanganui Incorporated
and Chief negotiator for the
outstanding Waikato-Tainui
treaty claims. He resigned
from both positions in April
2012.
His current responsibilities
include:
• Co- Chair of the Waikato
River Authority
• Chair of Tainui
Development Authority
• Co-Chair Te Kawerau a
Maki Tribal Authority
• Member of Auckland
Council Property limited
• Member of the Iwi leaders
forum
• Member of Iwi leaders
working party for Water,
Climate change, Fisheries
Minerals and natural
resources and Whanau
ora.
Roger Pikia
Iwi appointee.
Roger is the chair of the
Investment Committee
on the Waikato River
Authority.
Roger is of Te Arawa and
Tainui descent. He is Chair
of the Te Arawa River Iwi
Trust and is the inaugural
Chief Executive Officer of
Te Arawa Group Holdings
(TAGH), the commercial
arm of Te Arawa.
Roger was previously a
business consultant with
a range of commercial
clients. This included
consultancy work for the
New Zealand government
in United Nations climate
change forums across
Europe.
Roger has a background
in the primary sector
having spent five years
as a senior manager with
AgResearch. His interests
include the dairy, sheep
and beef industries.
Roger continues to serve
as a Chairman and Trustee
of Māori land trusts
which hold interests
in the geothermal and
agribusiness sectors.
our Board
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