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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 currently Chairman
of DairyNZ Incorporated
and until recently was a
director of the Landcare
Crown Research Institute.
John also chaired the
Waikato economic strategy
governance group.
Peter Buckley
Crown appointee
Peter is a councillor
and past chair of the
Waikato Regional Council
that 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.
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. He has
dairy farmed in partnership
with Judi for 41 years at
Island Block. Peter is the
Regional Chairman of the
Waikato Medical Research
Foundation and is also
a member of the Future
Proof Committee.
Jenni Vernon
MNZM JP
Dep Co-Chair
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
and is a Trustee for the
Nuffield Farming Trust.
She is also accredited as
a hearings commissioner
‘chair’ for RMA processes.
Previously she held the
position of chairman of
Environment Waikato,
National president of the
Young Farmers Clubs (NZ)
and sat on the University of
Waikato Council. In 1985
she was awarded a Kellogg
Leadership Scholarship
and in 1994 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
• Member of the Iwi
leaders forum
• Kahui Ariki
Representative:
• Waikato Tainui
Tribal Executive
– Te Arataura
• Waikato Tainui
Tribal Parliament
– Te Kauhanganui.
Roger Pikia
Dep Co-Chair/ Chair
Investment Committee
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
Restoring and protecting the health and wellbeing of the Waikato River
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