Annual Report 2015

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Waikato River Authority
our Board
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.
Hon John Luxton QSO
Co-Chair, Crown appointee
John was a Member of
Parliament from the
Waikato Region for 1986
through until 2002. 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 – .,
M.Mgmt. His career prior to
becoming an MP involved
farming and international
consulting. He has farming
and business interests in
the Waikato. He is currently
Chairman of DairyNZ
Incorporated, the Asia NZ
Foundation and Pouarua
Farm Partnership Ltd and
is a Director of Tatua Co-op
Dairy Co Ltd and Wallace
Corporation Ltd.
Roger Pikia
Dep Co-Chair/ Chair Invest-
ment Committee
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.
Jenni Vernon MNZM JP
Dep Co-Chair
Crown appointee
Jenni has wide governance
and administration
experience in the public
sector, particularly in
local government.
She is currently working
as the strategic planning
and resource management
team leader for the
Waikato District Council
and was previously chair of
Environment Waikato. She
has a MMS Hons (1st Class).
Jenni sits on the
NewZealand Geographic
Board and is a Trustee for
the Nuffield Farming Trust
and is a board member
of New Zealand National
Fieldays. 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. Jenni farms
in partnership with her
husband on a drystock
farm at Waingaro.
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.
Restoring and protecting the health and wellbeing of the Waikato River
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