2025 Trustee Election Candidate Profiles

Mana Ahuriri are pleased to introduce the 7 candidates standing for election to fill 4 vacancies on the Trust. 

Voter packs, together with detailed information about each candidate were sent out to all registered and verified adult members of the Trust on Monday 20 October 2025.  

The election will be conducted by post and online voting, with voting closing at 12 noon on Friday 21 November 2025. 

Below you’ll find profiles of each candidate. Please take the time to learn about their backgrounds, experience, and vision for the Trust before casting your vote. Candidates in alphabetical order. 

Kia Ora Koutou Katoa,

Ko Peter Eden toku ingoa.
Ko Ngati Hinepari, Ngati Maahu me Ngai Tāwhao oku Hapu.
Father of 3, married, lived raised in Ahuriri, next to Otatara Pa.

Long term proven commitment working for Māori aspirations both voluntary and mahi.

Example:
• Chairperson Moteo Marae
• Board Member Te Whanganui Orotu
• Māori Standing Committee Hawkes Bay Regional Council
Proven Governance Management knowledge:
• Finance
• Property Development
• Employment
• Social Development
• Business Management

I am a current board member on Mana Ahuriri previously campaigned when standing for Mana Ahuriri
• Supporting whanau hapu.
• Realizing Māori potential while supporting whanau growth

I believe I have achieved these aims with our Mana Ahuriri team and the future is looking great (small example following):
• Pukemokimoki Development 24 units underway
• Auckland Road 39 units (draft)
• McDonald St 14 freehold mixed houses (draft)
• Owen Street 24 Units (draft)
• Potential purchase ‘Napier Airport’

Next 3 years Mana Ahuriri will build a great future for whanau, would be great to support this vision/ mahi as a board member. 

Honesty, Transparency, Open Communication are attributes I bring to this role for all seven hapu of Ahuriri.

Ko Ngāti Pārau, Ngāti Hinepare, Ngāi Tawhao me Ngāti Mahu ōku hapū.
Ko Pānia te tipua nō te Iwi Ponaturi.

It has been my privilege to serve as a Trustee and current Chairperson of Mana Ahuriri Trust.

Our board and kaimahi have worked hard to ensure the voices of our hapū and marae are heard, and that the benefits of our settlement are realised for whānau me ngā uri whakatipu.
Humbled to lead and support this mahi, including:
• Kaitiakitanga – leading Te Muriwai o Te Whanga Plan to restore the Ahuriri Estuary and wider taiao.
• Housing, whānau wellbeing – advancing pathways such as Ka Uruora to build and provide homes, financial literacy, and support for whānau.
• Partnerships – ensuring Mana Ahuriri is at the table with councils, agencies, and iwi forums to influence decisions and build resilient partnerships.
• Strengthened communication and transparency to keep whānau informed and engaged.
• Rangatahi, kaumātua, tikanga – strengthening intergenerational ties for rangatahi, supporting the leadership of our kaumātua, and maintaining tikanga as a kaikarakia.

I put my hand up again with integrity and solid governance experience, to continue growing what we have and delivering outcomes that uphold our mana and support our hapū and marae of Ahuriri.

Nāku noa.

I bring a unique blend of vision and cultural grounding, and practical leadership to every kaupapa. My skills are weaving together people, place, and purpose – always grounding strategies in Tikanga Maori so that they are workable in todays context.

I carry the ability to navigate between Marae, hapu, iwi, councils and contractors with respect and mana, creating spaces for different voices while holding fast to Kaupapa Maori values.

I am a strategist who sees the bigger picture, yet never loses sight of the small everyday actions that bring change whether its developing waste minimization plans, environmental frameworks, rangatahi training programmes and rugby strategies.

My attributes include strong communication both written and spoken, with the ability to inspire and uplift through korero. I lead with humility, valueing collective decision making, but I also step forward with strength and courage when direction is needed.

I am solutions focused, innovative, and consistently making sure science, Matauranga Maori, and community needs are interwoven. Overall my mahi reflects Kaitiakitanga, Rangatiratanga and Aroha for the people and whenua.

Ko Ngāti Matepu, Ngāti Whakaari, Hine I te Rangi, Ngāti Hinepare, Ngāti Maahu, Ngai Tāwhao ngā hapū

Ko wai au? I am a proud daughter, sister, niece, aunty, mum to five and Nanny to five beautiful mokopuna. My world is centred on whānau, community and kaupapa that strengthen us as a hapū.

I am passionate about basketball, having coached, managed and refereed from grassroots to high performance. I also work in Ahuriri as People and Capability Senior Manager for a Mental Health Addictions and Homelessness NGO – Whatever it Takes Trust, the Chair for Roopu a Iwi and a Board member for Basketball Hawkes Bay.

My strengths lie in building strong strategic relationships and focus, working collaboratively, and ensuring decisions are made with integrity and transparency. I bring strong governance, thrive in strategic planning, and community engagement spaces, with a focus on sustainable outcomes that benefit our tamariki and mokopuna. I am not afraid to ask the hard questions, speak my mind, and do so with manaaki in true mana wahine HIHA style.

The loss of our precious marae during Cyclone Gabrielle has only deepened my commitment to serve. My vision is to see all our marae, hapū and community thrive

Tēnā koutou kei ōku nui, kei ōku rahi.

With the support of my whānau whānui, I believe I have the skills, experience, and abilities to help lead us into the future.

I was brought up under the guidance of many kaumātua, shaped and enriched through the teachings of various whare wānanga, giving me a holistic pathways within Te Ao Māori.
My 30 years working in the corporate world provided me with valuable experience in information technology, business analysis, project management, and high-level production systems.

Over the past four years, I served as the Director of Māori Partnerships at Napier City Council, where I focused to strengthen relationships with Mana Whenua o Ahuriri. In this role, I supported the normalisation of Te Ao Māori across Council operations embedding Te Tiriti o Waitangi frameworks, for Council staff to understand the needs of our people.

In my term contributing to Mana Ahuriri Trust through Tikanga and Kawa Komiti, ensuring that our tikanga-based approach remains at the centre of our pathway moving forward.
My vision is to ensure Mana Ahuriri Trust remains strong, connected, and enduring for generations to come.

Āku mihi ki a koutou katoa.
Nā, Mōrehu Te TomoTOATOA

Ko Ngāi Te Upokoiri, Ngāti Hinepare, Ngāti Māhu, Ngāi Tāwhao ōku hapū.

I am of the kaupapa movement — kōhanga reo, kura kaupapa Māori, wharekura, and whare wānanga — foundations that shaped my values of whānau, reo, and tikanga. I am a pāpā of two adult tamariki, an uncle to many nieces and nephews, and with my partner we raise her three young boys. These roles ground me in the importance of whakapapa, aroha, and creating opportunities for the next generations.

I stand for election to the Mana Ahuriri Trust with a commitment to serve as a kaitieki of our collective legacy. My background spans governance, project management, and whānau engagement across marae, hapū, and community settings.

I bring skills in strategic planning, financial management, and communications. I have led negotiations, overseen settlement outcomes, contributed to policy in areas such as climate resilience and whānau wellbeing, and worked with whānau to build pathways of opportunity and growth.

If elected, I will uphold the Trust’s mission to safeguard the legacy and assets of Ahuriri Hapū, guided by the wisdom of our tīpuna, the aspirations of our mokopuna, and the voices of whānau at the heart of every decision.

Ngā mihi, Meihana Watson

Kia ora mai koutou,

Nō Ngāti Kahungunu, Rongomaiwahine, Tūwharetoa me Ngāti Hine ōku tūpuna, i tipu ake āhau ki Heretaunga, ā, ko Ōmāhu, Wharerangi, me Mōteo ōku marae.
Ko Marina Toatoa tōku ingoa.

I write this profile in response to my nomination by whānau for a Trustee position with Mana Ahuriri Trust, I’m committed to serving whānau through transparent, accountable, and forward-thinking governance. My professional skills include business analysis, process improvement, and strategic planning, which I seek to apply in advancing the aspirations of Mana Ahuriri. I’ll bring governance experience, stakeholder engagement, and policy advice to strengthen the mahi of the Trust in supporting whānau wellbeing.

My strengths and priorities align with the Trust’s strategic plan, I’m passionate about Whai Rawa, growing financial literacy across our rohe, creating pathways to affordable housing and home ownership, and ensuring rangatahi are informed, engaged, and connected in shaping our collective future. I’m also committed to contributing to local and regional planning processes, particularly around resilience, sustainability, and ensuring regional plans reflect our rights and interests.

I see this role as one of service, working with integrity for the benefit of Mana Ahuriri, now and for generations to come.

Kia ora koutou