Hihiaua Cultural Centre Trust

Ryan is the Chair of Hihiaua Cultural Centre Trust. He is currently employed as a lawyer with WRMK Lawyers, Whangarei, Ryan is a board member of the Northland Chamber of Commerce,  Chair of the Rubicon Charitable Trust (an Alcohol & Drug Co-Existing Problems Health Service for Youth). Married with three tamariki.

Janet is Secretary of the Hihiaua Cultural Centre Trust and a founding trustee. She has been contracted to coordinate the activities of the trust since 2017 including the project management of significant cultural centre projects such as Tuia 250 fleet arrival in 2019 as well as important gallery exhibitions and artistic residences and events.   She has had a long career in journalism, mediation and management in both the private and public sectors and served on various committees and boards.

Te Warihi is a founding trustee of the Hihiaua Cultural Centre Trust and internationally renowned tohunga whakairo.  He oversees all aspects of the trust’s work in terms of Matauranga Maori.  He has been a carver all his working life and recently retired as Pou Whakahaere (Cultural Advisor) for Te Puni Kokiri.

Raised in Kaikohe, Jeremy moved to Whangarei at 18 to study at Northtec and has lived in Whangarei since.  He is a shareholder and Associate of Plus Chartered Accountants and has held various governance roles including chair of the Chamber of Commerce Northland, Creative Northland and the Northland Suns Basketball Trust.  He is committed to helping Northlanders and especially Maori business.

Merv was born and raised in Kaitaia and has a successful background in manufacturing, retail and finance. He served nine years on the Whangarei District Council and has been a member and office holder of the Whangarei Lions Club for over 20 years and is a founding trustee of the Hihiaua Cultural Centre Trust.

Auriole is a Director of Common Grounds Fitness, co-founder and trustee of Te Puu Ao Charitable Trust,  co-founder of Whangarei Accessible Housing Trust and a member of the Northland Housing Forum. Auriole is currently writing a thesis  entitled Mana Kōhine – ‘Rere mai te ihiihi’ focused on young Maori wahine as entrepreneurs – to complete a Master of Business degree through AUT.   She is also Kaiwhakahaere Hononga Maori – Maori Relationships Manager for Northland Regional Council,  a passionate waka ama paddler,  is also blessed with five beautiful moko and proud to be a trustee of the Hihiaua Cultural Centre.

Mariameno holds a number of governance and management roles across Taitokerau, Tamaki and Kirikiriroa (Hamilton). She leads a Housing project in Whaingaroa and is currently part of the Te Kahu o Taonui Covid Response Plan for Taitokerau.  Mariameno has worked primarily in social justice and health sectors for 40 years in the Maori provider, Iwi Maori and community group settings as well as Government Agency appointments.

The aspirations to create an empowering space for all through mātauranga Māori in urban Whangarei has featured heavily in Maia’s upbringing, being the daughter of Te Warihi and Janet Hetaraka. Being raised around the kaupapa of Hihiaua has instilled in Maia a love and drive to contribute to the mahi of making this vision of our kaumātua, many of whom have now passed on, a reality. That same passion can also be seen in Maia’s three daughters, and in the support of her partner. Maia is a lecturer at Waipapa Taumata Rau The University of Auckland, and Programme Leader, Tai Tokerau. Her professional background is in education and teaching, which is underpinned by an unwavering commitment to mātauranga Māori.