OUR BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Henry Herman

Chairman

Portfolio: Sustainable Development, Governance, & Finance

Solicitor at Rice Craig Lawyers

Henry was born and raised in Rarotonga, Cook Islands before relocating to New Zealand to pursue his tertiary studies, graduating with a Bachelor of Law and a Bachelor of Science. He is currently an Associate at Rice Craig Lawyers in South Auckland. He is married with four young children, and feels very blessed to have their continuing love and support for all that he does. Henry joined the Trust initially as a volunteer over 7 years ago before joining the Board of Trustees in 2012. He has now been the Chairman for the past 4 years. Henry’s primary focus is a united and prosperous Cook Islands community and is committed to achieving this. For over 10 years, Henry has worked predominantly as a Lawyer in Auckland. He has held previous governance roles in other South Auckland not-for-profit organisations. Outside of work and community commitments, having a young family Henry’s spare time is consumed by family activities and events.

Naomi Dashwood

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Deputy Chair

Portfolio: Community & Communications

Site Manager, Oranga Tamariki, Ministry for Children

Naomi was traditionally raised by her maternal grandmother on the beautiful island of Aitutaki. She is proud of her Mauke/Aitutaki/Rarotonga/Vaka Takitumu heritage, and has a strong background in Cook Islands Culture and Language. She is passionate about Cook Islands cultural dance and has performed Cook Islands dances across many stages and wears her culture proudly. She has been closely involved in the development of CIDANZ, including being the Project Lead for OneMARKET in the 2013 Akirata Ou Festival, to now sitting on the board as a Trustee. An advocate for strong Cook Islands women. Naomi is also the Secretary for Miss Cook Islands NZ Trust that focuses on empowering young Cook Islands women. She was also a Judge at the Miss Pacific Islands Pageant in Apia, Western Samoa in 2016. Naomi has worked primarily in the Social Services Sector for the NZ Government to pursue the safety and well-being of Children & Young People, working alongside professionals from Police, Health and Education to deliver the reliable and consistent response to child protection matters in the community. In her spare time, Naomi enjoys interior decorating, gardening and designing a collection of one-off garments.

Mata Tumu-Makara

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Portfolio: Pastoral Care

Senior Pastor at Pacific Gosple Mission Church

Rev. Mata Tumu-Makara is married to Tabitha Makara, together they have four teenagers. He has been involved in variety of Christian Ministries, and is currently the Pastor of the PGM Christchurch Church in Ponsonby Auckland for the last 12 years. He has a Bachelor and a Masters’ Degree in Theology from the Bible College of NZ/ Laidlaw College with a research focus on the missionary period of the church in the Cook Islands. Mata is a church leader with a special interest of discovering our true Pacific identity in Christ and our unique cultures. He is excited to be involved in an organization that unite and prosper people and especially Cook Islanders.

Lena Wong

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Portfolio: Public

Family Lawyer at Complete Legal Ltd.

Lena has been on the Board of Trustees since May 2016. She is of Cook Islands, Tahitian and Fijian descent but was raised in Vaka Takitumu in Rarotonga. Her grandfather was the late Teariki Framhein of Mauke/Atiu and her late grandmother was Mereana Monga Framhein of Rarotonga. Lena attended Nikao Maori Primary, Avatea Primary and then Nukutere College before moving to New Zealand to attend College and then University.

Lena is currently a practicing lawyer in South Auckland and specializes in Family Law. Lena has previous work experience with both the Cook Islands Government and various New Zealand govt. ministries such as the Ministry of Pacific Island Peoples, Ministry of Justice, and the Ministry of Social Development.

Lena is passionate about creating a prosperous Cook Islands community and supports the Trusts vision to combine the efforts of all Cook Islands people in New Zealand in one place.

Terekino Vaireka

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Portfolio: Business Facilities & Assets

Electrical Tutor at Southern Institute of Technology

Terekino is of Rarotongan/Atutakian holding a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering. He
currently works as an tutor with the Southern Institute of Technology (SIT) in
Christchurch. Tino has over 15 years of experience in the Electrical industry across
the Pacific and more recently with the Office of the Cook Islands Prime Minister
implementing Renewable & Energy efficiency programmes and projects. Tino has an
interest and focus in the tertiary education sector, developing young people and
empowering the Cook Islands community to be more self-sufficient.

OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM

Rouruina Emil’e-Brown

Chief Executive

I was introduced to the Trust with the hopes and dreams of helping the Cook Islands community to contribute better to New Zealand society, now home to many of us. I’ve stayed on, now almost 10 years later because I believe in the vision of this place, that communities who work and cooperate their resources and knowledge together can prosper. I stay also because of the people who work here and the families who inspire me every day with their brilliant minds, their giving hearts and aspiration to do things differently to build their families future. My hope is for the Trust to be sustainable across all its community businesses, that our families are business confident and ready, and new and youthful leadership is at the helm of this Vaka to continue its journey to prosper our communities.

Dr. Gillian Stewart

Director of Research, Impact & Evaluation

Born in the North of England, UK, I came to live in New Zealand in 2002 following years of study in Southern Africa. I have two children, Thomas (11) and Molly (9) and we live in rural Pukekohe where I own and operate the family’s commercial fig orchard, alongside several other passions and ventures.

I am trained and experienced social researcher and social impact (SIA) and strategic environmental assessment (SEA) professional. Since founding Co-Creationz Ltd in 2014, I have worked with a number of community groups, Mana Whenua across Tāmaki-makau-rau, several Māori and Pacific Trusts, NGOs, and local and central government agencies providing research and evaluation, as well as policy and strategic consultancy support across a range of issues, including:

Community-led and youth development
Social infrastructure, housing and employment
Social enterprise and cooperative development
Sustainable development and local economic development and systems-based wellbeing modelling.

I sit on the board of the New Zealand Association for Impact Assessment (NZAIA). I am the social impact and business disruption specialist on City Rail Link Ltd.’s peer review panel. I work part-time as the Director of Research and Evaluation with the Cook Islands Development Agency NZ (CIDANZ), and I am currently the Chair of our Cooperative Enterprise – Cooperapig.

Over the past five years, my work has led to the formation of Tika Impact Ltd – a business partnership to lead out a new wave of systems-based impact assessment. This work is providing a systems and strengths-based impact modelling that has the power to revolutionise the way organisations think about why they do what they do and how, as well as act and intervene to make a positive difference in the world.

The ability to answer ‘so what’ – what are the perceived and actual consequences of the decisions we make and the actions we take on people’s lives and the planet – is powerful. It is also necessary.

Being accountable and transparent about our impact on the world is fundamental not just to our social license to operate and our avoidance of harm, but to the creation of opportunities and benefits that regenerate societal and environmental wellbeing and make a positive contribution to the interconnectedness of things.

I care deeply about the legacy we are all now imprinting upon the future, for our children and their existence on this world we are impacting and shaping. We are mindful and conscious about the past, present and future, and enabling others to do the best that they can, across all areas of life, with enhanced knowledge and self-determinism.

Nana Kamo-Mataroa

JP & CIDANZ Ambassador

Salamo 116:12: Eaa ra taku e apai at una Iehova i te au takinga – meitaki katoa nana iaku nei [What can I offer the Lord for all his goodness to me]

Kia Orana, I was born in the Beautiful Vaka Puaikura, of Rarotonga, to Kamo Tavitai of Arorangi and Moearoa Tarurongo of Areora Atiu (Te Ngati Ingaatu).

I am always inspired by this land of ours, and the people who lead this organisation. With a group of community leaders, I started at the Ta’okotai’anga Charitable Trust in 1999; in 2001 the Trust was formerly established. The turning point of this place really came during 2008 with a newer generation coming through to pick up the work. Although we struggled back then, with steady, strong and smart leadership, we moved forward together, challenged by our community to create a strong home for Cook Islands development. As we continue to move forward, I’ve seen the organisation change to keep up with the demands of our people. Now with a younger team and help from those who’ve become our life-long friends, we’re achieving so much that back in 1999, had only been a dream.

Today I’m still here because I believe in this organisation and continue to love this place and the people in it. I’m so proud to see that in New Zealand, our Cook Islands people have a place to call home. I love this place and hope that our CIDANZ and land continues to flourish. But most of all I look forward to when our oneVILLAGE and oneCHILD centre stands tall in this community, and with it I hope, our people too.

I close by quoting the words of Tinomana Enuarurutini: “Te akaranei au ki Maungaroa te mato i, ‘pao’ia mai au” [I look upon Maungaroa the core to my heritage]

Johanna Chetwynd

Accounts Administrator

Elizabeth Fa’alili

Business Operations Manager

Kia orana, I am a Cook Islander (my mummy is from Atiu, my daddy is from Mangaia) who was born and raised in Mangere, where my husband and our two children still live. I have over 18 years’ experience in business administration working for Manukau City Council, Auckland Council and the Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand.

I have this deep appreciation for how organisations like CIDANZ seek to improve the quality of life for the community. I joined the team in May 2019 because I felt it was time for me to contribute by translating my skills, experience and knowledge into value for CIDANZ and the people we serve.

Being a Kiwi-born, I feel a strong connection to my Cook Islands heritage here, surrounded by so much culture. I hope that through this exposure I’ll be speaking the reo soon – aye Aunty Nana ;-). Being a woman, I feel heard and recognised by everyone. Being a professional, I feel included and supported by an incredible Leader who is literally “on the ground” running around like the rest of us. This is an amazing place to work.

Chris Arere

Cooperative Operations Lead

I came to the Trust because I believed in the vision of this organisation, and wanted to be a part of a movement for the development of our Cooks Islands people. Previously I had been working for myself as a live sound engineer, musician and owner of two Cook Islands record labels. I’ve always been of the mind that when we develop the leadership and life skills of our young people, we are developing a resilient community who will ultimately take our place in this world.

Janet Akai

Manager, Business Improvement Manager

I was born in Aitutaki, moving to New Zealand in 1998. I became immersed in the Kiwi-culture and in a large way, lost a piece of my cultural identity. Being in this organisation has allowed me to regain some of that identity and at the same time, has opened my eyes to the challenges that our community faces. Where before I had dreams of working for the United Nations, they have now been replaced with visions of a brighter future where our people are healthy and thriving culturally, spiritually, and economically in New Zealand.

It has been six years since the first day I had walked into this organisation, and since then I’ve gained a better understanding of myself and our people. I’ve stayed on because not only do I believe in the vision and values of this organisation, but because I feel that I owe it to my community to apply all that I’ve learned into the development of our people. I hope that when I do move on from this place that it’ll come to be known by all as the home of our culture, and act as the catalyst that secures and gathers our people in one place.

Rau Meteora

Assets & Facilities Lead

I recently moved back from New Zealand. Before starting at CIDANZ I was working at the Melbourne Quarry as a Machine Operator. This is my first time working for a community organisation with a focus on bettering our people. I have learned a lot in the short time I have been here and enjoy seeing our people come to CIDANZ.

At the moment we are rejuvenating our site, which means dismantling and rebuilding our space. It is coming along very well and I look forward to seeing our people being in and enjoying these new spaces.