I descend from Te Rina Hunia (a child from the union of Ruta Kau of Ngāi Te Ūpokoiri and Kawana Hunia of Ngā Wairiki Ngāti Apa) and Hoani Metekingi (from the union of Te Rangi Paetahi of Te Ātihaunui-ā-Pāpārangi and Ngā Wairiki Ngāti Apa and Rōra Awheuru of Ātihaunui-ā-Pāpārangi and Ngāti Rangi, daughter of Takarangi Atua). I was born in Whanganui and now reside there with my partner and stepdaughter.

I am an experienced company director, trustee, and senior executive with a legal and management background. My professional career has included executive roles in the public sector, financial services sector and roles with iwi/Māori organisations including a stint as Business Manager with Whakauae Research Services Limited, Claims Manager with Mōkai Pātea Waitangi Claims Trust, Head of Legal Services at Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, General Counsel at Te Ohu Kaimoana and General Manager at Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō. I have also run my own consultancy providing a number of services to iwi/Māori organisations and currently work as a senior Management Consultant with a Māori firm.

Other previous governance roles included chairing both Te Ngakinga o Whanganui Investment Trust and Whanganui Iwi Fisheries Limited (the commercial entities of the Te Awa Tupua settlement) and director of Te Pūia Tāpapa GP Limited (a pan-iwi/Māori investment fund). I have also served as a Rūnanga member for Ngā Wairiki Ngāti Apa, a trustee of the Papawhenua Charitable Trust (a hapū entity based in Parewānui), a Ministerially-appointed member of the independent Charities Registration Board, an independent member of the Federation of Māori Authorities’ Audit and Risk Committee, director of Whanganui District Council Holdings Limited (the Council-controlled organisation for Whanganui District Council) and its subsidiaries, and as an alternate trustee on the Crown Forestry Rental Trust. I am committed to iwi/Māori economic development through accessing appropriate investment opportunities to support our mana motuhake.

I joined the board of Whakauae Research Services Ltd in August 2022 and relish the opportunity to work with some outstanding people in the furtherance of whānau/hapū/iwi aspirations. Outside of work I enjoy fishing, hunting, and relaxing at home (also not relaxing at home while doing DIY/gardening etc). I have played both senior rugby (including representative honours while at university) and senior cricket and enjoy most ball sports.