Our Board
Justin Tipa is the elected Kaiwhakahaere (Chair) of Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu.
He has a background in manufacturing, language revitalisation, education, and Māori development, and is widely respected for his knowledge of, and commitment to, Ngāi Tahu tradition and culture.
Before being elected Chair, Justin spent seven years at Fonterra, where he played a key strategic leadership role in deepening the organisation’s understanding of the interface between the dairy sector and Te Ao Māori, particularly in the areas of environmental stewardship, partnership, and cultural engagement.
He also serves as Chair of Te Rūnanga o Moeraki—one of the eighteen village councils represented within Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu. Through this role, he brings extensive experience working with local government, community stakeholders, and regional economic interests on the challenges and priorities of communities across Te Waipounamu.
Justin’s blend of cultural, community, governance, and corporate experience makes him uniquely suited to lead Ngāi Tahu as Chair of its tribal council and Co-Chair of Te Kura Taka Pini.
Te Maire is Pou Whakarae of the University of Canterbury, where he heads the Office of Treaty Partnership.
Te Maire belongs to Ngāi Tahu, the principal tribe of the South Island, and lives in Tuahiwi, the largest village of that tribe. Te Maire is the Upoko (Director) of Ngāi Tūāhuriri (the tribal group of the Tuahiwi region in Canterbury) and Co-Chair, Te Kura Taka Pini (Ngāi Tahu Freshwater Management Group).
During his years as an undergraduate and later as a postgraduate student at Canterbury, Te Maire helped iwi leaders with their land claim to the Waitangi Tribunal, with a particular emphasis on traditional food-gathering practices. As a specialist historian on oral traditions, tribal genealogies and indigenous knowledge systems, Te Maire was used as an expert witness and historian for the settlement of the Ngāi Tahu Claim - the largest settlement in its day between Māori and the Crown for lands wrongfully taken.
Since then, he has had several publications dealing with oral traditions and the relationship between indigenous knowledge systems and how they intersect with western science. Te Maire’s research interests include the philosophy of knowledge, oral traditions, myth, indigenous development / tribal economies, water rights, and history.
Matapura is currently the Chairperson of Kāti Huirapa Rūnaka ki Puketeraki and was previously the Deputy Kaiwhakahaere of Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu. Matapura has extensive iwi governance and management experience across conservation, health and primary industry.
Lisa Tumahai has served in the Tribal Parliament for over 20 years and held the role of Kaiwhakahaere for six years up until 2023. Lisa is an active and important leader for her hapū, Ngāti Waewae, and a commercial director for her Papatipu Rūnanga (Marae entity) on Te Tai Poutini West Coast.
An experienced Governor and Iwi Leader with a firm understanding of the role indigenous leadership can, and should, play in making important decisions about the future; Lisa is a sought-after and respected advisor in both the public and private sectors. She has provided advice and governance oversight across a range of different areas including public health, indigenous rights in resource management and environmental protection, the provision of health and well-being services, and community and regional development.
David has served 12 years as the Te Taumutu representative on Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu (2013 – 2025) and is currently Deputy Chair of Te Apārangi, the Te Rūnanga External Issues Committee. An active member of Te Taumutu Rūnanga since the early 1990s, I have held several executive roles and led both the Environmental and Culture & Identity Portfolios.
In a professional work capacity, David is an Executive Leader at Environment Canterbury which builds on 23 years leading and managing taiao related kaupapa. Key achievements include development of the Te Waihora Joint Management Plan, development of environmental policy, serving as Ngāi Tahu representative on the national Land & Water Forum and development of Te Mana o Te Wai policy framework, establishment and implementation of voluntary co-governance arrangements, promoting & championing advancement of Ngāi Tahu water rights and advocacy of responsive government taiao related policy.
David is deeply committed to tribal and community development, with a strong focus on realising the full potential of our whānau, hapū, and iwi. Over the past eight years I have championed the aerospace potential of Kaitorete as a means to restore the presence of whānau on the land and to enable the rejuvenation of the kāinga of Taumutu and Wairewa through actively leading and participating in the aerospace economy. I am the Taumutu-appointed Director and Chairperson of the Tāwhaki Joint Venture.
Francois Tumahai is a highly experienced leader and strategic thinker with over two decades of governance experience across both corporate and not-for-profit sectors. He currently serves as the Kaiwhakahaere (Chairman) of Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Waewae and Chief Executive Officer of Arahura Holding Limited.
With a background in mechanical engineering and more than 25 years in the heavy machinery sector, Francois brings a wealth of practical experience to his leadership roles. He is a strong advocate for the mining industry and serves on the board of the New Zealand Institute for Minerals to Materials Research. At Arahura Holding, he plays a key role in overseeing the sustainable extraction and management of pounamu (greenstone) resources.
Francois is known for his analytical mindset and his ability to bring both strategic insight and tactical solutions to complex decisions. His broad skill set spans health and safety compliance, financial management, strategic planning, human resources, business development, negotiation and contracting, environmental performance, project consulting, and regulatory compliance—particularly in natural resources, water, and RMA (Resource Management Act) management.
A respected figure in both the business and iwi governance landscapes, Francois combines deep industry knowledge with a commitment to community and environmental stewardship.
Dr Gail Tipa is Ngāi Tahu and part of the Tipa whanau from Moeraki, North Otago. Gail has experience in health and environmental management. For the last 25 years she has been self-employed, which has enabled her to work on projects mainly for the benefit of whānau, hapu and iwi across New Zealand. Gail completed a PhD (Otago: 2003) focusing on environmental co-management from an indigenous perspective.
She has expertise in the issues surrounding management of freshwater and, more recently, has been focused on the development of new tools for Māori to use in the management of their taonga.
Gail has served terms on the Otago Conservation Board, Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, Kāi Tahu Ki Otago Ltd (KTKO Ltd), Timberlands West Coast, Otago District Health Board and Board of Ngāi Tahu Farming Ltd.
She retains a range of environmental responsibilities for Te Rūnanga o Moeraki.