Our Board

Mana Whakahaere

Te Rau Aroha Morgan

Co-Chairperson

Ngāti Wāhiao, Tūhourangi, Ngāti Rangiwewehi, Tapuika, Waitaha Ngāti Kea/Ngāti Tuara

Aroha is a proud mother, grandmother and great grandmother who has navigated the ladder of experience in the heath sector for over 35 years.  She is also the chair of Te Whānau Tokotokorangi Trust and trustee of the Whakarewarewa Rāhui Land Trust.  Her aspiration for our people has and always will be the wellness of our whānau, hapū and iwi.  Aroha seeks to ensure that the current positioning and role of IMPB’s is such that the voices, aspirations and whakaaro of our people will be heard to influence how services are developed.  Aroha believes integral advocacy elements include –

  • Valuing whanau input in relation to the design and delivery of health services and public health interventions.
  • Respecting, preserving, and promoting Te Arawa cultural values, practices, and knowledge systems within the health sector.
  • Ensuring that Māori have equitable access to healthcare resources and opportunities to address disparities in health outcomes.
  • Be inclusive of all Māori who do not affiliate to Te Arawa but who live in our rohe.

Lauren James

Co-Chairperson

Lauren James is of Ngāti Whakaue, Ngāti Kea Tuara and Te Arawa descent. With an extensive history of Iwi Māori Health, both at a governance and operational level, Lauren believes in whanau led decision-making, to support a better today and tomorrow for our mokopuna. Lauren is a natural problem solver and is always looking for ways to be creative and innovative when trying to identify ways to overcome the challenges our people face, not only in the health system, but all systems that limit the ability of our whānau to grow and flourish.

As a wife, mother and Nanny, Lauren seeks to ensure that the legacy she leaves will be that of a good ancestor. A servant to her tribe of Ngāti Whakaue, Lauren is committed to making mokopuna decisions in all things she does.

John Porima

Trustee

Since 2022, John has served as the GP Practice Manager/Quality Performance Manager at Ngā Kākano Foundation GP Family Practice in Te Puke. With a dedicated focus on kaupapa Māori development, he has actively contributed to the primary health sector for the past 22 years, operating at both governance and management levels. John is deeply committed to ensuring the health system remains accountable in effectively addressing Māori disparities.  In addition to his current role, John holds several significant board positions. Throughout his career, John has engaged in continuous developmental activities aimed at enhancing his skills and expertise.

Jenny Kaka-Scott

Trustee

Ko taku manu taketake tēnei ka hōkai nei i te tihi o Tawhiuau
Ka mātai whakararo ki te Rangitaiki, te puna kai tuna
Ka tau ai ki Rangitahi te whenua taurikura o Ngāti Hui
Ko Tangiharuru te ika a Whiro
Ko ahau ko Ngāti Manawa

Māwhiti taku manu i ngā hau mā uru
Kia kite nei i ngā pae maunga o Horohoro
Ka pari ngā wai o Pokaitu
Tatū ana ki te whare mo ngā uri whakaeke o Kearoa
Te wahine rangatira o Ngatoroirangi
Nāna toku waka o Te Arawa e ārahi, i ū ki uta
A … ka tau.

Kai aku rangatira, tēnā koutou katoa

Iwi Māori Partnership Boards were established as part of the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Act 2022. The Act also established Te Aka Whai Ora: our first independent Māori Health Authority.  IMPB’s advocate for Māori healthcare needs and aspirations, are the primary source of whānau voice within the system and work with others to improve hauora outcomes for Māori. IMPB’s have local decision-making authority, influence regional strategies, and ensure hauora services are designed and delivered to meet local context, recognising unique mana whenua aspirations.  Within two years, Te Aka Whai Ora has gone. We have a new coalition government and another Minster with a new dream for Māori health. It is a fast-paced, constantly evolving sector.  After 25 years working in te ao hauora, the IMPB provided a unique opportunity to give back; for Jenny to use her knowledge, skills, and experience to positively affect change and to make a difference by supporting initiatives that resonate with our people and our rohe – to do things that count. That is her driving motivation.

Rutu Maxwell-Swinton

Trustee

Rutu has over two decades of experience in Health and has been actively involved in various Bay of Plenty District Health Board advisory and focus groups over a number of years. She has represented Tapuika on the Te Moana a Toi Rūnanga amongst other iwi representative roles.  Notably she contributed to the development of the New Zealand Māori Health Strategy in 2002.  Rutu’s dedication to professional development is evident through her qualifications, including a Bachelor of Arts in Applied Management and Social Work/Counselling from Otago Polytechnic.  In addition to serving on Te Taura Ora o Waiariki, Rutu is a current co-chair on the Te Moana a Toi Iwi Māori Partnership Board.

Hingatu Thompson

Trustee

Ko Ngongotahā te maunga
Ko Te Rotorua-nui-a-Kahumatamomoe te moana
Ko Tamatekapua te tangata
Ko Te Arawa te waka
Ko Ōrangikāhui te maunga
Ko Te Waimimi o Pekehāua te awa
Ko Ngāti Rangiwewehi te iwi

Ko Tereanini te waka
Ko Titirangi te maunga
Ko Ūawa-nui-a-Ruamatua te awa
Ko Te Aitanga-a-Hauiti te iwi

With over 30 years of experience in Hauora Māori, Hingatu began his health career in 1991 as part of a national health management programme working out of the Bay of Plenty Area Health Board.  He has since worked in local, regional, and national roles that have focused on Māori Health improvement.  His experience includes funding, policy, strategy, and service management.  Hingatu has had experience in Parliament as a Health Advisor to the Associate Minister of Health responsible for Māori Health.  He was the Chairperson for He Korowai Oranga Expert Advisory Group for the development of a national Māori Health Action Plan in 2020.  Hingatu has a lifelong approach to learning and development matching the need to take on new challenges.

Rāwiri Bhana

Trustee

Ko Pukeroa te maunga
Ko Utuhina te awa
Ko Te Rotorua nui a Kahumatamomoe te moana
Ko Ngāti Whakaue te iwi
Ko te Roro o te Rangi te tangata
Ko Ngāti Te Roro o te Rangi te hapū
Ko Te Kuirau te marae

Rawiri has a strong background in Māori governance, operations and aspirational goal setting, complemented by a strong upbringing in kawa and tikanga.  He has project management experience in managing a diverse range of projects for and on Māori land, including developments and established business on land ranging from an early childhood centre, farming units, tourism opportunities and lifestyle/retirement villages.  Rawiri has operational management experience in working with a diverse range of stakeholders including but not limited to central government agencies, local authorities, Māori landowners, iwi and hapū, international operators, professional advisors and service provision agencies.  He also has strategic experience in developing strategic policy platforms to advance the ability of owners of undeveloped, unutilised Māori freehold land to develop their land assets, and is also an active member within the Te Arawa rohe on matters of governance and strategic direction.