Executive Team
DIRECTOR
Brent Kerehona, BA, MTeach
An author, history teacher, military and Maori historian, Brent was formerly a Paratrooper and then a Military Policeman, having served in the Army for a decade from 1995-2005.
Brent has both written and contributed too, a number of published texts and public exhibitions, delivered talks and presentations at institutions in a number of countries, as well as been interviewed on both radio and television; in relation to the Treaty of Waitangi, Hongi Hika, Ta Moko (traditional Maori tattooing) and general New Zealand history.
Brent traces his whakapapa (genealogy) to Ngapuhi, Te Whakatohea, Tuhoe, Te Whanau-a-Apanui, Sweden and England.
CO-DIRECTOR
Delise Kerehona
A Company Co-Director of a Charity Organisation, Delise was a former Regional Manager for a chain of Youth Centres across New South Wales, Canberra and Queensland, for a decade, from 2009-2019. Currently studying a Masters of Business, she has collaborated on projects with the likes of Sir Richard Branson.
Delise's passions are supporting youth, education and traditional cultural practices and her focus is on cross-cultural exchange projects.
Delise traces her whakapapa (genealogy) to Ngati Kahungungu, Ngati Porou and Tuhoe.
POU KAUMATUA
(SENIOR LEADERSHIP)
Moka 'Te Kaingamata' & Hinerangi Puru
A duo with much mana, Moka and Hinerangi have been at the forefront of many issues of concern for Maori, from the Maori Land March of 1975, to Bastion Point, and even today with their roles in the Waitangi Treaty Hearings; these two revered kaumatua provide our kaupapa with the necessary advice and support in order to ensure that this project is conducted to the exemplary standard that is required for such an occasion.
Moka is a Tohunga Whakairo (Master carver), who is reknowned for carving the pou which was carried in the Whina Cooper inspired hikoi. A significant connection to note, is that the late Dame Whina Cooper ONZ DBE is Hinerangi's mother.
EDUCATION OFFICER &
NEW ZEALAND TEAM LEADER
Terry Smith, BMS, MAIS
Terry is a descendant of Hongi Hika, through Toetoe on his father’s side and, Rongokahira on his mother’s side. His main tribes are Ngā Puhi and Ngāti Kahu. He has lived most of his life in Whangaroa on an ancestral settlement called Rātāroa, below the fortified garrison Wharerā, where Hongi died.
Terry has spent all of his working life involved in issues affecting his people and follows in the footsteps of his ancestors to retain tribal sovereignty in the face of colonization.
He lodged the Wai 58 Claim to the Waitangi Tribunal, the first claim to be lodged for his tribe of Whangaroa, and latter claims for his sub tribes, Ngāti Pakahi and Te Tahawai and his extended family, Te Whanau O Rātāroa.
In Whangaroa, he assisted the establishment of the tribal governance structures, the Whangaroa Māori Trust Board and Te Runanga O Whangaroa; and total immersion Māori language schooling from early childhood to secondary school respectively called Te Kōhanga Reo and Te Aho Matua Te Kura Kaupapa Māori.
He managed the building of houses on Māori land throughout his tribal areas in the Northland through the government’s Papakainga Housing Scheme, that enabled many extended families to return and live on their ancestral land.
He has worked alongside his Iwi and within government to ensure Te Tiriti O Waitangi and Kaupapa Māori (Māori Values) are recognized across all sectors of government. His particular passions have been the natural environment and education.
Terry is married to Arapine Walker, a descendant of the tribe Ngāti Rangiwewehi. They have five children who are all bilingual (Māori and English) and who were raised among their people and elders.
TE MOANA A KIWA ARTS PRODUCER,
ARTIST & UK TEAM LEADER
Jo Walsh
Jo Walsh (Ngāpuhi / Pakehā) is a Moana Arts Producer, Community Facilitator and Artist. She has worked with institutions and organisations in the United Kingdom raising the voice and profile of cultural talent from Aotearoa and Te Moananui-a-Kiwa (Oceania) on a global platform. She champions issues specifically impacting the Pacific in a continuing effort to decolonise imperial systems and re-balance historical narrative.
Jo recently delivered multiple projects with major British Institutions in 2018. Working with the British Library to facilitate articles in response to the legacy of major exhibition James Cook : The Voyages and producing Tūhuratanga: Voyages of Discovery with Crystal Te Moananui Squares. She was instrumental in the community consultation and delivery of the Pacific Encounters Gallery at the National Maritime Museum, developing new cultural processes while building bridges with source communities.
Jo was the Chairperson for New Zealand Studies Network, a member of Ngāti Ranana and Beats of Polynesia and is a founding member of Pacific HQ MOKU with the In*ter*is*land Collective, a space for Pacific Arts, Community and Academics in London. Jo was announced as a finalist in the UK New Zealander of the Year 2018 by the New Zealand Society.
She has recently returned home to Tai Tokerau from London, where she is running a motel in Ipipiri, the Bay of Islands with her husband and is a regular visitor to Kororipo Pā.
HISTORIAN/AUTHOR & AUSTRALIAN TEAM LEADER
Maarama 'Jo' Kamira
Maarama specialises in researching Māori in Australia. She has given numerous papers on this topic and authored the book Trade and Relations – a history of Māori in Parramatta.
She was the first Māori female police officer/Federal Agent in Australia and served with the Australian Customs Service and Australian Federal Police. She left the AFP and became an Academic teaching at various Universities in Canberra and NSW.
Maarama comes from a family of historians and credits her love of history to her great grandfather, Takou Kāmira. She is a Senior Researcher with Black Knowledge, specialising in historical research and cultural heritage services and the co-owner of Capital Workplace, the only Aboriginal owned and operated Human Resource Consultancy Company.
Maarama is married to Craig Sams, whose whakapapa is to the Wodiwodi people of the Dharawal nation, Canton and Northern England. She is the mother of Tyrell and Ngioka. They are members of the Canberra Koori community.
Maarama traces her whakapapa to Nga Puhi, Te Rarawa, Te Aupouri, Ngati Whakauae, Italy, Scotland, Ireland and England.