Meet our board
We are led by a team with diverse
talents and shared beliefs
Dr Tiwha Puketapu / Chair
Tiwha is positive about the ability of Ātihau-Whanganui Inc to improve farming productivity while growing the health of the land, skills of staff and benefits to shareholders. Elected as chair at the beginning of 2022, Tiwha is particularly passionate about helping whānau achieve their personal aspirations and supports marae, social, cultural and well-being activities. With a background of governance and management roles with iwi, hapū and whānau entities, Māori land trusts, educational institutions and social organisations, Tiwha has a great deal of experience to draw on in his contribution to the Ātihau board. Tiwha is the current chairman for Ātihau.
Dr Rāwiri Tinirau
Rāwiri joined the Ātihau-Whanganui Inc board in 2017, following in the footsteps of his late grandfather, Meterei Tinirau, a past member and Chair. As a child, Rāwiri listened to his Koro discussing Ātihau-Whanganui matters. Later, Rāwiri received grants and scholarships supported by Ātihau, which culminated in his doctoral study examining tikanga Māori in a business setting. Rāwiri has served on the boards of numerous trusts and organisations. He is the Chair of Te Āti Hau Trust. He brings an awareness of whānau, hapū and iwi priorities as well as an understanding of Māori and corporate governance.
Shar Amner
Creating strong connections to engage, empower and enable forms the basis of Shar’s leadership style. He brings strong strategic strengths to the board, underpinned by extensive commercial experience, particularly in the mānuka honey industry and iwi governance as the former chairman of Ngāti Rangi Trust. Shar is the chairman of Te Ohu Mana Whenua, the Farm and Environment subcommittee. Father of two, Shar strives to represent shareholders while being a stalwart kaitiaki of the whenua.
Kemp Dryden
Kemp is passionate about whānau, hapū, iwi and marae development. He works for Westpac New Zealand Limited as the Area Business Development Manager, which focuses on Māori and Iwi development both regionally and internationally. With that, he brings to the incorporation a vast experience and expertise in Māori business development. He has also served as a trustee, negotiator and general manager for the Ngāti Rangi Trust and currently represents Raketapauma Marae at Te Kāhui o Paerangi. Kemp is a devoted husband to Nicole, father of adult three sons, and a koro to his handsome grandson. Kemp is of Ngāti Rangi, Te Ātihaunui-a-Pāpārangi and Rongomaiwahine descent.
Whatarangi Murphy - Peehi
Whatarangi has served more than 30 years on the Ātihau-Whanganui Inc board providing consistency and experience that has served the organisation well. Still actively involved in sheep/beef, dairy farming and forestry, Whatarangi brings a hands-on perspective when developing strategic plans and making governance decisions. Whatarangi is particulary passionate about harnessing the benefits of the "one farm" approach and progressing environmentally sustainable projects. Whatarangi was born in Whanganui and raised in Karioi, Ohakune with affiliations to Ngāti Rangi, Te Āti Haunui-a-Pāpārangi and Ngāti Tūwharetoa.
Sarah Rae
Passionate and enthusiastic about farming development. For over 15 years, Sarah has worked on her whānau farm, dairy farming, Fonterra, Regional Council, Ballance Fertiliser and as a farming consultant nationwide. She brings this experience and expertise to the incorporation with a focus on high performance and production and kaitiaki responsibilities for our taiao. She is a past associate director on the board and has served as a secretary on the farming sub-committee. Sarah has held a range of governance roles and is currently a trustee on Te Tōtarahoe o Paerangi, Ngāti Rangi. Sarah is from the Bell whānau and has whakapapa links to Ngāti Ruaka and Ngāti Rangi. She recently married to Robbie Rae and both have two beautiful tamariki.
