Panel: marketing māori for the world

Being a Māmā at 17 to Waiaria provided Haylee with motivation to move through University of Waikato Law school and into legal practise across Waikato and Tāmaki Makaurau, before joining Fonterra. During this time, she was part of the Maniapoto Māori Trust Board, Chair of Te Reo o Tainui (radio) and continues to support a whānau-owned tourist entity. As Pouhere Director, Haylee leads Fonterra’s Māori strategy team of 7 with focus on ensuring farms extract maximum value from the collective Co-op strengths: highest sustainable milk price, secure supply chain and scale of global markets. Prior to this role, Haylee led Fonterra’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion journey as Global Head of DEI. Haylee’s personable and optimistic approach is in finding space for everyone to contribute as part of an evolving Aotearoa connected out to the globe.

Kārena & Kasey Birda are renowned culinary experts and co-authors with a commitment to promoting Te Reo Māori and Māori culture through innovative cooking and storytelling. Raised in the culturally rich beachside community of Maketū, they draw deeply from their Māori heritage in their culinary creations.

Winners of Masterchef New Zealand 2014 they are now working on their next cookbook, which will be entirely in Te Reo Māori.
Through their cooking demonstrations, bespoke food events. and community engagements. Karena and Kasey continue to foster a deeper connection to Mãori language and culture, inviting everyone to experience the rich heritage of Aotearoa.

Panel: Te Tino Rangatiratanga

Nō Scotland, Ireland, Cornwall

Alice is an accidental activist, born and raised in Te Whanganui-a-Tara. She has had an eclectic career across events, community organising, volunteer management and more recently sports advocacy. Alice is a member of the strategic advisory board for Women in Rugby Aotearoa. An independent collective which has been assembled to get women’s rugby over the advantage line. She is a weekly sports columnist for the Herald on Sunday, a monthly columnist for ScrumQueens and hosts a podcast for WOMENZSPORTS where she interviews a different wahine each week who is representing Aotearoa in her chosen sport.

Nō Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairoa, Rongomaiwahine, Ngāi Tūhoe, Te Atihaunui-a-Papaarangi

Heni is a connector, a connector of worlds, a connector of oceans and a connector of people. Her work is driven by those things that enrich and sustain her life, her awa, moana, maunga, ngahere and whānau. Holding tohu in Te Reo Māori, Chemistry, Marine Science and Environmental Science she interweaves different knowledge systems into her work to achieve equitable outcomes for our future. She is working towards securing accessible pathways for our rangatahi in the science sector, developing research that centres on marae-based aquaculture and research ‘kia whakahoki te mauri ki te Ao Turoa’ reciprocating that which as been taken.

Ko Kopukairoa te Maunga, Ko Waitao te Awa, Ko Maataatua te Waka, Ko Nga Potiki te Iwi, Ko Romainohorangi te Tupuna, Ko Tahuwhakatiki te Marae

Ko Linda Munn au.

Linda’ artistic practice reinforces the principles of Tino Rangatiratanga by applying ancestral knowledge to explore the metaphysical and spiritual aspects of Māori tikanga. Her artistic passion centres on resistance, community, the protection of women and children against Domestic Violence and the sharing of knowledge. I want my body of work to reflect my forty years as an artist and activist.

Panel: The ahuwhenua economy

Liz lives in Featherston with husband Graham and is the mother of three daughters and nine mokopuna, three of whom are currently students at Wellington University. Liz is an avid reader and gardener and enjoys being at the coast.

Liz Mellish is the current Chairman of Palmerston North Māori Reserve Trust. Liz is also Chairman of Te Raukura, Te Wharewaka. Liz is the Deputy Chairman of the Federation of Māori Authorities and a member of Pouhere Taonga the Māori Heritage Board. Liz has Directorships on Metlifecare Palmerston North, Wellington Uni Professional, Hīkoikoi Management Ltd and Haukawakawa Ltd. Liz is Trustee of Featherston Booktown and Chairman of the Featherston Anzac Club.

Kiriwaitingi is the Head of Māori Alliances/Te Upoko o Ngā Kāhui Māori at Zespri International Ltd, which is the world’s largest marketer of kiwifruit.  In her role, she works to integrate Te Ao Māori into the organization, develop strategy with Māori growers, and advocate for Māori interests in the industry and in government.  In her role she has led Māori grower delegations offshore and into market, including to Singapore, Europe, Los Angeles, Hawaii and Asia. Prior to Zespri she was the CEO of Māori Investments Limited, a Māori asset management company for 10 years where she grew the organization by $100M.  She has experience acquiring and developing kiwifruit orchards, a successful blueberry business and also forestry. 

Novotel Auckland Airport, Te Arikinui Pullman Auckland Airport and ibis Budget Auckland Airport are delighted to offer the following exclusive accommodation rates to the Huihuinga Wāhine 2024 delegates.

MORE DETAILS TO COME…

Please note: these deals are for a limited time only so we suggest booking as soon as possible to take advantage of these great rates.