Our success is determined by many people working together towards a common purpose.
Te kapa Our people
In traditional times, Ngāi Tahu relied on their ability to harvest food from the land and waterways to survive. Some Ngāi Tahu people would fish the lakes, rivers, and seas; others would hunt and forage from the mountains and forests, and grow crops. By working together, Ngāi Tahu could fill the whata (store house), and the people could thrive.
Today we employ staff from many ethnicities and backgrounds in roles throughout our businesses. We have jetboat and helicopter pilots, bus and truck drivers, dairy and sheep farmers, and property managers and developers; to name a few. We understand that we work for more than 58,000 tribal members, and through our work we contribute to improving the well-being of Ngāi Tahu people.
Te Poari The Board
We remember and honour the men and women who led and advanced Ngāi Tahu across land, sea, and more recently, through the Ngāi Tahu Claim. They are acknowledged in Ngāi Tahu waiata (songs), pūrākau (legends), and history.
Our future success depends on our ability to identify those with talent, and ensure they have opportunities to grow their skills, networks, and experiences as culturally capable, technically competent leaders for Ngāi Tahu. The current directors of our board form part of today’s wider leadership group, and are an essential part of the next generation of leaders. Our selection process helps us weave together a mix of leaders who ensure our boards are strong, diverse and capable.
Te Tira The Team
Māori people crossed vast oceans to find Aotearoa, New Zealand. Aboard the waka (canoes), they had a team of people working hard to keep them moving in the right direction.
The role of the Ngāi Tahu Holdings team is to work together to keep our waka on course, maintained, and balanced. We liken our team to the outrigger of the main waka. Our values team keep the waka on course by ensuring that however we travel, whatever business we do, and how we do it, we are aligned to the aspirations of the iwi. The finance team prudently manage our assets, maintain the systems, and ensure the subsidiaries are coordinated and supported. The investment team spreads our investments to manage our risk and keep our waka balanced.
Jon Hartley
Originally from England, Ngāi Tahu Holdings Interim Board Chair Jon has worked in a variety of commercial leadership roles in developed and developing countries including the UK, the Sudan, Zambia, Australia and Aotearoa.
Jon currently chairs Kiwibank and Kaingaroa Timberlands. Previously he worked in directorships of ASB Bank, Sovereign Assurance, Chorus, Mercury Energy, Air NZ, SkyCity.
Jon has 32 years of voluntary NGO experience including chairing VisionFund International, the global microfinance/economic development social enterprise of World Vision, and the Wellington City Mission.
Jon is also an ordained priest of the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia and an adviser to the Wellington Diocese Board of Trustees.
Kristen Kohere-Soutar
Kristen Kohere-Soutar (Ngāti Porou, Rongowhakaata, Ngāi Tahu - Ngāi Tūāhuriri, Ngāti Rakiamoa, Ngāti Waewae, Ngāti Wheke) was appointed as a director in August 2020.
Kristen brings expertise in investment and risk management to the table, which provides a strategic understanding of Ngāi Tahu Holdings’ business entities. As New Zealand Trade and Enterprise’s International Coalitions Manager, she has worked to facilitate marketing collaborations for exports in the mānuka honey, seafood and strong wool sectors. She also has extensive investment and financial sector experience. A previous chair of Whai Rawa Funds, she joined the board Mercer New Zealand in 2017 and was appointed chair in January 2020.
Kirsten is also currently on the board of Ngāti Porou Holdings and was a Manawa Nui associate director of Hilton Haulage. A fluent te reo speaker, she is a values-driven leader who draws her worldview from tikanga Māori.
Juliet Tainui-Hernandez
Juliet Tainui-Hernandez (Ngāi Tahu – Ngāti Irakehu, Kāti Waewae & Te Whakatōhea) was appointed as a director of NTHC in December 2020 on her return to Aotearoa, following two decades of working internationally in professional services (legal, regulatory, advisory). Juliet retired from her Assistant Governor role at the RBNZ in April 2024 and is now a full-time professional director and adviser, sitting on the boards of ASB Bank and KEA, as well as supporting with rūnanga projects at Ōnuku.
Juliet brings expertise in business transformation, strategy, law, financial services, regulatory compliance, risk management and human capability. She began her career working for Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu over the settlement negotiations, which continued through her mahi as a Dispute Resolution lawyer for Bell Gully. Her international experience included time as a Partner of large international firm Norton Rose Fulbright, where she oversaw Business Transformation and was their Chief Compliance Officer.
Juliet is passionate about system transformation and leadership with a long-term strategic outlook, including the opportunities for Aotearoa in integrating te ao māori and indigenous values to take our nation into the future.
Darryn Russell
Darryn was appointed to the Board in March 2017. He is the Assistant Vice-Chancellor Māori at the University of Canterbury. Before he took up this role, he held the position of Director, Māori Development at the University of Otago for several years. Darryn is Ngāi Tahu with strong affiliations to Ōtākou Rūnanga. He is passionate about Māori and has been involved in leadership and development roles with Ngāi Tahu for the past 20 years. Darryn is currently the chairperson of Te Kāhui Amokura and Aviva and is a director at Nurse Maude.
Jason Paris
Jason Paris (Ngāi Tahu - Waihopai), CEO of One NZ will commence a three-year term from 1 January 2024.
Mr Paris is at the forefront of thinking on organisational culture and the impact of new technologies. He is an expert in customer-based businesses that make a positive impact on the communities they serve.
Fiona Pimm
Fiona comes to the Ngāi Tahu Holdings board with many years of governance experience, serving on boards in the education, justice and health sector.
She has worked in the health sector for over 30 years, with many years at the frontline of health services before moving into management roles across Aotearoa, including District Health Boards and in the Primary Care and Māori Health Sector.
She affiliates to Ngāi Tahu iwi with whakapapa links across the Ngāi Tahu rohe. Fiona lives in Ōtautahi but identifies Arowhenua as her whānau home.
Describing herself as an idealist, she always looks towards the long-term strategic outcomes while keeping focused on the work that must be achieved on the journey. She has a knack for getting to the nub of the issue and focusing on solutions.
Fiona dreams of seeing all whānau across Aotearoa achieving their full potential in the way that best fits their personal and cultural aspirations.
Todd Moyle
Todd was appointed Kaihautū (Chief Executive) of Ngāi Tahu Holdings in March 2024. He began his role with the organisation as Manahautu Te Whano (Chief Operating Officer) in January 2022 and then held the Tumu Akoako (Acting Chief Executive) role from April 2023.
He previously worked at KiwiRail as Chief Operations Officer and Deputy Chief Executive. His responsibilities at KiwiRail spanned the management of the Rail and InterIslander businesses as well as infrastructure development, employee and stakeholder engagement, and strategic leadership.
Highlights during Todd’s service at KiwiRail include leading the ten-year customer growth strategy and playing a pivotal role in the response to the Kaikōura earthquake.
Todd brings strategic leadership and operations experience to the CEO role. A qualified mechanical engineer, Todd has spent his career in the pulp and paper and rail industries across New Zealand and the UK.
Sam Inglis
Sam (Ngāi Tahu – Puketeraki) began his role as Manahautū Te Whano (Chief Operating Officer) of Ngāi Tahu Holdings in May 2024 after holding the Acting COO position since April 2023. Previously Sam held the Manahautū - Te Ruruku (General Manager Investment). Sam joined Ngāi Tahu having spent a number of years at the New Zealand Superannuation Fund, primarily in the International Direct Investment Team.
He previously worked at the New Zealand Treasury and holds Bachelors of Law and Economics from Otago University and an MBA from Oxford University.
Jo Allison
Jo joined Ngāi Tahu Holdings in September 2020 as Manahautū Te Whakaawa (General Manager of Corporate Services). She is responsible for the leadership and development of Corporate Services functions. She is accountable for delivering excellent standards of service to her key customers in NTHC and the Office of Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu. Jo is also responsible for the Health, Safety and Wellbeing portfolio for Te Rūnanga Group, and has executive responsibility for Ngāi Tahu Tourism.
Prior to this role Jo was Chief Operating Officer at Tourism Holdings Ltd (THL) where she oversaw global campervan rentals, sales and service, tourism and people and capability. She also spent 20 Years in the ICT industry in New Zealand and the UK.
Jo brings a broad range of leadership skills and experience across many industries to the role.
Dean Fraser
Dean (Ngāi Tahu – Ōtākou) was appointed as Manahautū - Te Pakati (General Manager Transformation) in July 2020 and has a wealth of global experience as well as an understanding of diverse stakeholder groups from different cultures.
Having served on his local rūnanga board and being involved with iwi initiatives, he has a deep connection to Ngāi Tahu.
Dean works closely with the executive leadership team and business units to enhance operational excellence and innovation, also providing support to the investment team.
Tim Fitzgerald
Tim has been Acting GM Investment for Ngāi Tahu Holdings since April 2023, leading the Ngāi Tahu Investments business unit which manages the investment assets of Ngāi Tahu Holdings. He has been seconded from his role as Investment Manager where responsibilities include investment origination and execution, management of NTH’s private equity programme, investment mandates and a range of direct investments.
Tim has been with Ngāi Tahu Holdings for seven years and worked for NAB Group’s Institutional Banking division prior to that, managing debt exposures to some of New Zealand’s largest corporate borrowers.
Chantal Bateman
Chantal Bateman was appointed to the role of Group Head Toi Tangata (People & Culture) for Te Rūnanga Group in October 2023. Working for Ngāi Tahu Holdings Corporation, Chantal is responsible for the HR shared service delivery covering people, culture, and capability functions across Te Rūnanga Group (including Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu and Ngāi Tahu Holdings Corporation and its business units).
Chantal first joined Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu in 2021 in a Senior Strategy Advisory role and then Acting General Manager in the Strategy & Influence Team, before moving to Toi Tangata as the Group Manager Employment Relations and Business Partnering. Prior to joining Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, Chantal was a practising lawyer and held senior roles with the New Zealand Intelligence Community, the New Zealand Defence Force, and NZ Police – some of the largest and most complex employment environments in New Zealand. Chantal has a strong focus on operational service delivery, informed by her background as a commissioned officer in the Defence Force where she led teams providing expert advisory support on people and operational matters, including in the context of active deployment situations.
Chantal is passionate about HR service delivery that activates the power of purpose in kaimahi, and the contribution towards intergenerational outcomes through Te Rūnanga Group mahi.