We wouldn’t be the organisation we are today without the dedication and hard work of the people working for you behind the scenes.
Executives
Hokonui Rūnanga exists as an Incorporated Society. The smooth running or our organisation could not exist without the time given by our team of Executives.
Executives are elected by our members to best represent you in the running of our Rūnanga. Because we are an Incorporated Society, their time is given voluntarily and is not paid.
Click here for the current list of Executives.
Terry Nicholas.Manager
Terry Nicholas
ko takitimu toku maunga
ko aparima toku awa
ko takitimu toku waka
ko rarotoka raua ko rakiura toku motu
ko murihiku raua ko ngatangiia toku whenua
ko waitaha/rapuwai, kati mamoe, ngati ira, ngati tuhaitara, kati kuri, kai tahu raua, tainui – ngati haua ko rarotonga toku iwi
Terry manages the day to day activities of Hokonui Rūnanga, as well as our Health & Social Services. His focus is to ensure that the Hokonui Rūnanga can serve its members and the wider whānau and community. He believes that the Rūnanga can protect and enhance spiritual, cultural, organisational, educational and economic aspirations of Hokonui in a setting of excellence.
Terry has been involved with the Rūnanga and has been the Hokonui Te Rūnanga O Ngāi Tahu representative since January 1999.
His special interest is building succession out of settlement - “mo tatou, a, mo ka uri a muri ake nei”.
Terry works tirelessly to protect and enhance spiritual, cultural, organisational, educational and economic aspirations of Hokonui Rūnanga, serving its members and the wider whānau to position the Rūnanga as one of the key stake holders in the community.
Penny Nicholas.Operations Manager
Penny Nicholas
Penny’s role is a busy one leading the operational management of the Health & Social Services Trust along with general administration across Hokonui Rūnanga and its Subsidiaries. Penny went off to Canterbury as a young person and studied Management and Human Resources, upon her return to Southland she came to work at Hokonui Rūnanga seeing this as an opportunity to work for the benefit of her iwi. Having a passion in whānau wellbeing she then completed a health qualification. She brings a knowledge of community experience to her role and can often be found in the kitchen, acting as a taxi driver for kaumatua and in numerous other roles supporting staff in their mahi.
Jo Brand.Kaitoko Mātauraka | Education and Community Development
Jo Brand
Waitaha, Kati Mamoe, Kāi Tahu, Te Arawa
Jo was born here in Gore but spent several decades away from Murihiku living around the world and NZ whilst working within the FMCG sector. Jo has studied Psychology, Communications and Business Administration. Jo has held roles with duel Operational Delivery and Human Resources outputs, leading teams of 300 with a speciality in multi-site leadership. She likes to call herself a ‘Jack of all trades but a master of none’. Jo is a practitioner of Community Led Development, which is when local voice leads system change. “Whānau know what their community needs ” – our job is to enable that journey!
Ivan Hodgetts.Project Lead: Te Ara Aukati Kore - Education, Training, and Capability
Ivan Hodgetts
Ivan currently divides his time between working for the Ministry of Education as Principal Advisor Secondary Transitions, and Murihiku Regeneration. As an educationalist, Ivan emphasises inclusive education, underpinned by a focus on identity, hope, and purpose for all learners. These three factors are crucial to supporting people as they develop an orientation to the world of work and life more generally. Since 2009 when he returned to Murihiku, Ivan has been involved in a range of initiatives through Hokonui Rūnanga. He is also currently the Deputy Chair of Awarua Whānau Health Services. His experience includes a range of governance roles as well as running a career and organisational development practice, and as a CEO in the not-for-profit sector.
Ivan is leading Murihiku Regeneration’s Te Ara Aukati Kore (Pathways without barriers) programme. Te Ara Aukati Kore is a capability-focused programme designed to underpin the four Pou by ensuring whānau have the capability needed to make the most of the post-smelter/Covid pandemic environment.
Kaiwhakatere Rangatahi - Team Lead
Barry Van Beek.Barry Van Beek
Barry grew up Riverton and now lives in Invercargill with his wife and two children. He brings 16 years of experience - guiding and supporting people to build new paths in their lives. Barry enjoys his role as it gives him an opportunity to “assist rangatahi on their journey to adulthood, guiding them towards opportunities and working together to fulfil their potential.”
Riki Parata.Kaiārihi Taiao | Taiao Mātauranga Māori Advisor
Riki Parata
Riki’s knowledge and leadership skills make him an invaluable asset, not only to Kaupapa Taiao, but to the Hokonui Rūnanga and its wider takiwā. Riki has both a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Management and a master’s degree in Environmental Science.
After completing his studies, Riki decided to return to his roots in Māruawai, Gore, starting work at the Hokonui Rūnanga. It was here that he quickly developed the catchphrase “let’s make it happen” – and that he has. His driving passion for the environment and ability to think outside of the box allowed Riki to establish the Hokonui Rūnanga Kaupapa Taiao in 2020.
Riki Nicholas.Programme Director: Murihiku ki te Tonga
Riki Nicholas
Riki has been leading Murihiku ki te Tonga since 2022 and led the first Ngāi Tahu and Iwi Science Expedition to Antarctica in early 2023 on the Heritage Adventurer.
Riki is a member of Hokonui Rūnanga and has a career spanning a range of sectors and roles, including in the primary sector, around supervisory, governance and leadership roles. Riki has held roles with Te Rūnanga o Ngai Tahu and worked across a range of programme and commercial project areas. He is a very experienced mariner, having operated vessels in the Southern Ocean for many years.
Riki has aspirations to protect and enhance Ngāi Tahu rights and marine interests and is very passionate about developing the next generations. He sees his Murihiku ki te Tonga work offering future pathways and opportunities across research, science, innovation, commercial and the blue economy in Te Moana tāpokopoko -a-Tawhaki (the Southern Ocean).