The Māori Reference Group members are Māori community leaders who contribute a diverse range of skills, knowledge and experience. They have a responsibility to represent Māori interests as broadly as possible.
The Māori Reference Group provides strategic advice for E Tū Whānau, and has input into government policy that affects whānau wellbeing. It provides an important brokerage role, and point of exchange, between government and Te Ao Māori. It’s committed to supporting and advocating for the many initiatives that exist within whānau, hapū, iwi and communities throughout Aotearoa.
Current members of the Māori Reference Group are part of a wider group of kahukura who have offered their time, talent and energy to supporting the E Tū Whānau movement over many years.
Meet the Māori Reference Group
Toa Faneva MNZM, Chairperson
Ngāti Kahu ki Whangaroa, Te Māhurehure
Toa Faneva, a respected iwi and education leader from Northland, was made Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services to Māori in June 2023. Raised in Waimā and Kāeo by his grandparents, Toa credits his achievements to the tikanga Māori values they instilled – manaakitanga, tautoko, and a deep commitment to community service.
From 2015, Toa led Te Rūnanga o Whaingaroa, playing a pivotal role in Northland’s Covid-19 response. His leadership helped mobilise iwi and government agencies to deliver food, medicine and emergency housing to vulnerable communities. In 2021, he became chief executive of NorthTec and has served as an executive director of Te Pūkenga Te Tai Tōkerau, overseeing vocational education across Auckland and Northland.
Toa was recently appointed to the role of Director Tai Tokerau for the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development and will be supporting and shaping the direction and work programme for housing and urban development in Northland.
Toa continues to be an energetic and passionate advocate for the E Tū Whānau kaupapa.
Tā Mark Solomon, KNZM
Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Kurī
Tā Mark is an experienced and respected leader of his hapū, his iwi and the wider New Zealand business community. He is a strong advocate for Māori.
He has served as a member of his local school board and of the board of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa (2001-2007). He has also served as trustee of Takahanga Marae in his home kainga of Kaikoura and as kaiwhakahaere of Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu for nearly 18 years (1998-2016).
In 2016, Tā Mark was appointed Deputy Chair of Canterbury DHB, becoming Acting Chair in 2017.
As a strong supporter of the E Tū Whānau kaupapa since its inception, Tā Mark is an outspoken advocate for violence- free whānau. He believes a true rangatira is a servant of the people and he reflected this belief in his role helping establish the Iwi Chairs Forum in 2005, and in his ambition of kotahitanga for Māori.
Katie Murray, MNZM QSM
Te Rarawa, Te Aupōuri
Katie is the Kai Arahi of Waitomo Papakainga, a whānau-based and focused kaupapa Māori social service agency in Kaitaia. Waitomo Papakainga supports a wide range of programmes and activities. These include an alternative education class for students from the local high school, a second-hand shop providing affordable alternatives for whānau, and Super Māori Fellas – a group of tāne who have taken a very public stand against violence.
Katie is actively involved in her community of Te Hiku o Te Ika, and has a degree in social work. She is Chair of Te Rūnanga o Te Rarawa, as well as being the Chair of Te Hiku Social Accord.
Katie is a visionary wāhine Māori who is straight-talking, passionate and committed to the restoration of tino rangātiratanga for whānau, hapū and iwi.
Ruahine (Roni) Albert, QSM JP
Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Raukawa, Tainui
Roni is CEO of Waikato Women’s Refuge, Te Whakaruruhau. She has worked in the area of family and sexual violence since 1986, when – along with other wāhine Māori – she helped to set up the first Māori Women’s Safehouse, which still operates today. Since then, she has been involved with numerous agencies, panels, and groups in key lead roles, implementing various regional and national programmes and projects.
Roni is experienced in relationship management with iwi, refuges, and communities. She was recently appointed to the role of iwi representative in the Tainui rohe, specifically regarding family and sexual violence.