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 fulfils an important brokerage role and is a point of exchange between government and te ao Māori. It is committed to supporting and advocating for the many initiatives that exist within whānau, hapū, iwi and communities throughout Aotearoa.
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 Solomon, one of Aotearoa’s most respected Māori leaders, was knighted for his outstanding contributions to Māori advancement and business. As longtime Kaiwhakahaere (Chairman) of Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, he helped steer the South Island iwi toward transformative achievements in education and financial empowerment, including the Whai Rawa savings scheme.
His leadership spans governance roles in science, environment and Māori affairs. In 2024, he was appointed Chair of the Oranga Tamariki Ministerial Advisory Board, adding to his portfolio of board positions with the National Science Challenges for Sustainable Seas and Deep South.
Guided by the principle of ‘strength with humility’, Tā Mark believes true leadership is rooted in service. He is a vocal advocate for whānau wellbeing and has consistently spoken out against domestic violence.
Tā Mark has been a strong supporter of the E Tū Whānau kaupapa since its inception. 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.
Tā Mark’s journey and philosophy are captured in his 2021 memoir, Mana Whakatipu which offers insight into a life devoted to uplifting others.
Katie Murray, MNZM QSM
Te Rarawa, Te Aupōuri, Ngāi Takoto, Ngāti Kahu, Ngāti Kurī
Katie Murray is a respected community leader in New Zealand’s Far North, known for her decades of work empowering Māori and supporting vulnerable families. For over 30 years, she has led the Waitomo Papakāinga Development Trust in Kaitaia, driving initiatives that tackle family violence, homelessness, child welfare, the justice system and advocacy.
Katie has sat on several government and non-government boards relevant to the social sector, including the Ministerial Board for Sexual & Family Violence (where she was the Inaugural Chair and is now a member). She is currently a member of the Design Group for Oranga Tamariki Advisory to the CEO; she sits on the Social Investment Board and is a member of the Advisory Board to the Attorney General. Katie also participates in Ināia Tonu Nei (a justice sector rōpu) and Te Kāhui for the Independent Children’s Monitor.
Her leadership helped create Te Kahu Oranga Whānau, a local coalition of Māori service providers, and Tu Tuia, a regional coalition of Māori Service Providers. Katie also organised the national Safe and Effective Justice hui and launched local support programs for families in need.
Katie is now the chair of Te Rūnanga o Te Rarawa and is also the co-chair of Te Kahu o Taonui, the collective of the 12 chairs of Te Taitokerau.
Katie’s contributions earned her the Queen’s Service Medal in 2003 and, more recently, she was awarded Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit. She credits her success to her whānau, her mentors and collaborators, and all the community members who have supported her journey.
Katie is a visionary wāhine Māori who is straight-talking, passionate and committed to the restoration of tino rangātiratanga for whānau, hapū and iwi and has been a staunch advocate of the E Tū Whānau kaupapa since its early beginnings. Her mahi is driven by her commitment to equal life opportunities for all, in particular her Māori people.
Ruahine Albert, QSM JP
Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Raukawa, Waikato
Ruahine (Roni) Albert is a founding member of Te Whakaruruhau, Aotearoa’s first Māori Women’s refuge, and a tireless advocate for social justice. For over 35 years, she has worked to improve the lives of survivors of violence through local, national and international initiatives.
Under her leadership, Te Whakaruruhau has grown from a one-bedroom flat into New Zealand’s largest women’s refuge, supporting over 150,000 women and children with marae-style safe housing and wrap-around care.
The organisation now partners with NGOs and government agencies and works with Department of Corrections and other agencies supporting the reintegration of our men and women back into the community. Te Whakaruruhau has relationships with government, philanthropic funders, corporates and businesses in and around the Waikato.
Roni has held senior roles across Oranga Tamariki, Housing NZ, Work and Income and multiple advisory groups, including the NZ Police External Māori Advisory Group. Her work has earned her the Queen’s Service Medal (2012) and a Hamilton Civic Award (2015), recognising her lifelong commitment to empowering whānau with compassion and strength.
She is currently a trustee with Reclaiming Another Woman (RAW), which supports wāhine to reintegrate into the education system and their communities.
Piki Thomas
Ngāti Pikiao, Te Arawa
Piki Thomas has recently been appointed as Pou Ārahi at Fire and Emergency New Zealand, leading the organisation’s commitment to kaupapa Māori and cultural communities and ensuring that Māori values and voices are embedded in national strategy and frontline services
He is a respected leader within te ao Māori and the public service, known for his unwavering commitment to whānau wellbeing and kaupapa Māori approaches to emergency response and community resilience.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Piki played a pivotal role in coordinating Te Arawa’s community response, mobilising over 80 volunteers to deliver more than 19,000 whānau ora hygiene packs across the region. His leadership during this time exemplified manaakitanga and kotahitanga in action.
Piki is also a passionate advocate for the Rautaki Māori — the Māori Strategy for Fire and Emergency NZ; he regularly engages with hapori Māori across the motu to ensure the strategy reflects the aspirations of iwi, hapū, and whānau.
As a member of the Māori Reference Group, Piki brings deep cultural insight, operational experience and a strong belief in the power of collective action to create violence-free, thriving communities.
Maxine Shortland MNZM
Ngāti Hine, Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Wai, Ngāti Porou
Maxine Shortland is a highly respected business leader in Māori health, education, governance, public health, philanthropy and sport.
Maxine has extensive experience in strategic leadership, kaupapa Māori development and community empowerment. With a lifelong commitment to advancing the wellbeing of whānau, hapū and iwi, she has served her local and regional communities for many years.
Maxine currently holds various governance roles, including with Foundation North, New Zealand Housing Foundation and Waitangi Ltd.
In the past, Maxine has held executive leadership roles in both public and NGO sectors; she has also been a strong and long-term supporter of whānau businesses.
Marae Tukere, JP
Waikato / Tainui
Ko Taupiri te maunga, ko Waikato te awa, ko Waikato te iwi, ko Ngāti Mahuta te hapū, ko Tūrangawaewae te marae.
Marae Tukere is the General Manager, Oranga (Tribal Development and Wellbeing) at Waikato-Tainui, one of New Zealand’s largest iwi organisations. With a career grounded in kaupapa Māori and tribal development, she has played a pivotal role in advancing the wellbeing and prosperity of over 80,000 tribal members. Her leadership is marked by a strategic focus on cultural revitalisation, social equity and sustainable growth.
Prior to her current role, Marae spent 20 years at the Māori Land Court. She was then Tribal Development Manager at Waikato Tainui. Marae was also a Te Arataura (Waikato-Tainui Executive Board) member for six years and Iwi Partnerships Manager at Waikato District Council before taking up her current role.
As General Manager, Oranga, Marae oversees initiatives spanning education, health, housing, taiao. She also ensures that tribal programmes and services are responsive to and provide positive impact for marae and whānau. Her team is also responsible for Waikato-Tainui’s strategic partnership with Oranga Tamariki.
Marae is also a Justice of the Peace, reflecting her commitment to civic service and community integrity. This role complements her professional work, allowing Marae to support individuals and families through legal witnessing and public duties. She is also a trustee for her marae, Tūrangawaewae.
Marae’s dedication to both tribal and public service underscores a deep-rooted belief in empowering communities from the ground up.
Through her work, Marae continues to shape the future of Waikato-Tainui with vision, accountability and a strong connection to tikanga. Her leadership reflects a balance of strategic acumen and cultural stewardship, making her a respected figure in Māori governance and development.
Marae has deep understanding of tikanga, practical experience in service delivery and unwavering belief in the power of whānau-led solutions. She brings compassionate, courageous and culturally rich perspectives to the Māori reference Group mission of fostering violence-free, thriving communities across Aotearoa.
Gerorge Reedy
Ngāti Porou
George Reedy is a visionary leader at the intersection of iwi development, business and public service. As the former Chief Executive of Te Rūnanganui o Ngāti Porou and lead partner of the Horouta Whānau Ora collective, he champions initiatives that uplift Māori communities across the East Coast.
With a background in IT and business, George previously co-owned Actrix (now part of Voyager ISP) and held executive roles in the tech sector. From 2014 to 2021, he served as CEO of Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga, the high performing, health, housing and social services provider of Ngāti Kahungunu ki Heretaunga. George has also held governance roles with Ngāti Pāhauwera Development Company and Pēke Waihanga, the Artificial Limb Service.
A chartered accountant for 30 years, George was honoured this year as a Fellow of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand for his decade of professional excellence and integrity.
Under his leadership, Te Rūnanganui o Ngāti Porou worked tirelessly to respond to respond and recover from COVID-19 and Cyclone Gabrielle.
George was recently appointed as the director of the Eastland Group for the Trust Tairāwhiti – Regional Wellbeing He Tohu Ora.
Guided by a long-term vision, George is committed to ensuring the path to wellbeing, wisdom and wealth is clearly laid for his whānaunga — for generations to come.
George’s values are deeply rooted in Ngāti Porou traditions. His leadership blends mana, humility and sharp strategic thinking, making him a powerful advocate for whānau-led solutions and intergenerational transformation.
George brings a bold vision for iwi development, a deep commitment to kaupapa Māori and a proven ability to navigate complex systems in service of whānau across Aotearoa to his membership of the Māori Reference Group.