Senior Executive Leadership

Arihia Bennett

Chief Executive Officer

Arihia Bennett (Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Porou, Ngāpuhi) has been the Chief Executive Officer of Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu since 2012. Reporting directly to the board, Arihia works closely with the senior leadership team to protect and advance the interests of more than 78,000 iwi members a…

Ben Bateman

Chief Operating Officer

Ben Bateman (Ngāi Tahu and Cook Island Māori) has been the Chief Operating Officer of Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu since October 2022. Ben reports directly to the Chief Executive Officer as second in charge of Te Rūnanga. He takes the lead in relationships and communications with Gover…

Darren Beatty

Group Head Chief Financial Officer

Darren Beatty (Ngāti Kahungunu, Te Whānau a Apanui, Ngāti Porou, Te Roroa, Ngā Puhi) joined Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu in May 2017 as the Group Head Finance and Planning, before stepping into the role of Group Head Chief Financial Officer in 2020. In this role he is responsible for t…

Jacqui Caine

Group Head Strategy & Environment

Jacqui Caine (Ngāi Tahu, Kāti Māmoe, Waitaha) joined Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu in 2019 and stepped into the role of General Manager Strategy & Influence in December 2021. She was appointed to the role of Group Head Strategy & Environment in October 2022. This position reports to the…

Wayne Vargis

Group Head Regional Investment

Wayne Vargis has worked for Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu since 2011, and has been the General Manager, Regional Investment Fund since November 2020. This newly created position is tasked with fostering the devolution aspirations of the iwi. In this role, Wayne works alongside the 18 Pa…