Te Poari Ngāi Tahu Holdings Board

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.

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.

Fiona comes to the Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu and Ngāi Tahu Holdings boards 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.

Fiona was previously the Chair of the Whai Rawa Fund Limited.

She affiliates to Ngāi Tahu iwi with whakapapa links across the Ngāi Tahu rohe. Fiona lives in Ōtautahi, but Arowhenua is her turangawaewae.

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.