Governance
Te poari
Para Kore is governed by a Board consisting of six members.
Pūrongo ā-tau mō Para Kore, our Annual Reports are available here.
Te Poari
Megan Somerville
Chairperson
He uri ahau o Te Atiawa me Taranaki tuturu. I tipu ake au ki Tāmaki Makaurau, engari ko Te Whanganui a Tara me Te Tai Hauauru oku ūkaipō.
My passion is social justice: our hononga with each other, recognising our histories and future aspirations, and taking care of Ranginui and Papatūānuku and their uri.
My journey and experience with whānau, hapū and iwi connections guide me in what I do. I have worked in central government for twenty years and use what I have learned in that work environment for this mahi.
I am excited to work with the Board setting the strategic direction and working with and through the Kaihautū Matua and kaimahi to future proof the kaupapa within a te ao Māori lens.
Mouriora.
Joanne Waitoa
Board Member
He uri ahau no Ngāti Porou me Ngāti Rakaipaaka, engari kei Whakaoriori au e noho ana.
I am dedicated to building a Te Tiriti o Waitangi led future with communities and te taiao at the centre. My day job is as a Principal Advisor in Treaty settlement implementation. I have really enjoyed my first year with the
Para Kore whānau.
I am involved in community and national level governance where
I am passionate about bringing a Te Tiriti and te taiao lens to decision making. I am a trustee of Community Research, Wellbeing Economy Alliance Aotearoa, and Waiwaste Food Rescue. I am a board advisor to the Repair Network Aotearoa, a member of Masterton District Council’s climate advisory group, and elected member of the Masterton Community Trust. A proud unionist, I hold a Hinonga Māngai Māori role within the Public
Service Association.
Toni Love
Board Member
He uri ahau nō Te Atiawa ki Te Tau Ihu, ko Waikawa tōku marae. E noho ana au i raro i ngā parirau o Raukawa, i Ōtaki.
I'm a senior solicitor at MBIE. I have a commercial background but also have experience in legislative and policy space, with a particular focus on Te Tiriti and te taiao. I've also spent a number of years doing on the ground mahi, including forest restoration and water monitoring.
Becoming a mother has brought into sharp relief how important this mahi is - nō reira me mihi ka tika ki ngā kaitiaki me ngā kaimahi e manaaki ana te taiao.
Hera Frenz Smith
Board Member
Ko Hera Smith ahau. He mokopuna au nō Te Ati Haunui ā Pāpārangi, Ngāti Manawa, Ngāti Whare, Ngāti Maniapoto, Kāti Mahaki o Makaawhio, Tuhourangi me Ngāti Tahu Ngāti Whaoa.
He nihowera ahau mō Ranginui rāua ko Papatūānuku – karawhiua!
It is an absolute privilege to be part of Para Kore, a kaupapa bigger than oneself and stems through whakapapa and relationships to Ranginui rāua ko Papatūānuku. Like many tangata tiaki, I carry a deep commitment to caring for our whenua, our people, and our marae. He ngākau para kore tōku — inspired by our Para Kore team and leadership, and the shared belief that small actions create big change. I am driven by the principles of Oranga Marae, Oranga Tangata, Oranga Taiao, recognising that when our marae are strong, our whānau thrive, and our environment heals. Guided by tikanga, collaboration, and a future-focused mindset, I want to ensure my skills and heart continue to support a sustainable, resilient pathway forward for our whānau, hapū, and communities and the generations to come.
Mouri Ora Para Kore Ora.
Vanessa Marjoribanks
Board Member
He uri ahau o Te Whānau a Apanui, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Awa, Tūhoe, Ngāi Tahu.
Vanessa Marjoribanks is an advocate for empowerment, social change, community and connection.
Raised in the small town of Kawerau and having gained a Master of Social Sciences at Waikato University, she spent 14 1⁄2 years living in London before returning to Aotearoa with her four children. During her time in London, Vanessa was involved with the grass roots response to the humanitarian crisis. Since returning to live in the Eastern Bay of Plenty, Vanessa has been contributing to Hāpu and community initiatives around equity, resilience and sustainability.
Lance Westrupp
Board Member
He uri whakatipu tēnei mai roto Tauranga Moana, Tauranga tangata, Ngāi te Rangi, Ngāti Ranginui, Ngāti Pūkenga. He mokopuna tēnei hoki nō te Tairāwhiti, Te Aitanga a Hauiti, Uawa nui a Ruamatua. Heoi, kei Ngāruawāhia au e noho ana!
"Kia whakatōmuri te haere whakamua – I walk backwards into the future with my eyes fixed on the past.”
The relevance of this whakatauki highlights a key concept to ensuring better health outcomes for Māori are achieved through the understanding of whakapapa and tikanga. I am passionate about working within a ‘By Māori for Māori as Māori’ environment. I bring lived experience from a personal and professional perspective that is needed to address barriers and improve equity in access and experience and outcomes for Māori.
I currently work as a Principal Advisor Mātauranga Māori to the Deputy Chief Executive at ACC. My role is to design and implement change within a structure that is challenged to support the needs of Māori. My contribution to Para Kore’s strategy to achieve Oranga Taiao, Oranga Marae, Oranga Whanau, will be to bring my ability to identify opportunities through a Mātauranga Māori lens and provide creative solutions that will influence system change and navigate pathways for our people across the motu.