Membership and engagement

Insights from engagement and how they relate to the evidence and aspirations of the Group.

The voices from Taitokerau have been loud.

“Yes, we are restating long standing issues again - but these still matter! Our freshness is contained in the actions which gives a way forward to which the partners are already committed? [sic] Doing nothing is a bigger risk than doing something!”

– Harry Burkhardt, Te Purunga ki Te Raki hui January 2022.

“To address the current gaps in the Taitokerau workforce for a Regional Workforce Plan we need to avoid the mistakes of low regional pay rates of the past and remedy the consequences. Our younger whānau within our communities have said they prefer employment opportunities where they can earn and learn at the same time and the reasons are obvious, but the genuine opportunities are still too few.’” -

– Annie Totill Te Purunga, ki Te Raki member. Interview April 2022.

Te Purunga ki Te Raki members include:

Harry Burkhardt
Chair
Te Kahu o Taonui

Toa Faneva
Executive Director
Te Pūkenga, Taitokerau Wānanga

Carol Berghan
Chief Executive
Te Hiku Iwi Development Trust

Lindsay Faithfull
Managing Director
McKay

Eru Lyndon
Regional Public Service
Commissioner

Sheryl Mai
Whangārei Mayor
2013 - 2022

Stuart McDonald
General Manager People and Culture
McKay

Edward Miller
Researcher and Policy Analyst
First Union

Tiare (Deidre) Otene
Director Management Consulting

Steve Smith
Chief Executive
The Chamber of Commerce and Industry Northland

Pita Tipene
Secretary General
Ngāti Hine Trust

Annie Tothill
Organiser
E Tū Union