TE TARU White

TE TARU White

Adviser

Te Taru is Indigenous Maori from Aotearoa New Zealand and is affiliated to several tribal entities – Te Arawa, Tainui and Ngati Porou.

 Te Taru is a competent, highly qualified senior executive with over 30 years’ experience in a wide range of professions ranging from scientific research to change management, human resource management, indigenous tribal development, facilitation of Government consultation processes and provision of key policy advice. This includes leadership of two acclaimed national Institutions namely the National Museum of New Zealand, Te Papa Tongarewa, and Chief Executive of the New Zealand Maori, Arts and Crafts Institute, Te Puia.

Additionally, he has had considerable Governance and Board Directorship experience over the past 20 years having successfully completed two terms on each of the Land Transport and Safety Authority, Lakeland District Health Board and as a Director on NZ Meterological Services. He also completed two terms on the New Zealand Lotteries Commission, decision committee for Environment, Heritage and Culture.

Te Taru is currently the Chairman of Te Tatau o Te Arawa (tribal partnership with the Rotorua lakes Council), Deputy Chairman of the Te Arawa Federation of Maori Authorities and an Executive Member of the Te Arawa Primary Sector group. He has had considerable experience as a Trustee and Chair on Te Arawa land Trusts and Incorporations over the past 30 years. Additionally, he was appointed as a Director on the NZ Baywide Credit Union Board (New Zealand’s largest Credit Union) and on the Government’s Forestry Reference Group. In 2019 he was appointed as a Councillor on the Bay of Plenty Regional Council responsible for environmental regulatory compliance and as a Director on Quayside Holdings Limited who are the major shareholders in the Port of Tauranga, New Zealand’s most successful Port.

Te Taru’s passion is to transform and enhance Indigenous participation in socio-economic development. He has engaged in trade missions and cultural exchanges in Canada, China, Japan, Australia and the USA over the past 25 years.

 Te Taru’s latest endeavours apart from the above, include co-leading the development of a Maori Bank in New Zealand, the successful establishment of a Maori Trade partnership with the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade leading to Maori inclusion in International Trade agreements and the establishment of a major technology digital hub in his home town of Rotorua.

 Te Taru’s key strengths include:-

  • Proven Governance and leadership experience across a range of public and private sector interests;
  • Skilled facilitator, advocate and negotiator in Indigenous socio-economic development;
  • Strong bicultural and multi-cultural skills;
  • Strong networking skills and experience both nationally and internationally;
  • Strong analytical, entrepreneurial and strategic planning skills;
  • Highly developed written and oral communication skills;
  • A highly experienced and accomplished public speaker and presenter;
  • Strong interpersonal skills at all levels;

Experienced “Change” maker and Innovative thinker.

Te Taru holds a BSc (Honours), MBA and a NZ Institute of Directors Certificate in Company Directorship.

Would you like to reach te taru?

7051 Mccallan Rd
Richmond, BC V7C 2H6
+778 838-8540