Meet The Trustees
Paroa Trust is governed by six elected trustees who bring a range of skills, knowledge, and connection to Ngāti Pāhauwera and the land.
Ray Edwards
Currently Liaison Officer at The Correspondence School of New Zealand. Previously Assistant Principal at Flaxmere College, and has also taught at Hato Paora College in Kimbolton.
Luis McDonnell
Currently working in Strategic Development & Planning Management across Gisborne and Hawke’s Bay, NZ. Roles include Ngāti Pāhauwera Commercial Development Ltd, Digisee Security Technologies Ltd, and Te Aranga Farming Corporation. Previously at Phillips Electronics.
Marlene Hura
Former Special Needs Teacher at Kimi Ora Community School, Flaxmere. ‘I have amazing memories of listening to Nanny Paea and Aunty Tweenie talking about Paroa and the meetings they’d attend. My Uncle Wiremu Hodges encouraged me to become a trustee — and the rest, as they say, is history.’
Michelle Coxhead
Michelle brings her professional and personal experience to the governance of Paroa Trust, contributing to the ongoing care and development of the station.
Bonny Hatami
Bonny works in Māori development and holds governance positions across a number of predominantly Māori entities, spanning farming, tourism, and environmental funds.
Kathryn Gale
Kathryn is connected to Paroa through her Eriha whakapapa. She works at the Ngāti Pāhauwera Development Trust managing environmental projects, and is passionate about looking after the taiao — particularly freshwater.
Tawhirirangi te maunga tapu, ko Mōhaka te awa, tangitū ki te moana, maunga haruru ki uta, ko Ngāti Pāhauwera te iwi.Tawhirirangi the sacred mountain, Mōhaka the river, flowing to the sea, the mountains resound inland — Ngāti Pāhauwera