National_Office
IoD recognises New Plymouth Māori accountant as an emerging director of clear vision
New Plymouth chartered accountant Joe Hanita has been announced as the Institute of Directors Taranaki Branch Emerging
Director 2018.
Joe works as general manager, finance and investments, for a Māori land, farming, property, investment and seafood
organisation Parininihi ki Waitotara Inc that employs over 45 staff.
He has held formal governance roles since 2004 and is currently a Director of the National Hauora Coalition Limited
which provides primary health and social services in Auckland, the Waikato and Whanganui.
Joe was a trustee of the Aotearoa Scholarship Trust for tertiary education provider Te Wananga o Aotearoa.
He was also the Chair of the Taiohi Toa Trust and member of Te Hotu Manawa Māori Trust Board.
He served for eight years on the executive committee of the National Māori Accountants Network, Ngā Kaitatau Māori o
Aotearoa.
In choosing Joe for this annual award, the three Taranaki judges – IoD branch chair Marie Callander, Richard Krogh and
Graeme Marshall – said Joe has a clear vision of where he is going.
“Joe demonstrated a strong foundation-understanding of governance, which had been gained through study and
participation. These attributes made Joe a clear choice for the judging panel."
Joe says it was failure to achieve UE in 1997 that served as his first life-lesson.
“Ever since then I have sought out and taken advantage of any opportunity to learn and grow, both personally and
professionally. I believe that I then have a responsibility to share that knowledge with others to help them learn and
grow.”
Joe went on to achieve a Bachelor of Business degree from the Waikato Institutes of Technology, and is also a Fellow
Chartered Accountant.
In recent years he has worked as the director of finance at Te Wananga o Aotearoa and as an associate director at KPMG.
He has tribal affiliations to Rangitane and Ngati Kuia.
“My passion is the advancement of Māori development – particularly in health, education and commerce.
“Over the past 10 years, prior to accepting any governance or advisory role, I have always asked myself how does this
organisation’s purpose and values align with my own, what value can I add and how will I know if I have made a
difference.”
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