The three Crown-appointed directors are:
Derek Fox: Derek has a significant background in both mainstream and Mäori media. Derek was a foundation director of
Mana Mäori Media Ltd, which produces magazine, radio and television services in English and Maori. He established the
Mäori news programme Te Karere between 1980 and 1982. He was elected as Mayor of Wairoa for a second term in 1998.
Wayne Brown: A professional company chairperson and director, Wayne's is currently the chair of Land Transport Safety
Authority, Northland Health, Tairawhiti District Health and Vector Ltd. His directorships include TVNZ board, Broadcast
Communications Ltd. His private sector board appointments include Hoyts Cinemas NZ Ltd, Ngapuhi Fisheries Ltd and Waahi
Paraone. He is also one of the owners of Sundance Channel. Wayne has also a past president of Surfing NZ and a member of
NZ Longboard Masters team.
Wena Tait: Wena is a native speaker of Mäori and has 14 years experience in the communications and media sector. She has
been a journalist for both broadcast and print media. She is an experienced Mäori producer, writer, editor and publisher
and is currently an Editor/Project Manager with Learning Media. As a mother, Wena is committed to encouraging and
developing Te Reo Mäori initiatives across all communication and education areas.
The four Electoral College appointments announced last week were:
Whaimutu Dewes, a lawyer from Ngati Porou and Ngati Rangitihi who has considerable experience in business. He is a
former Board member of TVNZ and Te Ohu Kaimoana (Maori Fisheries Commission). He still holds Directorships on the Boards
of Sealord Products Limited, AMP NZ Advisory Board and is Chairman of Chatham Processing Limited and Ngati Porou Whanui
Forests Limited. Whaimutu holds LLB, BA and a Masters in Public Administration qualifications.
Hekia Parata is an owner and Director of Gardiner and Parata Limited, a successful Wellington-based consultancy company
that she and her business partner established four years ago. Hekia was previously a senior public servant who has
served in the past, as a member of the Prime Minister’s advisory group. She held a diplomatic position in Washington and
a number of directorships including Te Mangai Paho, Ngai Tahu Development Corporation and NZ On Air. Hekia is of Ngati
Porou and Ngai Tahu decent and holds BA and MA qualifications.
Joanna Paul is of Ngai Te Rangi descent and has a career spanning 20 years in film, television and radio, including
award-winning journalism, presenter/researcher in natural history documentaries, and anchor for 3 News and One Network
News. She has worked extensively both behind and in front of cameras, in news, current affairs, natural history,
documentaries and dramas; and is now producing films through her own production companies. Joanna has held Directorships
with Te Mangai Paho and was a member of the Maori Advisory Broadcasting Committee.
Craig Soper has recently retired as Managing Director of Compudigm International Limited, an information technology
based company he co-founded four years ago. Of Rakiura descent, Craig built Compudigm into a significant international
business with offices in New Zealand, Australia, the UK and the United States. He retains a non-executive Directorship
with Compudigm and has recently been appointed to the advisory board for the Foundation for Research Science and
Technology. Craig has a BA, BCom and has completed a post graduate course in Spatial Information Systems.