Te Ohu Kaimoana and Moana New Zealand are pleased to announce the appointment of two new Directors to the Moana New Zealand Board.

Te Ohu Kaimoana and Moana New Zealand are pleased to announce today the appointment of two new Directors to the Moana New Zealand Board.

Bella Takiari-Brame (Waikato-Maniapoto) is a Chartered Member of the Institute of Directors and a Fellow Chartered Accountant of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand. Bella returned to Aotearoa in 2013 after nine years working in London.

Bella is a professional Director and holds Government, commercial and Iwi board roles. She is passionate about infrastructure that enables equity which is reflected in the Board roles she holds in Iwi, health, energy and infrastructure.

Bella says that it is “a real honour and privilege to be appointed as a Director and I look forward to working with the Board over the next three years.”

She has been a Director on the Te Ohu Kaimoana Board since 2019. Bella will succeed the vacated position of Rangimarie Hunia whose term as a Director of Moana New Zealand expired in November 2023.

Dean Moana (Ngati Porou, Te Whānau-ā-Apanui) is an experienced director and has a long career in the seafood industry in both the commercial and customary fishing sectors in governance and senior management positions.

Dean is active in the industry as a newly appointed Director of Te Ohu Kaimoana, Board Chair at Akaroa Salmon and Ngati Porou Seafoods, and a director with the Iwi Collective Partnership and represents them on the Port Nicholson Fisheries Limited Partnership. He brings a depth of fishing knowledge, business skills and experience to complement the Moana New Zealand Board.

Dean states, “Moana New Zealand is still an important contributor and source of pride to Iwi-Māori, not only in terms of economic performance and annual dividends but also its custodianship of a taonga asset which sits within all Iwi portfolios.

“Moana New Zealand continues to play a leadership role in balancing fisheries management and economic performance to ensure the sustainability both now and into the future.  I look forward to joining the Board to help deliver on the expectations of all those who came before us and for the generations that follow.”

Board Chair Rachel Taulelei says, “It’s an exciting time at Moana. Bella and Dean join the Board at a pivotal moment in our business with the recent long-term agreement with Sanford for their North Island inshore annual catch entitlement, which places Māori at the forefront of North Island fisheries. I’m looking forward to their contributions.”

Moana New Zealand also acknowledges Rangimarie Hunia (Ngāti Whātua) for her strong leadership and guidance for our Board.

Board Chair Rachel Taulelei (Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga, Ngāti Rārua) says, “It’s been a real privilege to have Rangimarie with us on the Moana Board. She was in a unique position having been on Te Ohu Kaimoana’s Board of Directors since 2015 and having in-depth knowledge of the Māori Fisheries Settlement. I want to express gratitude on behalf of everyone at Moana for her dedication and expertise.”