The appointments were made as the organisation approaches its 50th anniversary
The Waitangi Tribunal has unveiled eight new members, all of whom will be serving a three-year term.
“As the tribunal nears its fiftieth anniversary, the appointments coming on board will give it the right balance of skills to continue its important mahi hearing and reporting Māori treaty claims in a timely manner”, Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka said. “Ensuring we have a range of talented appointees on boards and tribunals is absolutely key to the delivery of better public services and, for the Waitangi Tribunal, supporting the progress of the Treaty-based Crown-Māori relationship”.
The new Waitangi Tribunal members are:
Chrisp is the general manager of the Rangitāne Tū Mai Rā Trust. He is knowledgeable on Waitangi Tribunal hearings and negotiation; moreover, he has held several senior public services roles.
Crump is a lawyer bringing considerable experience with statutory and contractual interpretation, negotiation and dispute resolution procedures. He has worked in New Zealand and the UK over a career spanning more than two decades. Currently, he sits on the NZ on Air board.
Eparaima has served as a governor in nonprofit organisations, commercial and investment boards. She chairs the Te Wananga O Aotearoa council, and has served as a Treaty negotiator for Ngāti Raukawa.
Hale has prepared oral and written resources to assist Tribunal claimants, in addition to being involved in information and data management.
Hadfield sits on the Manawatū District Council and chairs the Chief Executive’s Employment Committee. He was previously CEO of Farmsafe, as well as CEO and Executive Secretary of Manawatū Agricultural.
Kiriona is a Whakaata Maori director and a Te Mātāwai member. At present, he is the managing director of Tupu Ora Education and Development Ltd, which he founded to help build Māori capability for iwi and public sector agencies.
Current Carterton mayor Mark was minister of defence and veterans. He is a member of parliament with previous experience in the New Zealand Army.
Tuala-Warren is presently dean of the University of Waikato’s Te Piringa Faculty of Law – the first person of Pacific descent to hold the role. She was also the only the second woman to be named Supreme Court justice of Samoa.
Joining the new Tribunal members are the following newly reappointed members:
