Te Taumata becomes charitable trust

Te Taumata celebrates becoming a charitable trust, strengthening its mission to advocate for Māori interests in Aotearoa New Zealand’s trade policy

This month Te Taumata celebrated becoming a charitable trust. Previously Te Taumata had been the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s Māori Trade Advisory Group. The connection to MFAT remains strong and this new structure will allow Te Taumata to seek additional funding consistent with its charitable purpose:

To champion the relief of poverty and hardship of Māori by advocating for the views and interests of Māori in Aotearoa New Zealand’s international trade policy development and implementation.

Special acknowledgement goes out to the efforts of the inaugural trustees and their work establishing the trust – Victor Goldsmith, Robert Joseph, John McGregor, Teresa Tepania-Ashton, John Tiatoa, Tania Te Whenua and Rawson Wright.

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Hone Tiatoa – Trustee at Te Taumata

Hone Tiatoa

Trustee

Ngāti Awa ki Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Manaia ki Ngāpuhi, Uri o Pou ki Ngāpuhi
John holds multiple chairman and executive roles focusing on research and development for whānau, hapū, and iwi trusts and charitable organisations. John is also a Policy Advisor for the Māori interest within Article 2 of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

Prof. Dr Robert Joseph

Trustee

Tainui, Tūwharetoa, Kahungunu, Rangitāne, Ngāi Tahu
Dr Joseph completed his Bachelor and Master of Laws degrees at Waikato and was admitted to the Bar in 1998. He is a Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand and was a senior research fellow for the Te Mātāhauariki Research Institute at the University of Waikato under the leadership of Judge Michael Brown and Dr Alex Frame. Dr Joseph completed a PhD in Law in 2006.
Victor Goldsmith – Trustee at Te Taumata

Victor Goldsmith

Trustee

Ngāti Porou
Victor has held governance and executive roles across numerous sectors, including Director and Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee for Ngāti Porou Forest Limited, Director of Awanui-Moana Limited Partnership, Independent Director of Ngāti Pahauwera Commercial Development Limited and Trustee of the Mānuka Charitable Trust. He has also been the National Operations Manager of ApiMed Medical Honey Limited, the General Manager of Ngāti Porou Miere Limited Partnership, CEO of Te Aupouri Iwi and Group CEO of Te Kaahui o Rauru
Ernestynne Walsh – Trustee at Te Taumata

Ernestynne Walsh

Trustee

Ngāti Porou, Te Whānau-a-Apanui

Ernestynne joined the trust through He Tukutuku Koiora, the future Māori directors programme led by Tapuwae Roa. Digital and data governance is her area or speciality having provided digital and data governance support for various advisory groups including ACC, MBIE, NZSIS and DIA. At Te Taumata, she supports with digital trade chapters and indigenous trade research. In 2025, she won a Te Hapori Maithiko award for corporate change.

Ethan Jones – Trustee at Te Taumata

Ethan Jones

Trustee

Ngai Takoto, Te Aupouri
Ethan joined the Foundation’s business programme in May 2021 and is based in Auckland. He spent five years living, studying, and working in China. Ethan first moved to China to continue studying Mandarin after completing his bachelor’s degree in Chinese and Modern Languages. He later worked in sales for ABI, a global Fortune 500 beer company, where he helped develop their portfolio and presence in the Shanghai craft beer sector. During his time in China, he was an active member of both the Hangzhou and Shanghai New Zealand business communities. In 2019, Ethan returned to New Zealand and started a company focused on Chinese tourism in regional areas.
Teresa Tepania-Ashton – Trustee at Te Taumata

Teresa Tepania-Ashton

Trustee

Ngāti Kahu ki Whangaroa, Ngāpuhi.
After a 12-year career working internationally with Citibank (Vice President), CEO of Te Rūnanga o Ngāpuhi and 10 years as CEO of Māori Women’s Development Inc., Teresa continues to thrive as a Senior Executive, to put her decades of community and corporate governance experience to work for her people. Teresa was awarded the Dame Mira Scazy Alumni Award (1999) from Auckland University, a finalist in the ‘Women of Influence Awards’ in the Not-for-Profit Category (2015) and Board & Management Category (2016). In June 2016, Teresa received a Member of the NZ Order of Merit for services to Maori and business.
Rawson Wright – Deputy Chair of Te Taumata

Rawson Wright

Deputy Chair

Te Uri o Hau, Ngāti Whatua, Ngati Porou, Te Whanau A Apanui, Ngāti Hine
Rawson leads and advocates for several large Māori business initiatives in farming, forestry, and economic development. He has collaborated on indigenous research in South America and enjoys the relationships with our whanaunga in Canada, USA, Russia, Mexico, Brazil, Peru, Australia, and the Pacific. His expertise lies in farming, forestry, carbon trading, housing, and IT. He has a Post-Graduate Diploma in Management from University of Auckland and NZ TCB in Dairy Farming.
Hone McGregor – Chair of Te Taumata

Hone McGregor

Chair

Rarua/Te Ati Awa, Te Whānau-ā-Apanui, Te Atiawa, Te Atihaunui-a-Päpärangi, Ngāti Kahungunu/Ngāti Kere, Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga, Rarua, Rangitāne, Ngāti Kuia

Hone specialises in Māori business development, international trade, and research, holding several key governance roles in New Zealand. Hone has served on the Trade for All Advisory Board and the National Research Priorities panel, supporting New Zealand’s trade and research strategies. Currently, Hone chairs Wakatū Incorporation and Kono LLP, exporting premium Māori food and beverage products to over 30 countries, including key markets across Asia. Hone’s leadership extends to Māori trade research and economic development through his work with the Tauhokohoko Research Steering Committee.