Source: Institute of Directors (IoD)
This December, the Waikato Branch of the Institute of Directors (IoD) has awarded its top honour of Distinguished Fellow (DistFInstD) to Lady Tureiti Moxon, Ngāti Pāhaurewa, Ngāti Kahungunu, Kāi Tahu.
Based in the Kirikiriroa Hamilton, she is the managing director of Te Kōhao Health and chair of the National Urban Māori Authority (NUMA) and was recently awarded a University of Waikato honorary doctorate.
Described as ‘a transformational servant leader’ she is a visionary in the Māori Health, education, social justice and Whānau Ora space. When asked how her involvement in governance has enriched her life, she said courage is required to lead.
“Good governance can move mountains, but this also takes courage, whether we are making easy or hard decisions, and I have been blessed to have worked with leaders and boards who have passed that courage onto me.”
Having committed her time selflessly to create positive social change – and enhance the lives of Māori in Aotearoa – over the course of three decades, she has ventured down a path that has seen her overcome challenges, not for herself, but the wider community.
In 2021, she called for the elimination of state care of children (tamariki) for not upholding Māori self-determination (tino rangatiratanga) over their families (whānau).
Being a director in a social, economic and political landscape that is laden with many obstacles, including threads that reach far back in our country’s history, requires determination and focus, because the immense weight to carry what happens next will be on the shoulders of leaders and boards whose decisions will impact the lives of others.
Lady Tureiti believes the directors of today – and tomorrow – need to be grounded in foresight.
“The one enduring element needed by directors moving into the future…in Te Ao Māori, we have a whakatauki or proverb, ‘Ki te kahore he whakakitenga ka ngaro te iwi: Without foresight or vision the people will be lost’. Directors need to have vision to steer the waka in the right direction,” Lady Tureiti said.
Simon Lockwood, Chair of the IoD’s Waikato Branch, said Lady Tureiti has continued to demonstrate an unwavering commitment in her service to the governance community and beyond.
“It is people like Lady Tureiti who continue to remind us of what it means, as human beings, to continue to serve as best we can–to do what is right, not just for the organisations we serve, but also for future generations,” Lockwood said.
Lady Tureiti Moxon will be presented with her award at a ceremony on 5 December.
