Kia ora whānau,

Nau mai ki tā mātou pānui ā-marama – welcome to 2026!

We hope this year brings you and your whānau health, happiness, and plenty of opportunities to thrive. This is a space where we share the mahi we do to serve Ngāpuhi whānau and our wider community within the boundaries of Te Whare Tapu o Ngāpuhi and beyond.

In this month’s pānui, you will find:

Board update from our recent hui at Okorihi Marae
Team updates
Service updates

Your voice matters to us. As we continue to shape the future of local hauora services, we welcome your whakaaro on how Te Hau Ora o Ngāpuhi can work alongside other services to better support our community.

Whānau voice is important to us! Please make sure to scroll down to the end. Subscribe to this pānui, share your whakaaro, and/or submit feedback. We’d love to hear from you.

We look forward to staying connected with you.

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I. Board Update

From left to right in the photo: Chester Fong (Board Director), Erena Kara (Board Director), Nicole Anderson (Board Director, Chairperson), Spencer Webster (Board Director), Tia Ashby (CEO), Ripeka Evans (Board Director)

On 19 January 2026, staff and Board came together at Okorihi Marae for an official pōwhiri, marking the start of the year and warmly welcoming our Board into THOON.

The hui that followed gave us space to reconnect, reset, and strengthen our collective focus for 2026.

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Board and CEO Profiles

Nicole Anderson (Board Director, Chairperson) - Nicole has held a Trustee role for Ngā Ngaru o Hokianga on Te Rūnanga-Ā-Iwi-Ō-Ngāpuhi for two terms. She is a chartered professional director with a background in health, Māori development and has practical business ownership experience in the manufacturing, farming and retail sectors. Nicole holds other directorships, including with Far North Holdings Ltd and Te Ohu Kai Moana . She is also Chair of the International Accreditation Council.

Ripeka Evans (Board Director) - Ripeka is a distinguished leader with over 40 years of governance and executive experience. She is Director and Deputy Chair of Television New Zealand Ltd, chairing the Remuneration, People & Culture Committee, and serves on boards including Tupu Tonu – the Ngāpuhi Investment Fund, Wellington Regional Council Holdings Limited, and Horticulture New Zealand. She is known for her principled, intergenerational leadership and strong commercial focus, and holds an MBA and membership of the Institute of Directors.

Erena Kara (Board Director) - Erena (Ngāti Hao, Ngāti Hau, Ngāti Manu, Ngāti Kuta) is an experienced Māori governance leader with board and executive experience across iwi, education, social services, and community development in Te Tai Tokerau. She is Chair of Ngāpuhi Iwi Social Services and holds trustee and director roles with Hāpai Tūhono, Toi Ngāpuhi, Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Kaikohe, KTR Kara Ltd, and Kara Contracting Ltd. Erena brings strong governance capability across strategy, organisational development, financial oversight, and Crown–iwi relationships, with senior executive experience including Acting CEO roles at Te Rūnanga-Ā-Iwi-Ō-Ngāpuhi and CEO of Te Kotahitanga E Mahi Kaha Trust. She holds a Master of Social Science and is a member of the Institute of Directors

Chester Fong (Board Director) - Chester Fong is a respected leader and experienced trustee, bringing decades of governance and building expertise as Chair of Te Huehue Marae and Omapere Rangihamama Ahu Whenua Trust, a current proxy Trustee for Hauauru Takiwā on Te Rūnanga-Ā-Iwi-Ō-Ngāpuhi, and a qualified LBP Certified Builder with 45 years’ experience across commercial and residential construction.

Spencer Webster (Board Director) - Spencer Webster (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Wai, Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngā Pōtiki) brings extensive experience in executive leadership, governance, and legal practice across iwi, health, housing, and community sectors. He is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Manawa Community Housing Trust and Ngā Pōtiki a Tamapahore Trust, and has previously led organisations that deliver health and social services at scale.

A qualified barrister and solicitor, Spencer offers strong expertise in governance, public law, financial oversight, and stakeholder engagement, with a deep commitment to iwi-led development and whānau wellbeing.

Tia Ashby (Chief Executive Officer) - Tia Ashby (Te Rarawa, Ngāpuhi, Te Aupōuri, Te Āti Awa, Rarotonga) is Chief Executive Officer of Te Hau Ora o Ngāpuhi, leading one of Te Tai Tokerau’s largest integrated health, housing and social development organisations.

An Executive MBA (Hons) graduate, Registered Clinician and Diploma in Military Medicine holder, Tia brings over 24 years’ leadership experience across healthcare, defence, governance and large-scale infrastructure delivery. An Afghanistan veteran of the New Zealand Defence Force, she combines operational discipline with strategic growth capability.

Tia is a Member of the Institute of Directors, a Kiwibank Local Hero Medal recipient and Patron of the Defence Health School. She is known for driving organisational expansion, strengthening financial stewardship, and advancing kaupapa Māori-led solutions that deliver measurable impact for whānau and communities.

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II. Team Updates

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Bisset Road Development – Building futures, one whare at a time

Building futures – one whare at a time.

In te ao Māori, when the whenua moves, it signals responsibility to our people and to future generations.

Led by Te Hau Ora o Ngāpuhi, with the tautoko of Ngāpuhi Group, hapū and our community, our 100-home housing kaupapa at Bisset Road is now in full delivery. We have turned the whenua with hapū and kaimahi. Now the mahi is visible — machines on site, civil works underway.

This kaupapa is built through strong partnerships with Gemscott, Te Ara Whaikainga, Earthworx, Kānoa, Kāinga Ora, Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, and the Far North District Council, alongside local suppliers and apprentices.

This development will deliver 100 warm, affordable rental homes for working whānau — grounded in mana and place.

Homes, the mahi, and economic opportunity must grow together.

We acknowledge the leadership support from Minister Chris Bishop, Minister Tama Potaka and Minister Shane Jones.

He kāinga. He oranga. 💚

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III. Service Updates

Join the THOON whānau!

We are looking for passionate, committed individuals to support Ngāpuhi whānau across hauora and community services. Current opportunities include:

Executive Assistant to the Chief Executive - Support the CE by managing calendars and inboxes, drafting correspondence, coordinating meetings and travel, maintaining action lists, assisting with financial processes, and acting as a trusted liaison with internal and external stakeholders. This CE-only role requires discretion, professionalism, and adaptability.

Company Secretary / Kai Kamupene - Support the THOON Board of Directors by providing high-quality governance administration and advice. Key responsibilities include preparing board packs, accurate minute-taking, managing action items, coordinating Board and Committee activities, and ensuring smooth governance processes.

Registered Nurse - Support whānau and the THOON team by providing clinical care with a whānau-centred, kaupapa Māori approach. Responsibilities include assessing, planning, implementing, and evaluating holistic care, peer review, managing mobile outreach supplies, and collaborating with the team to improve health outcomes in Northland communities.
Kaimanaaki – Cancer Care - Support Māori whānau by increasing access to cancer screening and treatment, providing personalised guidance throughout their care journey, promoting early detection, and collaborating with healthcare professionals and community groups to reduce barriers and improve cancer outcomes in Northland.

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How to Apply: Please submit your CV and cover letter to recruitment@thoon.org.nz

More info/Apply via Seek:

🌟 Executive Assistant to the CEO - https://bit.ly/45VjkGF

🌟 Company Secretary – Kai Kamupene - https://bit.ly/4r7C0eN

🌟 Registered Nurse - https://bit.ly/3Mjus9A

🌟 Kaimanaaki – Cancer Care - https://bit.ly/4aCb68N

Applications close soon – apply early!

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Your feedback is important to us!

Thank you for taking the time to read our pānui. We hope we can share more timely updates. Me pehea ōu whakaaro? Click on the kanohi below to let us know.

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