Board & Team

Mercia-Dawn Yates is a dynamic and influential individual with a diverse cultural background, proudly affiliated with Te Arawa, Te Aitanga-a-Mahaki, Rongowhakaata, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Maniapoto, Irish, and Jewish heritage. With a career spanning over three decades in education, she has demonstrated remarkable leadership qualities. Her governance experience is also extensive, evidenced with her role as Chair of the Rotorua Girls’ High School Board, elected member of the Rotorua Boys’ High Board, Iwi Trustee, including various other local and national Boards, Committees and the Rotorua Lakes Council (2019-2022).

In addition, she is a respected judge of Kapa Haka and a proud performer for Ngāti Rangiwewehi, showcasing her passion for her culture. Mercia has made a significant impact in her community.

As a founding member of ARONUI, Mercia has played a vital role, contributing her vision and leadership alongside other trustees, furthering the mission of fostering culture and creativity.

With her vibrant personality and unwavering dedication to promoting the arts, culture and education, Mercia-Dawn Yates is a respected and influential figure in Rotorua and beyond. Her impact reaches far and wide, leaving a lasting impression on those she interacts with.

Piripi Curtis is a dynamic and visionary leader who has made a significant impact in various fields throughout his career. As the Managing Director of Hikoi NZ Ltd, Piripi founded the company more than two decades ago, initially focusing on providing tours and Marae stays in the picturesque regions surrounding Lake Rotoiti and Lake Okataina in Rotorua.

Following a brief hiatus to pursue his passion for teaching and offer IT support to local schools, Piripi’s journey took an exciting turn when he joined forces with his brother Richard Curtis in the Television industry. Together, they pitched and successfully aired the first hunting show on New Zealand’s Indigenous television network, Maori Television, combining Piripi’s well-established management skills with Richard’s 20+ years of experience as a camera operator. While their hunting show garnered immense success, Piripi never lost sight of his commitment to the community.

As Chairman of the Manupirua Trust and a dedicated board member for multiple marae, hapu, and schools, Piripi remains deeply connected to his roots and continues to contribute passionately to the betterment of Rotorua. With a profound love for his home and family, Piripi has found the perfect balance between his thriving business ventures and his enduring commitment to community work and the preservation of Rotorua’s rich cultural heritage.

June Northcroft Grant is a highly accomplished artist and a dedicated champion of Māori art, with a profound impact spanning several decades. As a businesswoman, she has been deeply involved in Māori tourism from a young age, recognizing the significance of hospitality and manaakitanga within her community.

Despite her initial shyness as a teenager in the 1960s, June became well-known in Rotorua as a popular model for photographers and as one of the famed “Māori Meter Maids,” extending warm welcomes to visitors by topping up their parking meters.

With a rich cultural heritage descending from Ngāti Tūhourangi, Ngāti Wahiao, and Ngāti Tūwharetoa, June’s connection to her ancestors, including her father, Major Henry William Northcroft of the 28th Māori Battalion, and the renowned Whakarewarewa guide, Makereti Papakura, serves as a deep well of inspiration for her art. Her paintings often intricately weave tribal histories and powerful ancestral figures, reflecting the essence of her heritage.

Graduating with a Diploma of Craft Design from Waiariki Polytechnic in 1989, June has since been producing fine art showcased in exhibitions across Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.

Her entrepreneurial spirit led her to establish ‘Pohutu Prints Originals’ in 1991, specializing in Māori design-based screen prints, as well as the store “Best of Māori Tourism Limited,” offering Māori-made and designed products. Additionally, she has left a lasting legacy with Te Raukura – The Red Feather Gallery.

June’s contributions extend beyond her artistry as she passionately advocates for Māori artists and the development of Māori art education in schools. Her active involvement in various committees and advocacy groups, including the Kauwae Māori Artists Collective supporting emerging Māori women artists, exemplifies her commitment to fostering talent within the community. For her outstanding career and leadership, June Grant has received numerous accolades, including the MWDI small business award and the Black Pearl Award for Māori women’s leadership. In recognition of her exceptional services to Māori, she was honored in 2010 with the Insignia of an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit.

June’s philanthropic endeavors also include being a member of the Aroha Mai Cancer Support Network and a trustee of the Rotorua Breast Cancer Trust.

Throughout her extraordinary journey, June Northcroft Grant has proven to be an inspiring force, leaving an indelible mark in the realms of art, culture, and community support.

Mākoha Gardiner, hailing from Te Arawa and Mataatua heritage, has had a remarkable journey in the field of education.

Her career began in 1978 as a classroom teacher at Putaruru High School, and over the next 25 years, she had the privilege of teaching in each of Rotorua’s secondary schools and kura.

Throughout her formal roles in Education, Mākoha’s dedication and expertise were evident, leading to her appointment to the prestigious New Zealand Teachers Council and culminating as Manager of the Bay of Plenty region for the Ministry of Education until 2014.

Additionally, Mākoha has held four positions on land or community trusts, showcasing her commitment to community engagement. Currently, she serves as a trustee for Aronui Indigenous Arts and KUPU.

While Mākoha is no longer actively teaching in the classroom, her passion for education continues as she remains deeply involved as a consultant and a valued member of various Boards of Trustees. Beyond her career in education, Mākoha unexpectedly found herself in the world of television, when her whanau at Kura Productions invited her to be a cluegiver on Kupuhuna. Inspired by her son, who was a writer for Kura, she later auditioned for a role in TŌKU REO2, where she brilliantly portrayed the grumpy yet lovable nanny. Onscreen, Mākoha exudes a commanding presence, while her portrayal of the nanny exquisitely reflects her warm and nurturing nature. Those who know her attest to her loving and playful antics, her great sense of humour, and her genuine love for people.

Mākoha’s major contributions extend beyond the realm of television, as she has been a passionate advocate and supporter of young people and the development of Te Reo Māori within schools and the broader community. Her invaluable expertise has made her a sought-after participant in local Te Arawa events and productions, where her profound impact on language and culture is evident.

Demonstrating her commitment to personal growth and excellence, Mākoha recently completed a postgraduate Diploma of Interpreting and Translating Māori at Waikato University, as well as graduating from the esteemed Advanced Māori Language Wananga – Te Panekiretanga o Te Reo.

With her unwavering dedication to education, language, and community, Mākoha Gardiner continues to be an inspiration and a respected leader within Te Arawa and beyond.

Cian Elyse White is the Founding Festival Director for Aronui. Of Ngāti Pikiao/ Ngāti Te Tākinga descent, she honed her acting skills at Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School, where her passion for live theatre and events blossomed.

Alongside her acting career, Cian Elyse has been deeply involved in producing and production management since 2012, spearheading theatre shows and tours for WAITĪ Productions, including ‘Te Puhi’, ‘I ain’t Mad At Cha’, and ‘Ngā Puke’. Her journey also led her to The Arts Village Rotorua, where she served as the project coordinator in 2018 before transitioning to the role of Director of Performing Arts at Rotorua Lakes Council later that year.

Cian’s impressive portfolio includes coordinating and managing events such as ‘Good Vibes 2020’, ARONUI 2019-2023, and the successful deal that brought SIX60 to Rotorua on their stadium tour in November 2022.

As a passionate advocate for the arts, Cian is a valued member of the ARONUI Trust and currently serves as the ARONUI Founding Festival Director.

Cian has travelled to the USA in the past year to represent Māori film making as a Sundance Native Lab fellow 2023, and looks forward to travelling to the U.K and USA in 2024 to represent Aronui and Arts abroad.

Te Kooanga is a Solicitor, and has tertiary qualifications in Māori studies, Māori resource management and te reo Māori.  She is currently a Senior Advisor with the Justice Sector Directorate.

Te Kooanga has both private and public sector experience, in research, legal, policy, and Te Tiriti o Waitangi advice. She is looking to governance roles in the next stage of her career.

Recently relocated to Rotorua with her whānau, she is bi-lingual and bi-cultural, and able to integrate differing perspectives to identify issues and develop solutions.

Te Kooanga has previous Board experience with the Rotorua Regional Airport as an Observer and currently sits on the Ngāti Whakaue Assets Trust as a Board Observer.

Te Kooanga is excited to join the Aronui Indigenous Arts Board and contribute to showcasing the beauty of Māori Arts and Culture regionally, nationally, and globally.