Consultant to Council
Member of Finance, Audit and Risk Committee
Appointed: April 2025
Merewaakana was appointed to the Finance, Audit and Risk Committee in April 2025. She has corporate consulting and financial services experience in New Zealand and the United Kingdom.
Merewaakana is also a double sporting international, having represented New Zealand in both rugby and touch. Combining a unique skillset from her extensive career and high-performance background, she is a finance leader that brings cultural capability and a refreshing diverse perspective to the boardroom.
Merewaakana has governance experience that spans across the Sport, Māori entities, Corporate and Public sectors. She is an Independent Director on the NZ Māori Rugby Board and Chair of the Commercial Subcommittee, Trustee of Omataroa Rangitaiki 2 Trust, and Chair Omataroa Rangitaiki 2 Holdings Board. She has held roles on NZX listed entity ASB Bank and Watercare NZ LTD as a Future Director and is a member of the Institute of Directors.
She is a Chartered Accountant and founding member of Ngā Kaitatau - Māori Accountants Network as a member of CAANZ. She is an experienced Chief Financial Officer and former Deputy Chief Executive - CFO Te Aka Whai Ora Māori Health Authority. She is the current Head of Finance Hauora Māori Services – Te Whatu Ora. She has previously held roles in Morgan Stanley, ANZ Bank, Air NZ, Deloitte, and Maniapoto Māori Trust Board in areas of Finance, Internal Audit and Risk.
Merewaakana was raised in Te Teko and is affiliated with Ngai Tamaoki, Pahipoto and Ngāti Pukeko hapū.
Consultant to Council: Merewaakana Kingi
Qualifications: CA, BCom, MInstd
Iwi: Ngāti Awa, Ngai Tai