Our organisation is governed by a Trust. Our constitution states that there must be five to seven members on the board at any one time. Membership must include:
- a mana whenua member representing the iwi of the local area
- a local Māori resident of Otara
- a member of the Pacific Island communities
Our current Board members are:
Board Chairperson: Fa’anana Efeso Collins
Fa’anana Efeso joined the board as a trustee in April 2017. He is the Manukau Ward Councillor for Auckland Council and a former local board chair for the Otara Papatoetoe Local Board.
Nita Ropata-Riki
Nita is the local Maori representative on the Board and was the former chairperson for Otara Health Incorporated, and was until August 2017 the Chair for the Otara Health Charitable Trust. Nita has a long-standing historical attachment to the organisation going back to the founding years when community leaders first came together to seek ways to improve the health, well-being and social status of Otara people. Nita currently works as a health promoter for the Problem Gambling Foundation.
Tamara Taka-Jones
Ngāti Tamaoho te iwi.
Tamara was appointed to the board serving as the Mana Whenua representative. She currently serves as a trustee for Ngāti Tamaoho Trust.
Community Advisory Group (CAG) Chairperson: Elizabeth Tuimalu
Elizabeth is the Samoan representative on CAG and through the role of CAG Chair she is a member of the Trust board.
Ruth Sio-Lokam
Ruth was appointed to the board in May 2019 and is of Cook Island descent. She is self-employed and currently runs her own accounting practice.
Marlene George
Marlene was appointed to the board in April 2019 and is of Cook Island descent. She is currently a teacher at Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate.