TRUSTEES
Otama Marere has six owner elected Advisory Trustees who represent the owners, alongside Perpetual Trust Limited.
HOMMAN felk TAPSELL
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Homman Tapsell has been the orchard manager of Otama Marere since 2007. He represents Māori on the executive committee for NZ Māori Kiwifruit Growers Incorporated. Homman also manages orchards for Seeka Limited; Te Arawa Lakes Trust and several whānau trusts.
Growing up in Maketu, Homman whakapapa’s to Te Arawa and Tainui; Ngāti Whakaue, Ngāti Makino, Ngāti Pikiao and Ngati Raukawa. Tracing his lineage to the Danish ancestor Hans Homman Falk Jensen, who was the husband of Hine-i-turama. Homman’s link to the Otama Marere’s whenua, is through his father, Winiata Pekamu Rewi Tapsell who is the great grandson of Hine-i-turama. Homman holds a Diploma in Horticulture from Lincoln University in Christchurch. Bringing 25 years of industry experience with Seeka Limited. His roles with Seeka include; information technology, dispatch co-ordinator and importantly, an orchard contractor. Over his wider career, he has served with the New Zealand Royal Navy, worked in management for Dominion Breweries. He has also been employed as a Far East regional Manager for an electronics company in Hongkong. Homman’s other interest was acting with Bruce Lee in the film, ‘Way of the Dragon’ Working and living at Otama Marere, Homman has maintained a top performing orchard against PSA, Armillaria and horticultural pests and diseases. Under his management, he has led and encouraged other Māori growers to convert to organics with Otama Marere being one of the first Māori orchard to transition. Recently, interested in innovation within the horticultural industry, he has established growing avocados and ‘fast growing’ kauri trees. In 2016, he commenced the development of the wetlands, building a partnership with Ngā Whenua Rahui and BOP Regional Council to sustain Otama Marere for future generations. |
AUBREY WILKINSON
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Aubrey Wilkinson was born in Te Puke in January 1962 and raised in Maketu. On his mothers’ side, Aubreys’ whakapapa goes to Ngati Whakaue and Ngati Pukenga ki Maketu. On Aubreys’ fathers’ side their whakapapa goes to Ngati Hako. Aubrey is married to Michelle Jennings also from Maketu, and they have raised 5 children. The 3 youngest from Oranga Tamariki. Aubrey and Michelle enjoy 3 Mokopuna from their 2 eldest children. Aubrey and Michelle own their home in Maketu and also have a personal strong investment portfolio which they have built for their future.
Aubrey works for Port Of Tauranga employed as a container crane driver and has held various roles within this company since 1987. Previous positions have been with the New Zealand Electricity Division at Huntly Power Station, Tauranga Electric Power Board, Affco Rangiuru, and Johnsons’ Gardens. Aubrey is in his 5th two year term as National President for the Rail & Maritime Transport Union representing Rail and Port members throughout New Zealand. With the above position, Aubrey travels extensively around New Zealand and Internationally. Aubrey Chairs all Governance Meetings, Conferences, and along with the National Management Committee, sets, maintains, and drives the strategic direction of the RMTU. Aubrey and NMC are also responsible for the finances of not just the RMTU, but also the Port Retirement Plan Superannuation Fund, Locomotive Engineers Sickness Benefit Fund, and the New Zealand Railways Staff Welfare Trust. Aubrey regularly sits on the Council Of Trade Unions National Affilliates Council, collectively making high level decisions and setting strategic plans for workers in New Zealand and sometimes abroad. Aubrey also sits on the Council Of Trade Unions Runanga making and driving strategic plans for the benefit of Maori along with representatives from other Unions and Iwi. Aubrey also sits on the International Transport Federation NZ Affilliates Committee, the ITF being the largest global union federation in the world. Aubrey is the chairman of the Tauranga Moana Fumigant Action Group and has been since it’s inception in 2016, a community based group that currently monitors Methyl Bromide use in and around the Bay Of Plenty Region. This requires meeting and negotiating with Regional Council, Port Of Tauranga, Worksafe, Enviroment Protection Authority, Forest and Bird Society, Tourism BOP, STIMBR, Genera, Iwi, Enviroment Court, Sustainable Business BOP, Unions, Politicians locally and in Wellington and many other affected parties. Aubrey has been nominated to be the Kaitiaki Reference Group representative/voice for coastal Iwi in the Bay Of Plenty to monitor and speak to the Rena consent, and any proposed changes from applicants. Yet to be confirmed. Apart from Aubreys’ employment at POT, all the above positions are done in his own time and in a voluntary capacity. Aubrey has been a Advisory Trustee for Otama Marere since 2016 providing strong leadership and sound governance, along with the other Trustees. When there is time to spare, Aubrey enjoys diving-both scuba and free, fishing, family time, holidays, along with working in and around their various properties. Aubreys’ qualities are determination, honesty, reliable, punctual, passionate, cooperative, diligent, trustworthy, and integrity to name a few, and also provides a high level of strong leadership and governance. |
JADE CHALMERS
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Jade is of Ngati Whakaue descent. Her whakapapa comes through her father and thus, her great great grandmother Maria Tapsell (nee Garlick). Jade has lived much of her life in her hometown of Te Puke.
Jade is a Doctor of Philosophy in Education (PhD). Her research was titled ‘Rangatahi and Complex Entanglements of Sexuality, Sexuality Education, Secondary School and Beyond: A Material-Discursive Exploration’. Ultimately, she hopes that her research can make change in the lived experiences of rangatahi. Jade is currently a Teaching Fellow at the University of Waikato where she teaches Human development and Education papers. She ensures that what she teaches disrupts ingrained colonial concepts. She teaches topics which concern Maori using critical and decolonising approaches. Along with her husband Sam, Jade owns a small local arborist business - Eastern Tree Choppers. Jade was a teacher for three years and has a Master of Education in Sustainability Education. Jade also has valuable employment experience in fields other than education, of which included organic gardening, working as a waitress, working in retail at a local surf shop, several labouring positions in the kiwifruit industry, and two years employment at a meat processing plant. All of which have influenced what she believes about the world and how she functions within it. Jade has a strong ethical stance on many important political, social and sustainability issues. |
PETERA TAPSELL
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Petera Tapsell was born and raised in Maketu and is the youngest of 19 children born to Winiata and Raukakawa Tapsell. He is of Te Arawa and Tainui descent with links to Ngati Whakaue, Ngati Pikiao and Ngati Raukawa.
On completing his education at Te Puke High School he enlisted in the Royal New Zealand Navy where he served for 9 years before moving to Dunedin and becoming a Traffic Officer in the Ministry of Transport. Following that career, Petera then went on to manage a restaurant followed by becoming Assistant Co-Ordinator for Te Maori Exhibition in Dunedin. He then went on to become a Probation Officer before moving on to become the National Facilitator for the Corrections Department in Wellington. After a number of years in that position, he took up a position at Tauranga as a Probation Officer so that he could be closer to home. Petera then worked in the kiwifruit industry covering most aspects of the industry finally managing the Auditing Team. He is now employed as the Workforce Development and Cultural Officer for the Western Bay of Plenty District Council. He holds a Diploma in Business Management and several Certificates in Training, Facilitation and Counselling. Petera’s qualities are, honesty, straight talker, team player, decisive, determined and strong proven leadership. He is married with 5 children all whom have attended Otago University. |
KIRI TAPSELL
Kiri is a descendant of Ngati Whakue, Ngati Pukenga, Ngati Porou and Tainui where he was bought up on his family farm & kiwifruit orchard in Maketu.
Kiri has profound experience in dairy, beef and kiwifruit and now oversees all operations as general manager.
Kiri is a director of Pukenga Farms Ltd, Band of Brothers 7 Ltd & is also on the board of trustees for Otama Marere Trust which are all large kiwifruit orchards in Te Puke.
As Kiri represents Maori for Te Puke on the MKGI board, he plans to bring his experience, governance, strategic & future thinking to the table.
Kiri has profound experience in dairy, beef and kiwifruit and now oversees all operations as general manager.
Kiri is a director of Pukenga Farms Ltd, Band of Brothers 7 Ltd & is also on the board of trustees for Otama Marere Trust which are all large kiwifruit orchards in Te Puke.
As Kiri represents Maori for Te Puke on the MKGI board, he plans to bring his experience, governance, strategic & future thinking to the table.
