Merepeka (Te Arawa) has an impressive resume including being a small business owner, former CEO of Hospice West Auckland and former CEO of the NZ Women’s Refuge. The latter two positions made Merepeka the ideal Chair as she had first-hand experience with whānau who were on the knife edge, one exiting this world and the other trying to rediscover the new world.

Merepeka is a leading advocate for the rights of women & children and a strong public voice in the campaign to understand and prevent family violence. She also has a wealth of experience in the fields of business, management & politics.