National Board

Meet the RWNZ National Board

RWNZ is an Incorporated Society and is registered with the Charities Commission. The elected National Board consists of the National President, National Finance Chair, and four Board members. Its role as the governance body of the organisation is to establish and monitor the long-term direction of the organisation. The Chief Executive Officer is responsible for managing the day to day affairs of the organisation, the achievement of board-approved strategic goals, annual plans, and objectives.


  • National President, Tumuaki Mataamua

    I am Southland born and bred and have farmed with my husband, Dave, for 38 years in Becks, Central Otago. Although no longer farming ourselves, we maintain a strong interest in the industry and all things rural. I have been actively involved in my community as a member and office holder of RWNZ over many years and have held a number of offices at branch, provincial and regional level during my time at RWNZ.

    My work has included appointments as a Trustee and Vice-Chair of Life Education Trust Heartland Otago Southland, Central Otago A & P Society Home Industries Committee member and in 2012 I was appointed Chair of the Central Otago District Council Representation Review Panel. I truly value the opportunities that are a part of living in a small rural community and have enjoyed contributing to the groups that are so necessary to keep those rural facilities and services functioning.

  • National Finance Chair, Tumuaki Pūtea

    I was raised on a dairy & deer farm in Marui and completed a B Ag Com (Farm Management) and Post Graduate Diploma of Commerce (Financial Management) at Lincoln University. I worked as a Rural Accountant in Ashburton for 13 years, was a partner in an accounting firm in Greta Valley, then my own firm Arawata Chartered Accountants for the last 14 years.

    Alongside this, I have dairy, beef & deer farmed in Maruia since 1989 and deer farmed in Greta Valley since 2000. My two adult sons are both involved in farming. My family has a long history with RWNZ with my mother and grandmother both being members.

    Some of my Community involvement includes the Treasurer or Maruia Community hall for over 20 years, Treasurer of the Hurunui Rugby Club for over 15 years, and Board Member/ Trustee of Special Olympics Canterbury for over 18 years.

  • Board Member, Mema Poari mō Te Waipounamu

    I grew up in Auckland working in retail administration until I met my dairy farming husband. We share-milked in and around Northland with our three daughters. In 1993 we purchased a small dairy farm in Warkworth, north of Auckland that belonged to my husband’s family. After 12 years the farm was sold for urban development and we purchased our current farm in North Canterbury.

    Our farming career has gone from strength to strength and we enjoy giving back to our community. My special interest is assisting immigrants to settle into their new working environment and the local area.

    I have been involved with Rural Women New Zealand for about 15 years, have chaired our local branch for 11 years, a member of the Region 2 Area Management Committee for about 6 years, and was previously Leadership Councilor until I joined the National Board. I am on the Scotlands Te Kiteroa and Adverse Events Relief Funding Committees, I am the Treasurer of Rural Women Canterbury Charitable Fund and I represent Rural Women on the Safer Farms working group.

  • Chairperson, Tumuaki Komiti

    Sandra is a proud food producer with husband Ian on Te Kopae Station, a 536ha sheep and beef Hill Country property at Rere in Tairāwhiti. Her family, farm and personal values are at the heart of everything she does. Sandra has a financial and coaching background, and runs her own consultancy business working with farmers to grow efficient and viable agri-businesses.

    Sandra is Board Chair of Rural Women New Zealand, Chair of Rural Communities Trust, and a Trustee of Endometriosis New Zealand. She is a life-long learner, and as a member of the Institute of Directors has completed the Certificates in Company Direction and Chairing the Board. She is also a graduate of the Agri-Women’s Development Trust Escalator programme.

    Sandra’s community involvement includes Chair of the Beef +Lamb NZ Eastern North Island Farmer Council, Co-founder of Farming Women Tairawhiti Incorporated, a Business Award winning charitable organisation, Chair of Tairāwhiti Rural Advisory Group, and is involved in her local catchment group.

    The commitment she shows to rural communities of the East Coast region, and around New Zealand, has been rewarded by winning the inaugural Beef + Lamb NZ Rural Champion Award in 2022. She is also an AGMARDT Scholar.

    Sandra continues to advocate for rural communities and primary producers to ensure a sustainable and viable future for generations to come.

  • Board Member, Mema Poari mō Te Ika ā Maui

    I frequently tell people I had the best upbringing in the world, growing up on a sheep and beef farm in rural King Country. Rural values are ingrained into who I am and I strongly believe in supporting those who live in remote and rural areas to succeed and thrive.

    I know I’m well placed to not only help tell the story of Rural New Zealand, particularly in the online space but support and grow RWNZ into the next generation and understand the needs of younger members. I have a wide range of governance experience in not for profits, sport, and business, and I am known in my current roles for putting stakeholders’ needs at the forefront and communicating an organisation’s vision effectively.

    I’m passionate about our primary industries with a particular focus on reviving the NZ wool industry and my small business Velma & Beverley (named for my grandmothers) was set up in 2018 to do just that. I want to support women of all ages living on farms and in rural areas to work together, embrace community, and lead fulfilling lives.

  • Board Member, Mema Poari Te Ika ā Maui

    My journey with RWNZ began over 40 years ago as a young mum moving into a new rural community.

    Thanks to the ladies of the Scott’s Ferry Branch who welcomed me and made me feel a valued member of the branch and organisation. I continue to be very grateful for the many opportunities I had as part of an active branch and the encouragement to become involved at a provincial level. I moved from there to Marlborough and for many years was a member of the Awatere Valley Branch as well as being active on a Provincial and Regional level. Four years ago my husband and I moved to Kerikeri in the Far North and of course I continued my membership of RWNZ. Very soon I found myself to be the Regional Leader for Region 7. Many years, many roles, many activities, many changes and so it goes on, but at the end of the day, the most important thing is being a member of an organisation that continues to be very relevant for our rural communities.

    Over this time I have learned many things and one of those is, there is no such thing as one size fits all. However, one organisation can provide many opportunities for all and I would very much like to be part of such an organisation that is determined in its commitment to supporting our rural women and communities as much as we can. I am proud to be part of RWNZ as we move towards our very exciting milestone of 100 years in existence.

  • Associate Board Member

    Heather brings a unique combination of professional, not-for-profit and practical farm business capability to her work and leadership. She has worked across local and central government agencies and primary industries and is currently General Manager Environment and Sustainability within the critical minerals sector.

    She also has a range of voluntary leadership experience such as within the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards and Dairy Women’s Network and is a graduate of the AWDT Escalator programme.

    Heather is passionate about rural New Zealand and strives to contribute to positive change at the interface of strong primary industries, thriving communities and a flourishing physical environment, while holding people at the centre of the way she works.

    Formerly West Coast based dairy farmers, Heather and her husband now live in rural Tasman on a lifestyle block with their two teenage children and an assortment of pets and farm animals.