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

    I live and farm at Rere in Tairāwhiti with my husband Ian. I own SM Coaching & Consulting, providing leadership & business coaching services and facilitation delivery of educational programmes for primary industry and SME.

    I co-founded and am retired Chairperson of Farming Women Tairāwhiti (FWT), I also sit on the Boards of Endometriosis NZ and Rural Communities Trust and the Farmer Council of Beef +Lamb NZ, and am a member of the Institute of Directors. I am a graduate of the AWDT Escalator programme and ACTP Professional Leadership Coach development programme.

    I strongly believe creating change as an individual is challenging, although as a collective, change is achievable.

  • 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.