South Island iwi Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu has appointed Arihia Bennett to the role of chief executive, the first female to hold the role.
Ms Bennett (Ngai Tahu, Ngati Porou) is chief executive of He Oranga Pounamu, which is mandated by Ngai Tahu to organise and integrate health and social services in its area.
Before this, she was a regional manager for Barnardos NZ. She has held a number of advisory positions to the Government, including Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Commissioner, following the 2010 September earthquake, and was a director of Ngai Tahu Development Corporation from 1999-2002 and chairwoman until 2005.
In 2008, she was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to Maori and the community.
Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu Kaiwhakahaere Mark Solomon said she "brings to the role an intimate understanding of our runanga, hapu and organisational structures, not to mention a wealth of experience in management and the delivery of social services".
He thanked outgoing interim chief executive Mike Sang for his leadership during the past 18 months, particularly during the tribe's post-quake recovery period.
