BOARD OF TRUSTEES
SuperGrans Tairāwhiti is governed by a Board of 7 Trustees, who bring extensive experience and a diverse range of skills. The Board is responsible for providing strategic direction, governance, and oversight for the organisation,
ensuring that SuperGrans operates effectively and in line with its values and purpose.
(left to right) Hamish Barwick (Minute Taker), Waiarani Eruera (Board Member), Sarah Elliott (Strategic Advisor), Glenda Stokes (Board Member), Molly Pardoe (Chairperson), Te Aorangi Harrington (Board Member).
Board Members not in photo - Mere Pohatu, Tricia Bryne, Sam Witters
MOLLY PARDOE (QSM)
CHAIRPERSON
Te Aitanga a Hauiti,
Ngāti Kahungunu ki Mohaka
Molly brings extensive experience in governance, business leadership, farming, and Māori and community health, having guided SuperGrans Tairāwhiti Trust through 25 years of service to whānau, including major challenges such as COVID-19 and Cyclone Gabrielle. She spent 20 years hosting the Radio Tūranga FM “Health Show,” sharing vital information with the wider community, and has run her own business while supporting her husband in their farming and contracting work. Besides her professional and governance achievements, her proudest accomplishment is her whānau—raising four adult children and caring for and supporting her 13 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
sam witters
Tairāwhiti/Gisborne
Samantha Witters is a creative industries leader with extensive experience across national and international media, as well as in innovative creative technology ventures. As Director of Kōawa Studios at the University of Canterbury and co-founder of Tōrō Studios in Tairāwhiti, she plays a pivotal role in nurturing emerging talent and creating pathways for up-and-coming screenwriters and filmmakers. Known for her future-focused thinking, Samantha combines industry insight with a passion for mentoring and community development, having served as an NZTE Beachheads Advisor and on the board of Youth Arts NZ. She is committed to empowering whānau and communities to grow their skills, share their stories, and build confidence.
mere pohatu
Ngāi Tahu
Mere has spent most of her life in Tairāwhiti and the East Coast. She brings extensive experience from a career in public service, combined with early involvement in Kōhanga Reo and community development in Kaiti. Honoured to serve on the SuperGrans Tairāwhiti Board, she contributes strategic policy expertise and governance insight, supporting the organisation’s innovative, independent approach to strengthening whānau and building community resilience. Mere values the way SuperGrans develops programmes, partnerships, and networks that respond directly to local needs, reflecting her commitment to practical, community-focused solutions.
te aorangi harrington
Ngāti Hine, Ngai Tāmanuhiri, Rongowhakaata, Te Aitanga-a-Mahaki, Ngāti Rongomaiwahine
Te Aorangi Harrington is dedicated to strengthening whānau, restoring identity, and guiding transformational change. With whakapapa connections to all Iwi of Te Tairāwhiti as well as Ngati Hine in the north, Te Aorangi brings a deeply grounded kaupapa Māori approach to his work.
With over 20 years of therapeutic experience, alongside service as a Police Chaplain, Justice of the Peace, and also an ordained Apotoro Rehita within the Rātana Church, his work sits at the intersection of wairua, wellbeing, and practical.
A devoted husband of over 20 years and proud father of four, Te Aorangi’s leadership is grounded in whānau, faith, and service driven by a lifelong commitment to breaking cycles of harm and building a legacy of strength, healing, and aroha for future generations.
glenda stokes
Whanganui
Glenda Stokes is Chief Executive of the Sunrise Foundation, bringing over a decade of experience connecting philanthropy, community initiatives, and local organisations across Tairāwhiti. She has a background in senior leadership roles, including seven years as Advertising Manager at The Gisborne Herald, and extensive governance experience through trustee and board positions in multiple community organisations. Glenda is passionate about supporting projects that make a real difference and uses her knowledge and networks to strengthen whānau and community outcomes. A mother of three and grandmother of six, she values the sense of connection and belonging that comes from an engaged, close-knit community.
tricia byrne
Tairāwhiti/Gisborne
Tricia brings a rural business background with professional experience in employment, human resources, and payroll, and values using these skills to support people in navigating work and financial matters. She currently works part-time for a local accountancy firm while enjoying rural life on her Ōtoko farm with her husband. Having lived and worked overseas, she understands the challenges of limited support networks and the impact this can have during difficult times. As a member of the SuperGrans Tairāwhiti Board, Tricia contributes practical skills and a strong appreciation for the organisation’s role in supporting whānau.
waiarani eruera
Ngāti Porou,
Te Whānau-a-Apanui
Waiārani brings over 15 years of experience in education, including teaching in Japan and across primary, secondary, and area schools in Aotearoa. She currently serves as Principal of Elgin School in Tairāwhiti and is committed to supporting tamariki and strengthening community outcomes through education. In her second year on the SuperGrans Tairāwhiti Board, she brings a strong focus on whānau and community wellbeing. Outside of her professional and governance roles, Waiārani enjoys raranga, rongoā Māori, and spending time by the moana.
Strategic Plan 2025 - 2029
