Kaiwhakahaere / Artistic Director

Jason Te Mete

Jason is of Ngāti Ranginui and Ngāi te Rangi descent, and is a Tauranga-based multidisciplinary artist with over 20 years of professional experience. He has directed 40+ musical productions, and has worked with all of the major theatre companies in Aotearoa. He is dedicated to empowering rangatahi through creativity and expression, and supporting mental health in the arts industry.

Kaiwhakahaere / Administrator

Tāwera Ormsby

Tāwera hails from Ngāti Porou and Ngāpuhi. She has over 20 years experience in administration (Human Resources, contracts, accounting) and group facilitation work for community-based and Kaupapa Māori organisations in South Auckland where she lives with her family. 

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She is an advocate for Māori and Pasifika whānau and community development, and has always had an interest in performing arts & kapa haka. A mother to 3 children who are actively involved in the arts, Tāwera has gained a number of production management skills over the years as a volunteer ‘parent helper’.

Mātanga Mātauranga Māori

Tūī Matira Ranapiri Ransfield

Tūī is a descendent of Ohomairangi and Mākuratawhiti of the Ngāti Ohomairangi people. Her grandparents hail from the vessels Te Arawa, Hōkioi, Tainui, Uruao,

Hohou-te-rongo, Kaiwhare, Mataatua, Nukutere, Nukutaimemeha, Paikea, Ārai-te-uru, Uruao, Tākitimu, Manuka, Maahunui, and Kurahaupō.  

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A highly skilled Māori performing artist, Tūī is an expert in Mau rākau a Matarua (Weaponry Māori). She specialises in patu (short clubs). Tūī is senior wahine

karanga for her many pā and marae. Tūī is a skilled and thorough researcher, and a trained Human Rights Commissioner (Taku Manawa).

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Tūī is a creator, composer, tutor and first female leader and tutor of Te Matarae-i-Ōrehu 1994 - 1997 (top National Kapa Haka), and has performed with the ‘creme de la creme' of kapa haka throughout Aotearoa.

Tuatara Collective

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Michael Hudson-Croft, Chairman

Lynne Cardy, Secretary

Tāwera Ormsby, Treasurer

Jason Te Mete

(with Tūī Ranapiri Ransfield, Mātanga Mātauranga Māori)