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 25 years of professional experience.

​

His performance and musical direction of the 2015 Edinburgh Fringe Festival season of 'K'Rd Strip', Okareka Dance Company's highly acclaimed devised work received 5-star international reviews. Other performance highlights include ‘Billy Elliot’, the NZ premiere of ‘Tuesdays With Morrie’ opposite George Henare, ‘Anything Goes’ and ‘La Cage Aux Folles’, and Raymond Hawthorne’s acclaimed production of ‘The Consul’ (Opera Factory).

He has directed and/or musically directed over 30 musicals including ‘Les Miserables’, ‘The Phantom of the Opera’, ‘Dreamgirls’ and ‘The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee’ (Manukau Performing Arts), which won 9 NAPTA Awards including Best Musical, Best Director and Best Ensemble Cast.

Jason was awarded the Auahatanga o te Wā / Creative of the Year at the 2024 Ngā Tohu Toi Awards, and was the recipient of the 2018 Adam Play Award for Best Play by a Māori Playwright. He has written several other plays and poetry collections. 

​

Jason is dedicated to empowering young people through creativity and expression. With a passion for nurturing talent and fostering confidence, Jason has spearheaded transformative programmes that enable youth to discover their artistic voices. As the founder of Tuatara Collective, Jason has provided countless opportunities for Māori, Pasifika, LGBTQi+, and rangatahi to hone their skills and showcase their talents on stage. His innovative approach combines rigorous training with a supportive environment, in particular the Rātā initiative 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. 

​

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.  

​​

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).

​

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

Teresa Lee

Kathy Lloyd-Parker

Board Chairperson

Michael Hudson-Croft

Michael is of Ngāti Maru descent. Based in Tauranga, Michael is a founding partner  and managing director of a family owned construction company that has been built  from the ground up (incorporated in 2013) to a multi-million dollar business operating  across the central North Island of New Zealand.  

​

Michael has an extensive background in the operational management of national  franchise groups having worked in the management team of brands across New  Zealand and Australia. Michael is a detailed oriented guy, with a passion for setting up  systems.  

​

Michael regularly participated in musical productions and performing arts events  throughout his youth and is a strong believer in the positive impact that performing arts  provides to all participants and the wider community. 

Board Member

Lynne Cardy

Lynne is one of Aotearoa’s most experienced programmers and producers in the Theatre for Young Audiences sector. She has collaborated with theatre companies, museums, schools, and communities both nationally and internationally. Recently, Lynne served as the programme manager for the World Choir Games 2024 and as the interim artistic director at Capital E’s National Theatre for Children.

​

Previously, Lynne was the associate director at Auckland Theatre Company, where for over a decade, she supported young artists and audiences through groundbreaking festivals, commissions, school tours, and enrichment programs. She is currently spearheading Theatre in Schools Aotearoa, a new touring and development project aimed at bringing brilliant theatre and dance to children aged 12 and under.

 

Lynne began her career in participatory arts in the UK, working with companies such as Welfare State International, Walk the Plank, Emergency Exit Arts, and B-Arts. She later founded Pandemonium Theatre in Auckland and directed its award-winning youth arts projects. As an energetic teaching artist and alumnus of NYC’s Lincoln Center Education, Lynne has created learning experiences for people aged 1 - 100.

 

She is a founder member of PAYPA, and a mentor for RNZB Education.

Board Member

Kathy Lloyd-Parker

​Bio to be added

Board Member

Teresa Lee 李慧

Teresa’s family hails from Guangdong, China and immigrated to Tāmaki Makaurau, Aotearoa, where she grew up singing, dancing, playing piano, and performing in productions and kapa haka. She has a lifelong passion for the arts, sharing culture and language, exploring identity and mental health, and advocating for social justice.

She has worked across theatre, screen, and voice, performing in English, Mandarin, Cantonese, and te reo Māori. She was part of Tuatara Collective’s Hine Te Rēhia, presented at Basement Theatre in 2022 and BATS Theatre in 2024.

Alongside her creative practice, Teresa holds a Conjoint Bachelor of Laws (Honours)/Commerce from the University of Auckland and has supported Auckland Theatre Company and NZ Opera through Asian community outreach and engagement. She is proud to give back to Tuatara Collective as a member of the Board of Trustees, supporting its kaupapa and growth.