The Waitangi National Trust's high-profile chief executive Jeanette Richardson is to leave the position.
Through her management consultancy business, Ms Richardson has managed the trust since 2001, being appointed chief executive in 2005.
Since 2002 Ms Richardson has also chaired the Waitangi Day Governance Committee, which organises annual celebrations drawingaround 50,000 people. The iconic Treaty Grounds host 250,000 visitors a year.
The contract with Richardson Management Consultants expires in June, and with it goes Ms Richardson's managing role.
Chairman Pita Paraone said having a new chief executive employed directly by the board was partly a financial necessity, but he hoped it would bring other commercial gains.
The change away from an external consultancy followed a review of the board's administrative requirements, he said.
"She's done an amazing job for the board during her time with us," Mr Paraone said of Ms Richardson's input.
"Jeanette has left it in good health and we are looking to broaden and improve on that and look at what else we can do with this public estate for the benefit of the people of New Zealand."
During Ms Richardson's tenure, the Waitangi National Trust Board completed the much acclaimed Waitangi Visitors Centre and achieved a long-standing desire to have entry into the Treaty Grounds free to all New Zealand residents.
The board's efforts were recognised in the 2010 Northland Business Awards with the award of Best Tourism operator and Northland Business of the Year.
Ms Richardson was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to the community in the 2011 New Years Honours List.
On the eve of Waitangi Day in 2010, she was nominated in the New Zealander of the Year awards and in the same year was a finalist in the Woman of the Year awards' arts and culture section.
Born in Kawakawa and now living in Opua, Ms Richardson attended Kawakawa Primary School and Bay of Islands College before completing a BA in New Zealand and Pacific history, followed by post-graduate studies in business management.
The trust's chief executive's position will be advertised within the next few weeks, with the intention of having a new administrator in place to coincide with the expiry of the existing contract at the end of June.
