Anne Haira has joined the industry training organisation for the primary sector, Primary ITO, as the newly established General Manager Māori Business/Kaiwhakahaere Pakihi.
"Māori agribusiness is playing an increasingly significant role in growing NZ Inc and it is important Primary ITO is well positioned to respond tothe changing needs of our strategic partners," says Primary ITO board member, Traci Houpapa.
"The GM Māori Business/Kaiwhakahaere Pakihi role is a new addition to the Primary ITO senior leadership team and is a strong signal that Primary ITO is serious about building our connections with the Māori business sector - a major focus for us in 2017.
The Primary ITO board supports Chief Executive Linda Sissons in Anne's appointment - we know her background in Māori and commercial development will be invaluable as we progress our strategy," adds Traci.
Anne has an extensive background in Māori business and is passionate about Māori development in the primary sector. She joins Primary ITO from Fonterra where she was Manager, Māori Relations and Agribusiness.
In this role she was responsible for the strategic development of Fonterra's relationships with Māori - including shareholders, tangata whenua and business and political leaders.
She also drove several new employment initiatives for Māori in the dairy industry.
Anne has previously worked as a senior lawyer with commercial law firm Kensington Swan, advising a wide range of iwi and hapū on Treaty settlement negotiations as well as post-settlement issues.
She has also held policy roles at the Ministry of Economic Development and Te Puni Kōkiri (Ministry of Māori Development) and worked overseas for the Secretariat of the Pacific Community in New Caledonia as well as the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs in Vancouver, Canada.
Anne has affiliations with Te Arawa, Ngāti Kahungunu and Rangitāne Iwi, and started in the GM Māori Business/Kaiwhakahaere Pakihi role this week.
