We are excited to announce that we have a new appointment to the Recreation Aotearoa board.

Tania Te Whenua (Tūhoe, Whakatōhea) is principal of Te Whenua Law and Consulting, assisting organisations to realise a commitment to the Treaty of Waitangi and to engage confidently with Māori culture, clients and key stakeholders.

Tania has specialist legal expertise in Waitangi Tribunal and Māori Commercial law and is acting legal counsel to the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions and Public Service Association representing their joint position on inequities facing Māori women in employment within the current Waitangi Tribunal Mana Wahine Kaupapa Inquiry; and co-counsel to the New Zealand Māori Council representing their Treaty of Waitangi claim on climate change.

Along with providing ongoing Treaty of Waitangi and Māori cultural advisory services to a number of public-sector entities, tertiary education institutions and charitable organisations Tania is also the current Māori advisor to Tourism New Zealand, the Asia New Zealand Foundation and the Federation of New Zealand Multicultural Councils.

Tania is also presently engaged by Landcare Research as a consultant contributing to research on Māori resource management practices for the Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment Sustainable Seas National Science Challenge and a member of the Bay of Plenty Regional Council Rivers Advisory Body.

Prior to establishing Te Whenua Law and Consulting, Tania practiced as a Waitangi Tribunal and Māori Commercial Solicitor at Bay of Plenty Law Firms - Aurere Law, Holland Beckett and Potts and Hodgson Lawyers. She was also Programme Manager Māori for both Victoria University's Centre for Executive Development and the Peace Foundation Aotearoa, and Senior Researcher Māori at Te Papa Tongarewa, the Museum of New Zealand.