Trina Pohatu

My career has taken me through public-sector delivery, iwi operations, Māori economic development, governance and independent advisory. Across all of it, the work I have cared most about is helping good kaupapa move forward in a way that creates real value for people.

I do this mahi because I want to see more Māori development opportunities succeed and not just written about, planned for or discussed, but actually move into investment, delivery and impact.

My role is to help make that easier: ask the right questions, bring the right evidence and people together, work through what is missing, and help shape a pathway that decision-makers can have confidence in.

I care about practical outcomes. Better housing. Stronger businesses. More Māori participation in procurement and investment. Better use of funding. Programmes that actually work. Opportunities that move from aspiration into something tangible.

That is the part of the work that matters most to me.