The Trust Welcomes Maioha Tawa as a New Governance Intern

After running an open recruitment process, Antarctic Heritage Trust Board is pleased to announce the appointment of Maioha Tawa as a new governance intern.

The Trust’s Governance Intern programme aims to seek talented people connected with our mission who are looking for boardroom experience and provide them with opportunities to observe and participate in board discussions.

Maioha (Ngāti Ranginui, Ngāti Pāoa) comes from a background in research, law, and policy, with a passion for creating social impact in the non-profit sector. As a Kairangahau (Researcher) at Waikato-Tainui, she has led research projects focused on strengthening connections between tribal members and their marae, capturing marae aspirations, and supporting pathways to mana motuhake (control over one’s own destiny). This work involves
engaging with whānau (family) and translating their stories into insights that help leaders make informed decisions that respond to the needs of the people.

She also uses visual storytelling to make complex ideas accessible, creating illustrated infographics that transform policies, strategies, and data into engaging visuals that support future planning. Alongside her research work, Maioha has served as an Area Coordinator with the NZ Heart Foundation for four years, raising funds and awareness and supporting heart disease research.

Outside of work, she enjoys designing educational board games as a way of combining culture, learning, and storytelling.