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Our Board

Miro is a Limited Partnership – governed by a General Partner named Hautupua GP Limited. The governing Board of Miro comprises specialist skills with expertise in law, indigenous business models, iwi and Māori governance, commerce and finance, horticultural management and export, technology innovation, Māori economic and community development, international marketing, and capital raising.

The elected members of our Board are:

 
 

Dr Riri Ellis, Tauranga Moana Miro LP (chair)

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Riri is General Manager, Tukairangi Investments. Trustee/ Director, Ngāi Tukairangi Trust in Mount Maunganui - one of the largest Māori producers of export kiwifruit in New Zealand. Delegate for the Federation of Māori Authorities, the Bay of Plenty Maori Economic Advisory Committee, now Toi Kai Rawa and Bay Connections Economic Leadership Group. She is also a trustee on several Maori land trusts within the Bay of Plenty and the Director of Maori Business Programmes, at the Wellington School of Business and Government, Wellington University of Victoria.


Steve Saunders, Rockit Holdings Ltd

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Steve has 32 years’ experience in the horticultural sector, international ventures, applied technology, environmental research & development, innovation and science. He is the founder, owner and Managing Director of the Plus Group of companies, specialising in horticulture and orchard management, pollen production, and robotics development via Robotics Plus Ltd, He is the Director of Priority One, Lincoln Hub, Agrigate, Rockit Global Limited, Tuhono Whenua Horticulture Ltd, and the Māori Economic Development Advisory Board, of “WNT Ventures” tech incubator and Planttech Regional Research Institute.


Josiah cook, Ngāti porou holding company ltd / nāti Growth

Josiah has honed his skills in strategic thinking, leading out the delivery of outcomes, solving problems, supporting others, and making a positive difference. Being a qualified accountant,
qualified auditor, and certified public practitioner under the institute of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, Josiah has over 15 years extensive knowledge building and practicing experience within a range of commercial environments. 

Values are an integral part of how Josiah carries himself professionally including, integrity,
honesty, respect, open mindedness, determination, striving for excellence, leadership and
positivity.

Josiah joined Nāti Growth Limited as the Chief Commercial Officer in April 2023, a wholly owned subsidiary managing all the commercial interests of Te Runanganui o Ngati Porou. Josiah was previously the Chief Financial and Operations Officer at Tauhara North No.2 Trust Group, and had roles with Deloitte, BDO, and HSBC Bank.

Josiah is a current director on:

  • Hauiti Berries General Partner which manages Hauiti Berries Limited Partnership

  • Joint Venture General Partner Limited which manages Inshore Fisheries JV Limited Partnership


glen katu, ngāti ruanui

Glen Katu is a highly respected Māori leader with extensive experience in governance, agribusiness, and investment management. Based in Hāwera, Taranaki, Glen has spent over three decades serving iwi, Māori organisations, and landowners across Aotearoa, with a strong focus on sustainable economic development and cultural integrity.

He currently serves as a Director of Ngāti Ruanui Holdings Corporation Ltd, where he manages post-settlement commercial assets and leads investment in sectors such as horticulture and forestry. He is also Chair of the New Zealand Ginseng Association, working closely with the Ministry for Primary Industries to gain international market access for New Zealand-grown ginseng.

Glen was the CEO of Maraeroa C Incorporation for 17 years, where he pioneered ginseng cultivation beneath pine forests and developed a vertically integrated export business. He has held key governance roles as Chair of New Zealand Māori Tourism, Deputy Chair of Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Ruanui, and Trustee of the Maniapoto Māori Trust Board.

His background in banking, including 10 years as a Westpac Branch Manager, underpins his financial acumen. He has managed multi-million-dollar investment portfolios and advised iwi during Treaty settlement negotiations.

In the public sector, Glen served as a Senior Adviser in Māori Agribusiness at MPI, where he supported Māori landowners to explore opportunities in kiwifruit, regenerative farming, and herbal crops. He is also a part-time Cultural Partner with Pinnacle Health and an active kapa haka performer with the Pātea Māori Club.

Glen holds qualifications in management, governance, and project delivery, and has received national recognition for his contributions to Māori enterprise. He continues to champion kaupapa Māori approaches to economic development, grounded in whānau, whenua, and whakapapa.


Our MANAGEMENT TEAM

LIZ TE AMO - CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

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Prior to joining Miro, Liz was Executive Director at the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), responsible for leading the national Crown-Māori economic development strategy and partnership. Throughout a 17-year career in the public sector with New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), and ten years in the private sector, she has dedicated her career to growing New Zealand businesses internationally, with a specific focus on growing Māori exporters, leadership and economic development. Liz has lived and worked in China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, the USA and Australia.  Her roles at NZTE included developing the Māori business strategy, running major projects across China, Japan, Korea, and regional development. Liz has also worked on major events such as Shanghai World Expo, Rugby World Cup, and America’s Cup.

Liz whakapapa’s to Te Arawa - Waitaha, Tūhourangi, Tapuika, Ngāti Moko.


aaron hynds – operations manager, miro-meihana koata

Aaron Hynds is an experienced Orchard Manager with a strong track record in the kiwifruit and wider horticulture industry. Aaron brings over two decades of practical experience across orchard management, team leadership, and farm operations.

Aaron oversees orchard development, harvest coordination, and compliance with Global G.A.P. standards. He is known for his ability to build trusted relationships and deliver improvements in productivity and service quality.

Aaron also has a strong background in pastoral farming, having worked nearly 20 years as a sharemilker and farm manager, where he implemented efficiency-focused systems and staff training programmes.

He holds a Bachelor of Agribusiness from Bay of Plenty Polytechnic and is skilled in communication, planning, and problem-solving. Passionate about continuous improvement and team development, Aaron is committed to delivering excellence across all aspects of orchard operations.