Our Team
Te Mātāwai has a team of experienced staff who are passionate about the revitalisation of the Māori language and committed to support the achievement of the strategic direction set by the Board.
Poia Rewi
Chief Executive
Ngāti Manawa, Tūhoe, Te Arawa, Ngāti Whare, Tūwharetoa
Poia is happily married with children and mokos who make life so refreshing. After spending 30 years in the tertiary sector, Poia now works for Te Mātāwai, an independent statutory entity legislated to act on behalf of Māori to revitalise te reo Māori alongside the Crown. A strong focus of Te Mātāwai is to support language activities among whānau, kāinga, hapori and iwi by way of contestable, direct funding. Poia joined Te Mātāwai as Tumu Whakarae in July 2020.
Ria Tomoana
Chief Advisor
Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Pāhauwera, Te Āti Awa ki Te Upoko o te Ika
Ria joined Te Mātawai in May 2019. She has a Master of Applied Linguistics from Victoria University of Wellington and extensive experience in Māori language research and revitalisation. She has provided consultancy services and held senior positions with Te Paepae Arahi Trust, Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori, Whitireia and Te Puni Kōkiri.
ria.tomoana@tematawai.maori.nz
Nate Brabender
Investment Manager
Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Ruapani
Nate is a dedicated individual driven by the values of manaakitanga and a strong sense of service.
Raised by his grandparents and later in his teen years by a solo mum, he observed and learned determination and how to serve whānau from an early age.
"All things to all people" - Is Nate's attitude, though his role may say Investment Manager, Nate enjoys serving his people in as many was as he can. With a background in team management and development, combined with studies in Sustainable Investment at Harvard Business School, Nate brings a unique skill set to his role and to Te Mātāwai.
One of Nate's greatest achievements was empowering leaders to lead by implementing team development strategy to take an NGO from a team of 230 individuals and growing it to 750 individuals increasing capacity and productivity by $2m a year.
Joining Te Mātāwai in 2020 from Te Amokura Consultants as a contractor Nate soon fell in love with the kaupapa and was inspired by whānau revitalising te reo Māori in their kāinga, hapori and iwi. Nate then joined full-time where his role was to refine the investment program and the investment team's capacity and capability using his skills in team management and development. Nate is also passionate about his own te reo Māori journey with his whānau, actively implementing a whānau language plan with his wife Chelina (Ngāti Welsh) to raise their future tamariki fully immersed in te reo Māori, ensuring the preservation of their cultural heritage.
"Anei tātou nā ko te pō: anā tātou nā he rā ki tua - here affliction grips us, yonder is relief. We are in this for the long-haul e te whānau, though we are at critical state today, I truly believe kei te ūkaipō haere tō tātou reo, mā ngā whānau, ngā hapori māori me ngā iwi tō tātou reo e kawe ki te karamatamata o te rākau taumatua. Mā tātou anō te reo e whakatō ki ōna whenua haumako”
neihana.brabender@tematawai.maori.nz
Braden Te Hiwi
Research Manager
Ngāti Kauwhata, Ngāti Tūkorehe
In the year 2024, Braden joined the whānau at Te Mātāwai. Research is his primary mahi, and he has received a PhD from the University of Western Ontario (Canada). He is an author of research articles and a book that can be found in academic libraries. Previously, he worked at Te Taura Whiri i te reo Māori, and was also a professor in the Indigenous Studies Program at the University of British Columbia (Canada).
In his youth he spoke only English, but now he believes there is nothing better than speaking his ancestral language to his children. Hoki whakamuri, kia anga whakamua.
braden.tehiwi@tematawai.maori.nz
Mish Rikihana-Vieira
Communications Manager
Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga, Te Ātiawa ki Whakarongotai
Mish is passionate about kaupapa Māori and communications. She joined Te Mātāwai permanently in January 2024 from Te Amokura Consultants after being drawn to the reo revitalisation cause and the whānau atmosphere. Mish has over 20 years’ experience working in public relations and as a journalist in Aotearoa and the UK. Her roles have primarily spanned central and local government including in Indigenous Rights, education, and health.
Raised in Ōtaki, Mish has three daughters with her Brazilian husband. She’s the co-chair of her hapū Ngāti Korokī and a member of the Te Hono ki Raukawa Council.
michelle.rikihana-vieira@tematawai.maori.nz
Karl Smith
Corporate Manager
Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga, Ngāti Tukorehe, Ngāti Rākaipaaka, Rongowhakaata.