Bella Takiari-Brame: A champion for Māori voices in governance
Since she can remember, Bella Takiari-Brame’s mother has been a part of every movement to advance the interests of her marae, whenua, and iwi.
That same passion has been instilled in Bella, who has become recognised as a trailblazer in Māori governance and advocacy and in 2024 was made a Distinguished Alumni of the University of Waikato Te Whare Wānanga o Waikato.
Well-regarded for championing diversity and promoting Māori perspectives at governance level, Bella has been driven by a desire to see Māori voices represented by all.
My goal is that I’m not the only voice at governance level for diversity and Māori, that all of those around me at the board table are too.
A board member of ACC and Director of Te Ohu Kaimoana, Aotearoa Fisheries Limited, Crown Infrastructure Partners, New Zealand Healthcare Investments Ltd, and Braemar Hospital, Bella seeks governance positions in areas that make a difference, something she has sought to do from an early age.
Born in Te Kuiti, Bella who is of Ngāti Maniapoto and Waikato-Tainui descent, was the first in her family to attend university. Driven by a desire to embrace te ao Māori and the academic world, she completed a Bachelor of Management Studies majoring in Māori Resource Management and Accounting. Further qualifications have included a Master of Management Studies with Distinction and a Postgraduate Diploma in Māori and Pacific Development.
She was just 18 when she took on her first governance role as Treasurer of a Māori Land Corporation and today is Chairperson of The Lines Company, an electricity distributor in the King Country and Central Plateau region.
I believe good governance means being a good listener and showing respect and compassion.
Her leadership was particularly notable during the COVID-19 pandemic when she stepped in as interim CEO of the Maniapoto Māori Trust Board.
The exciting projects I’ve had an influence on are utilising roof space of our marae to generate solar power for our kaumatuas’ homes, ensuring our people got fed during lockdown, knowing over 80% of our marae across the country have connections to the internet, insulating homes all over King Country and Central Plateau, and empowering Te Tiriti in health organisations.
Passionate about her Māori culture and community – Bella is also Deputy Chair of post-settlement governance entity, Te Nehenehenui Trust ̶ Bella says she does what she does because she believes in a future that her children and mokopuna can thrive in and be who they want to be.
The future of governance for women in New Zealand is on the right path, my contribution is being a leader in that space and paving the way for others to lead through humility and action.
Bella says her father’s hard work ethic is something she remembers every day. "As long as I'm putting my best foot forward, and I am a size 11, then there's plenty of space for others to follow."
