Māori Advisory Group

Riki is a consultant specialising in environmental management and iwi Māori development, working with central government agencies, local government, iwi and hapū. 

As an adviser to the Freshwater Iwi Leaders Group and a member of the Ministerial advisory group Kāhui Wai Māori, he has an in-depth knowledge of Te Mana o te Wai in a policy context.  

Bonita has been a member of Te Puna since the Water Services Authority - Taumata Arowai’s inception in 2021. She is in her sixth term as a local government elected member, currently serving as the Māori Ward councillor and Deputy Chairperson at Taranaki Regional Council. She sits on Local Government New Zealand’s National Council as a regional sector representative and Te Maruata Rōpu Whakahaere, the steering group for the national collective of Māori elected and appointed members. Bonita is also a Commissioner with the Local Government Commission. She is an artist and passionate arts advocate, serving on the Arts Council for Toi Aotearoa Creative New Zealand, Te Ātinga, the contemporary Māori Arts committee of Toi Māori Aotearoa and chairs Toi o Taranaki Maunga Māori, a Māori artists’ collective in her home rohe. She has been actively involved in whānau, marae, hapū and iwi kaupapa all her life.

Stephanie is of Ngāi Tahu and Ngāti Mamoe descent and specialises in intergenerational environmental outcomes and the interweaving of mātauranga and western science. She has qualifications in Biochemistry and Plant Cell Biology.

Stephanie has extensive experience in the governance sector and is the Chair of the Ngāi Tahu HSNO Kōmiti and a member of the pan Māori Te Herenga rōpū of the Environment Protection Authority. She is also a member of the Water NZ Te Mana o te Wai subgroup and Stormwater Committee.

Cheyenne has a background in agriculture, agribusiness, governance and organisational leadership. She currently works as a Business Services Manager.

Cheyenne currently serves on the Board of WellSouth Primary Health Network and has previously held governance positions with Muka Tangata, the Food and Fibre Centre of Vocational Excellence, Meet the Need, and Our Land and Water National Science Challenge.

Her experience includes strategic governance, agribusiness leadership, workforce and capability development, and working with rural communities, industry and government. She brings practical primary sector experience alongside governance experience at both regional and national levels.

Soltice Morrison (Ngāti Whakaue, Ngāti Rereahu-Maniapoto) is a Māori Strategy Leader working across Aotearoa to embed te ao Māori values and perspectives into infrastructure, engineering, and advisory services. She partners with iwi, clients, and communities to deliver equitable, future-focused outcomes that bridge cultural, technical, and commercial perspectives.

With a background as a geologist, environmental scientist and geoenvironmental consultant, Soltice brings expertise in water, energy, infrastructure, and environmental governance, underpinned by a Master of Business Administration from Xiamen University China, First Class Honours in Geology from Hokkaido University Japan and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Otago. She is passionate about strengthening partnerships, advancing Māori aspirations, and shaping the future of water services in Aotearoa.

Soltice holds many governance and sector leadership roles, including with Water New Zealand, Te Nehenehenui, Infrastructure New Zealand, and ACE New Zealand's Māori Leadership Forum. Recognised as an Infrastructure New Zealand Next Generation Leader and one of YWCA Aotearoa's NZ Trailblazing Women, she is committed to developing inclusive leadership and creating lasting impact across the infrastructure and water sectors.