Tama Waipara
Ruapani, Rongowhakaata, Ngāti Porou
Chief Executive and Founding Artistic Director
Chief Executive and Founding Artistic Director
Tama brings his extensive knowledge and expertise to imagining and designing the world-class creative experiences within the festival. It’s safe to say he’s the man for this job. With 8 years’ experience at the Auckland Arts Festival as Senior Programme Manager and Creative Associate and formerly Programme Leader Māori at Auckland Council (Arts and Culture). He’s also an award-winning musician, composer and performer, the Co-Chair of SOUNZ - Centre for New Zealand Music and a Board member of Te Hau ki Tūranga Governance Group.
Theresa Wawatai-Smith
Te Aitanga-a-Måhaki, Ngāti Konohi, Ngāti Porou
Operations Manager
Operations Manager
Born and bred in her village of Waihīrere, Theresa has gone on to clock up over 30-years of administration and operational experience working in both the public and private sectors. In between, she and hubby managed to raise two adult children, and she now has an obsession with her two moko - boys, soon to be joined by a sister. After returning to Tūranga in 2010, Theresa spent 8 years with Toihoukura School of Māori Arts based at EIT, as Head of School before a 2 year stint with Hauora Tairāwhiti. The new adventure with Te Tairāwhiti Arts Festival is like ‘coming home’ to a space that is vibrant, ever-changing and extremely challenging but satisfying.
Rebecca Knox
Technical Director
Rebecca is an experienced technical and production manager who’s been involved in events and festivals in New Zealand and abroad for the past 17 years, including Splore Festival, Bright Nights, Aotearoa Music Awards, London Olympics 2012, the Taste of Auckland and many more. Being a master of many roles across production, logistics, site safety, stage management and wrangling volunteers, she’s responsible for making the magic happen at Te Tairāwhiti Arts Festival achieving the ‘wow factor’ at our venues, sites and events.
Samantha Booth
Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki, Rongowhakaata
Programme Manager
Programme Manager
Gizzy Girl Sam recently graduated from Massey University in Wellington with a Bachelor of Commercial Music and returned home in 2022 to be apart of the Te Tairāwhiti Arts Festival whānau. Sam has had previous experience in the music industry through prominent New Zealand music events like Newtown Festival, Cuba Dupa, Smokefree Rockquest, Smokefree Tangata Beats, To The Front Poneke, and Te Tairāwhiti Arts Festival. She has joined our team as the Marketing and Communications Advisor and loves being a part of the festival whānau.
Melanie Tangaere-Baldwin
Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Rongomaiwahine
Cultural Activator and Guest Curator of Te Ara i Whiti
Cultural Activator and Guest Curator of Te Ara i Whiti
Melanie grew up living in Murupara, Francistown (Botswana) and Auckland. Mel is a mean card player, loves country music, and has loved Jughead Jones since she was a kid. She has two beautiful, and hilarious, children. Mel especially loves making stuff. Toi Māori was where she found her voice and is her safe space. It allowed her to know who she is.
