Hon Phil Heatley
Minister of Housing

2 June 2011 Media Statement
New Board to take Tamaki Transformation Programme forward

A new Board is set to take the Government and Auckland Council’s aspirations to transform Tamaki forward

Chaired by Dr Lee Mathias the Interim Tamaki Transformation Board (ITTB) will move the Tamaki Transformation Programme, a 15 to 20 year project aimed at redeveloping the Tamaki area, to its next phase.

The Board’s brief is to explore a recommended structure, mandate and legal form for a new organisation to advise Ministers and the new Auckland Council.

Housing Minister Phil Heatley says it is possible this interim governance structure may develop into New Zealand’s first Urban Development Agency.

"The new Board will build on the positive levels of community engagement and take steps to formally partner with Auckland Council to create measurable improvement under four key components," he said.

"A social component will support Tamaki residents and families to get the skills, knowledge and employment opportunities they need. An economic component will look at measures to strengthen the local economy. A spatial component will create safe and connected neighbourhoods and the housing resources component will look at making optimal use of land and existing housing stock. This will inevitably mean extensive subdivision, building and infrastructure investment," says Mr Heatley.

"It was important both to the Government and to the Auckland Council that the ITTB has real weight and the ability to effect change.

"To achieve this we have appointed the Chief Executives of the four relevant Ministries and senior representatives of Auckland Council as they hold the direct decision-making powers, control the resources in the 'front line' agencies, and are best placed to drive improvements from within their organisations," says Mr Heatley.

Mr Heatley has once again thanked the Establishment Board and its Chair Pat Snedden for their work to bring the Tamaki Transformation project to the point where the next phase can begin.

Interim Tamaki Transformation Board members excluding ex officio central government members are:-

Dr Lee Mathias – Chair
Dr Roger Blakeley
George Kahi
Doug McKay
Alfred Ngaro
Martin Udale

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Biographies of Board members

Dr Lee Mathias - Chair

Dr Lee Mathias has a wealth of private and public experience and has worked in the health sector for over 40 years as a clinician, business owner, consultant, educator, and as a Board Director. Dr Mathias is the Executive Director of Lee Mathias Ltd, having previously been the Managing Director from 1994-2009. Dr Mathias is the Deputy Chair of the Auckland DHB, and a previous Director of ACC, a former Chair of ACC Healthwise, and has also been a Director of Labtests Auckland. Her current directorships and interests are in diagnostics, maternity and services for people with multiple disabilities.

Dr Mathias has a DHSc from AUT University, an MBA from Auckland University, a Post Graduate Certificate in Health Economics, and is an Accredited Fellow of the Institute of Directors.

George Kahi

George Kahi has strong connections and support from the Tāmaki Makaurau iwi of Tāmaki and will bring a wealth of knowledge and experience in Auckland-based Maori initiatives.

George has extensive experience in the arts and entertainment industry. He established JIA records/GIG Ltd (a company that records and distributes Maori Kaupapa music); and a Maori Theatre Company - Poutoko Manawa Matariki Festival Trust Board.

His previous work on social initiatives with the Department of Labour (Community Employment Group) and Department of Internal Affairs has included training opportunities for individuals in gangs, and the establishment of an urban music academy for children in low decile schools.

George has tribal affiliations with Waikato, Ngati Paoa and Ngati Apakura.

Alfred Ngaro

Alfred Ngaro was involved in pioneering the Tāmaki Community Development Trust, which has delivered social services within Tāmaki for over 15 years, using a strengths-based indigenous approach.

In 2009 Alfred Ngaro was awarded a Sir Peter Blake Emerging Leader Award for his ongoing contribution to Tāmaki and his involvement in the Tāmaki Transformation Programme.

Mr Ngaro chairs the Pacific Health Advisory Committee of the Auckland District Health Board, is Chairman of Tāmaki College Board of Trustees, a Trustee of ASB Community Trust, and is on a number of national advisory committees for the Ministry of Social Development, including the National Taskforce for Family Violence, as well as for the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs.

Mr Ngaro studied for a Bachelor of Ministries and served also as a Pastor with the Tāmaki Community Church for six years, and is also a qualified electrician.

Mr Ngaro now works as a community development specialist for the company 4pmgroup ltd. and is involved in a number of development initiatives throughout the Auckland region and nationally, such as Inspiring Communities Exchange.

Martin Udale

Martin Udale is an independent Director and advisor with more than 30 years development and investment experience in the New Zealand, Australian and UK property markets. Previously he has been the Chief Executive of McConnell Property, and Director of Corporate Advisory with CRI, an Australian property development and services group, specialising in partnering with both private and public sector asset owners to create value from underused assets which included a number of large scale ‘brownfield’ redevelopment projects.

Doug McKay (ex officio)

Doug McKay is the Chief Executive of the Auckland Council and has an extensive background in leading large organisations in both New Zealand and Australia This includes senior roles with Carter Holt Harvey, Lion Nathan and Goodman Fielder. Most recently he served as Chief Executive Officer at Sealord and CEO and Executive Chairman of Independent Liquor.

Dr Roger Blakeley (ex officio)

Dr Blakeley has a doctorate in earthquake engineering from Canterbury University and is currently the Chief Planning Officer of Auckland Council. Prior to taking up this role he was the Chief Executive of Porirua City Council for ten years.

As a former Secretary for the Environment, Dr Blakeley was instrumental in developing the law reform that led to the Resource Management Act. Following this achievement, he modernised councils' powers by working on the Local Government Act 2002 as Chief Executive at the Department of Internal Affairs.

Ex officio central government members:

Katrina Bach, Chief Executive, Department of Building and Housing

Peter Hughes, Chief Executive, Ministry of Social Development

Lesley McTurk, Chief Executive, Housing New Zealand Corporation

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