Ngāi Tūhoe, Ngāti Manawa, Ngāti Awa, Ngāti Pikiao, Ngāti Whakaue, Waikato

Dip (Te Reo), Dip (Maori Governance), LLB, LLM, MInstd

Te Rika is an experienced leader with a strong background in strategy, governance, sustainability and grass-roots community development. Guided by a deep passion for empowering future generations, his career has been shaped by service to his people, his hāpori, and the wider public.

A proud alumnus of the University of Waikato, Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, and Te Pūkenga, he holds Advanced Diplomas in Te Reo Māori and Māori Governance, a Bachelor of Laws with a double major in Law and Māori Studies, and a Master of Laws specialising in Māori, Pacific, and Indigenous Law.

Before becoming Chief Executive of Te Puna Ariki and establishing himself as a professional governor and trustee, Te Rika held senior leadership roles across both the public and Māori sectors. As Senior Regional Advisor at Te Puni Kōkiri, he led major initiatives that strengthened community and economic development across the Waikato and Waiariki regions. Prior to this, he served as Head of Programme Design and Delivery at Tuaropaki, leading the trust’s social development arm and delivering transformative intergenerational initiatives for the $1.2 billion Māori trust.

Alongside his executive career, Te Rika has built an extensive governance portfolio driven by a commitment to community leadership and creating opportunities for future generations. He is an elected Councillor for Rotorua Lakes Council, representing Council across 14 trusts, committees, and governance boards. He also serves as Co-Chair of the Manawarū Tribal Authority and as a trustee of Ngāi Te Paena–Ngāti Kuri Hapū and Uwhiārae Marae, supporting the advancement of his papakāinga and whārua.

His governance experience further extends to public-sector leadership as Deputy Chair of Fire and Emergency New Zealand Bay of Plenty’s Local Advisory Committee, board member for Te Maru o Kaituna River Authority, and committee member for the Rotorua Future Development Committee. He also contributes to indigenous research and philanthropy as a Board Member of Toi Matarua Indigenous Research Centre and the Global Advisory Council of the LEGO Foundation.

As Chief Executive of Te Puna Ariki, Te Rika leads with a strong sense of purpose. His focus is on fostering excellence, innovation, and sustainable impact while ensuring the organisation remains firmly grounded in kaupapa Māori values and responsive to the aspirations of rangatahi, whānau, hapū, and iwi.

Areas of Expertise: Long-term Strategy, Organisational Leadership, Community Advocacy, Māori Governance and Land Administration, Project Management, Regional/District Development, Law and Policy, Programme Design and Delivery.