Te whakatere i te waka: Interim Chief Executive announcement, welcoming Nepia Winiata
The Board are pleased to announce the appointment of Nepia Winiata as the Interim Chief Executive of Playcentre Aotearoa, effective 7 July 2025.
Nepia brings a wealth of leadership experience across iwi, education, and public sector organisations. He is highly respected and well known for his time as Chief Executive of Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, one of the largest tertiary providers in the country, where he led significant organisational transformation and championed kaupapa Māori values in education.
As our Interim Chief Executive, Nepia will support Te Whānau Tupu Ngātahi, Playcentre Aotearoa, through this transitional period including our ongoing work to progress and implement the branch agreements. He will also work closely with the Board, staff, and centre whānau to maintain momentum on our strategic priorities and ensure continuity of service to our centres and Playcentre communities.
E hīkaka ana te ngākau, kua tae mai te raupūkenga, te raukura, te Raukawa tūturu nei.
We are excited to welcome Nepia to Te Whānau Tupu Ngātahi and look forward to the steady leadership and insight he will bring to this role.
Call for Applications – Trustee Board Positions
With the 2025 Trustee appointment process underway, Playcentre Aotearoa is currently inviting applications for four Trustee Board positions, two Te Whare Tikanga Māori and two Tangata Tiriti, that have become available due to Board rotation.
Please note that the closing date for applications has been extended to 9am, Friday 18 July 2025.
To request a candidate briefing pack and application form, email: [email protected]
Completed applications must be submitted to the same address by 9am Friday, 18 July 2025.
Trustee Election Update – Your Voice, Your Vote
Once the application period closes, each Whare will carry out its own candidate selection process, as set out in The Rules, to determine which applicants will progress to the whānau voting stage. These processes play a vital role in ensuring the candidates put forward reflect the values, aspirations, and diversity of their communities, affirming the role of each Whare role in supporting strong and representative governance.
Once Whare selections are finalised, confirmed candidates will move forward to the whānau voting stage.
With every whānau who have tamariki enrolled in Playcentre at the time of the election entitled to vote, this is your opportunity to help shape the future of Playcentre Aotearoa. Each whānau will have one vote for each vacant Trustee position for their Whare. Voting opens on 17 September, and we’ll be sharing more details soon about the election process and how to cast your vote in the coming weeks.
This is a vital opportunity to shape the future of our organisation. Let’s make it count, for our tamariki, our whānau, and for Te Whānau Tupu Ngātahi, Playcentre Aotearoa.
Nā mātou noa nā,
Alice, Andrea, Bes, Fran, Heather, Peta, Nat-Rose mātou ko Ruth.