I was born and bred in Te Tairāwhiti, and Te Tairāwhiti is at the heart of everything I do. My passion for our people, our land and our culture means that this position is one I am privileged to fulfill and will work hard to excel in. 

I am particularly interested in innovation and sustainability, and I look forward to the opportunity to put some of my learnings into practice at home. 

Recently I completed a Māori pre-governance programme through Victoria University and have held leadership roles through different community groups but I am relatively new to this space. Since taking up the Rangatahi role in February 2019, I have been learning the ropes and hope to take on more responsibilities in the near future. 

I see the role of a board member as being a kaitiaki. Some define kaitiaki simply as ‘guardian’ but I believe it also encapsulates working with and utilising the environment for the betterment of our present and future generations. I will do my best to act as a Kaitiaki for Whangara Farms. 

Ko Whangara te putahitanga o te tangata, ko Whangara te parekereke o te korero!

Naku iti nei, Hinemihiata Lardelli

Attending our farm and whānau hui since I was young, (yes, I was one of those kids who ran in and out of the meetings while all the adults asked questions of the committees), I have always been led back home to Whangara, especially where our whenua and mahi is concerned.  My own children followed my steps, in that they then became the kids running in and out while I stood amongst the whānau with my own questions.

Having been nominated onto the committee for Tapuwae Whitiwhiti in 2013, I have been very eager to learn what happens on the ‘other side of the table’, whilst ensuring that the voice of the whanau is heard and that Te Ao Māori is always a strong consideration in what we do as a business.

In 2014 & 2015 saw my inclusion in a sub-committee which measured the pros and cons for our inclusion in the Whangara Farms Partnership.  Upon our joining of the Whangara Farms Partnership in 2015, I quickly joined the Whangara Farms sub-committee for Branding, which was responsible for guiding the new website development as well as development of our own unique branding for our products.

In 2018 I completed a Diploma in Māori Leadership and Governance, which has enabled me to ask the right questions and provide sound information when needed.  I have regularly attended FOMA conferences on behalf of our committee. I am also able to keep up with new trends and ideas happening locally, nationally and internationally, as well as networking with other influential Māori business people.

However, beyond all of this, my core focus is that our Tapuwae Whitiwhiti whenua and farming business will be of benefit to us now, to our children tomorrow and to their children mo ake tonu.  I believe in the concept that we are only caretakers of the land and therefore see it as my responsibility to ensure that our farming is based on a long-term vision where the land is our provider, but also is protected by us.

Our land is representative of who we are as a people, therefore its up to us to showcase our culture in all aspects.

Toitu te whenua, toitu te tangata
The land thrives, the people thrive

Academic and vocational background

I have more than 25 years’ experience working as a lawyer mainly in the areas of Treaty Claims and Māori Land. I also worked initially in the areas of Criminal and Family Law and have latterly been working in the areas of Immigration and Employment Law.

Since the mid-1980’s I have represented hapū-iwi in relation to local and central government, resource management, consultative processes, hui facilitation, providing leadership, liaison, communication and administration.

I also have considerable experience working on and providing input into various committees and boards over a number of years.

Whakapapa descendancy

My main Hapū/Iwi affiliations are to Ngāti Oneone, Te Aitanga ā Hauiti, Te Whanau ā Kai, Ngā Pōtiki and Te Aitanga ā Māhaki and I also have tribal affiliations to Ngāti Konohi, Ngai Tāmanuhiri, Ngāriki Kaipūtahi, Rongowhakaata, Ngāti Porou and Te Whakatōhea.

Vision for being a part of the committee of management and current role:

I ‘bring’ the following in my role as a member of the Pakarae A and Other Blocks Management Committee. That is:

a. A high level of professional support and assistance in the workings of the committee regarding the long-term business sustainability of Pakarae A and Other Blocks.

b. An interest in areas of diversification, including business opportunities within the takutai moana of Pakarae A and Other Blocks.

c. Support for a ‘green’ and environmentally friendly over-lay to farm operations.

d. Ensuring an equally high-level of excellence and quality of farming out-put, as and when required.

e. Acknowledgement and implementation of tikanga in areas of policy and management.

An Environmental Planner by profession, with a Masters Degree in Environmental Management.  I was the first Environmental Manager at Birmingham International Airport in the 90’s, when the environmental movement was in its infancy.  Whilst there, I quickly learned that you can achieve very little without the support of the people.  Learning this my skill base quickly evolved into organisational change management by empowering people, and from there into the business world establishing and growing my own start up businesses and onto running and growing businesses for others.  So I have a broad range of skills, and that is why this role appealed to me so much as it would require all of them, and some!

I do not see this as just a job, but helping to create the next legacy for the shareholders, whanāu, and hapū who make up Whāngārā Farms.  I have had the privilege of working with some great people in my first full year, and I look forward to meeting and working with many more on this great journey, including ensuring succession.

Married to Debbie since 1986, who is an HR Consultant with BDO in Gisborne, and we have two great kids Sam and Megan. We made New Zealand our home in 1996, and Gisborne in 2021. Why Gizzy? Simple, my son Sam married a Gizzy girl Tayla, and they have had our first moko Poppy Leach now nearly 2 years old.  Plus the fact I have learned that the East Coast is pretty special barring cyclones that is!

Hayden holds many governance roles including Deputy Chair of Pakarae Incorporation, Chairing the Mangaotane Farm Trust, Chairman of the Poverty Bay Rugby Union, Executive of the Poverty Bay A & P Association (Agricultural and Pastoral Association), Director of Ngāti Porou Whanau Forest, Ngāti Porou Land Trust, Hauiti Incorporation and Mangaheia 2D Incorporation (Paroa Station), Director of Gisborne Holdings Limited, Director of Turanga Ngahere and Federation of Māori Authorities (FOMA) Tairāwhiti Representative.

Hayden is a Chartered Member of the Institute of Directors and holds a Bachelor of Education, Post Graduate Certificate in Applied Practice, Post Graduate Diploma in Administration and Leadership.