Good Governance with a Pacific lens - online course (Manawatu and Whanganui)

The course will focus on the practice of governance and is useful for new and emerging governors or board members. The group will be kept small to ensure maximum talanoa, discussion and interaction.

The course will cover:

• How to define governance and have a high-level of understanding of good governance, through Western and Pacific lenses
• The general skills, attributes and experiences needed for governance
• What governance practices look like in action at the board table
• What you can do to build your governance experience, and
• How to be more confident, as Pacific people, in using your strengths and experiences to contribute effectively in the boardroom

Caren Rangi ONZM, FCA, MInstD

Caren Rangi is a very proud Cook Islands Māori and an experienced governance practitioner who is the Chair of the Arts Council of New Zealand and Chair of Pacific Homecare.

She is also a board member for Radio New Zealand, Pacific Co-operation Broadcasting Ltd, the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, Pacific Homecare Services, and Pacific Inc Ltd. Caren is a board director of the Cook Islands Investment Corporation in Rarotonga, and in this role is leading work to develop professional board directors in the Cook Islands.

In 2015, Caren was conferred as a Fellow of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand. In 2016 she was awarded a New Zealander of the Year Local Hero Award for services to governance.

In 2018 Caren was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her services to governance and the Pacific community and was named as the Linden Estate Hawke’s Bay Business Leader of the Year. 

Caren is passionate about adding value to Pacific communities, through the utilisation of her strengths in facilitation, training, auditing, and community development, in governance positions and through the provision of consulting services.

Mele Wendt MNZM, MInstD

Mele Wendt has 17 years of leadership/management experience and 23 years of governance experience.

Her roles have included being a high school teacher, the founding Pacific islands liaison officer and manager of the student recruitment office at Victoria University of Wellington, and then the executive director of Fulbright New Zealand for ten years.  

In the last few years, Mele has been doing a mix of consultancy work and governance. Mele currently serves on the boards of Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu (The NZ Correspondence School), the Wellington Community Trust and Toi Mai Workforce Development Council. She also currently chairs the Steering Group which developed and launched the National Action Plan for Community Governance in 2020 and is overseeing its implementation. 

Mele’s past governance appointments include chairing the Pasifika Education Centre and the Massey University Pacific Student Success Working Group and serving as board member on Lotteries Wellington/Wairarapa Distribution Committee, Volunteer Service Abroad (VSA), Major Arc Charitable Trust, and Victoria House, to name a few.

For 10 years, Mele was the Executive Director of Fulbright New Zealand. Her roles at Victoria University of Wellington included the founding Pacific Islands Liaison Officer and the manager of domestic student recruitment.

Mele is a member of various professional and community groups, and she is a White Ribbon Ambassador. In January 2019, Mele was awarded a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) for her services to governance, the Pacific community, and women.