Board members

Anselm Haanen, Surveyor-General, Chairperson

Anselm is a licensed cadastral surveyor, with a Master of Surveying from Otago University. His 40+ year career with Toitū Te Whenua and its predecessor departments has provided opportunities in geospatial research and development, setting surveying and addressing standards, establishing electoral boundaries as a member of the Representation Commission, and providing technical advice on Toitū Te Whenua’s future Automated Survey and Titles System. 

Anselm has managed the regulatory work of the Office of the Surveyor-General for the national geodetic and cadastral survey systems since 2014.

Robin Kearns – nominated by the New Zealand Geographical Society Inc

Robin is a professor of geography, and Head of School of Environment, at University of Auckland. He is a social and cultural geographer who is widely published on the links between health and places, and has influenced the development of the subdiscipline known as health geography. 

He has also published on the politics of place naming and the links between naming and identity. His most recent edited book is on the influence of water on wellbeing. 

Robin’s passions include tramping, poetry, popular music and New Zealand fauna and flora.

Paulette Tamati-Elliffe – nominated by Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu

Paulette (Kāi Te Pahi, Kāi Te Ruahikihiki (Ōtākou), Te Atiawa, Ngāti Mutunga) currently leads the Kāi Tahu te reo Māori revitalisation strategy, Kotahi Mano Kāika. She is Te Waipounamu representative on Te Mātāwai, the national board charged with fulfilling the Maihi Māori strategy for the revitalisation of te reo Māori. 

Over the past 20 years, Paulette and her partner Komene, both graduates of Te Panekiretanga o te Reo Māori – Institute of Excellence in Te Reo Māori, have reclaimed te reo Māori as a language of natural communication in the home with their tamariki and mokopuna. 

Paulette also holds a number of representative roles at a local community level for her hapū, and her voice is often heard either calling or singing to manuhiri at her home marae, Ōtākou. A trustee of Te Nohoaka o Tukiauau (Sinclair Wetlands), Paulette is just as passionate about restoring and strengthening intergenerational connection to our environment and mahika kai traditions.

Merata Kawharu, MNZM – nominated by the Minister for Land Information

Merata (Ngāti Whātua and Ngāpuhi) is an academic, researcher and writer who is currently a part time professor at the Centre for Sustainability at Otago University, a principal at Takarangi Research Group and director of research at Nukuroa Consulting Ltd. 

After completing a doctorate in anthropology at Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar, she has taught at Auckland and Otago Universities, and published widely in areas of indigenous leadership and resource management. 

She has written extensively on cultural heritage, museum governance and Māori development, the Treaty of Waitangi, land use and tenure, and the Resource Management Act. 

She has been a member of the New Zealand Historic Places Trust and its Māori Heritage Council, and has worked as a consultant to UNESCO’s World Heritage Centre in Paris. Merata was awarded an MNZM for services to Māori education.

Jenni Vernon – nominated by the Minister for Land Information

Jenni is a trained primary school teacher, holds a Masters in environmental management, and is an accredited Resource Management Act Hearings Commissioner. 

Jenni served 12 years on the Waikato Regional Council, holding the position of chair from 2004 to 2007. She also formerly lead the Strategic Planning and Resource Management team at Waikato District Council.

Adam Greenland – National Hydrographer, Toitū Te Whenua

Adam is a member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. He holds a Merchant Navy Deck Officer Certificate of Competency and a tertiary qualification in hydrographic surveying and mapping sciences. 

He heads the delegation that represents New Zealand on the International Hydrographic Organisation (IHO) Hydrographic Commission of Antarctica and the South West Pacific Regional Hydrographic Commissio and is also a board member of the International Board of Standards of Competence.

Iaean Cranwell – nominated by Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ)

Iaean (Kāi Tahu, Kāti Irakehu, Kāti Kuri, Kāti Makō) is the current Co-Chair of Te Maruata, the national collective of Māori in governance roles in Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ). He is also a Te Maruata representative to LGNZ's National Council. Iaean returns to Environment Canterbury as a Ngāi Tahu Councillor this triennium, after previously serving as an appointed Councillor representing Ngāi Tahu from 2016-2019, and then as one of two Tumu Taiao mana whenua experts from September 2020 to October 2022.

Iaean has a Bachelor of Science in Biological Science, and post-graduate qualifications in Information Science, with a focus on indigenous toponomy.

He has built strong relationships with his hapū, iwi, papatipu rūnanga, communities, and environmental organisations throughout his career. He also has experience as a director, chair, and member on a variety of commercial, community and charitable organisations.

Iaean takes over from Bonita Bingham, as the LGNZ (Local Government NZ) appointee on the NZGB, and looks forward to the next 3 years.

Cadence Kaumoana – nominated by the Minister for Māori Development

Cadence holds a doctoral degree from the University of Auckland, with her research focused on Māori wellbeing. She has served as Chief Executive for the Maniapoto Māori Trust Board, leading the organization through its transition to a post-settlement entity. Currently, she is the Chief Executive of the Public Health Association of New Zealand.

Cadence has a 20-year strong background in education, community work and Māori development. She is a Marae-appointed member of the Te Nehenehenui iwi consortium, Te Whare o Waiwaiā, a member of the Waikato Conservation Board, an RMA commissioner, and the Chair of a large whānau trust in the Waikato region, currently developing a papakainga. She also leads various environmental initiatives and collaborates with the United Nations Space 4 Water team on water issues in Aotearoa.

With significant governance experience, Cadence is well-connected with communities, iwi, hapū, and marae. She is committed to the protection and care of Mātauranga Māori and is an active member of the Institute of Directors, the NZ Archaeological Association, the Auckland Astronomical Society, the Royal Society of New Zealand as an ECR Professional Member, and the New Zealand Geographical Society.

Mahana Toka – nominated by the Minister for Māori Development

Biography to be updated soon.

Mick Abbott – nominated by the Federated Mountain Clubs of New Zealand

Mick is Emeritus Professor at Lincoln University in the field of landscape studies and landscape architecture. His professional work has taken him to many other diverse landscape contexts both across Aotearoa and also Antarctica. 

He has been involved in coediting books on landscape themes, as well undertaking extensive research on the ways meaning and significance is built up in our landscapes. 

Mick has a strong first-hand knowledge of the country’s backcountry, built through many years of tramping, climbing and kayaking. These activities have sparked a keen personal interest in backcountry culture and history, which has included developing an extensive awareness of first-hand accounts of journeys in this country’s outdoors. 

Mick is also a member of the New Zealand Conservation Authority.