Advisory Group Membership
Background information about the Advisory Group members.
There are eight positions:
- six community representatives nominated by community organisations
and one nominee each from
- Te Atamira Taiwhenua (DIA advisory group for Maori), and
- Pacific Island Consultant and Advisory Group (DIA advisory group for Pacific Island peoples).
The Department of Internal Affairs Operations team provide the Advisory Group with secretarial and operational support.
Current Advisory Group Members
Eru Thompson (Chair)
Te Kawerau a Maki, Ngati Mahanga, Te Ahiwaru, Ngati Te Ata, Te Waiohua.
Name: Eru Thompson
Org: Elected Te Atamira Representative
Region: Auckland
Term: Feb 2007-
Eru's diverse background spreads across several disciplines: he is a recognised expert in Māori issues and actively supports many organisations within the Auckland region as a Cultural Advisor and a Tainui Kaumatua.
He played a pivotal role in the development of Manukau City’s cultural environment and continues to support his community as one of the key leaders in the Auckland region.
He is an active board member of the Mana Whenua tribes, Cultural Advisor, and Kaumatua to Te Kawerau a Maki and Te Waiohua, of the Tainui waka. He also holds many community leadership roles in organisations in the Counties-Manukau region. He is Chairman of the Manukau Institute of Technology's Runanga Advisory board, Trustee and the current Chairman of the Manurewa marae, has a tribal role on the Manawhenua Health Board, member of a board of trustees of Family Start Manukau, and is a member of the national Te Atamira Taiwhenua's Kaumatua board of the Department of Internal Affairs, providing advice to the department.
Eru has a pragmatic attitude to the mana of the Treaty of Waitangi and how it evolved, committing him and his people to the total delivery of its contents. He works to promote the Treaty of Waitangi not only because of its principles, but because he believes Māori have been true to its kaupapa, and that Aotearoa needs to be a global leader when it comes to indigenous peoples’ rights.
Merv Altments (Deputy Chair)
Name: Merv Altments
Org: Latvian Church Charitable Trust
Region: Canterbury
Term: Feb 2008-
Merv is the Chair of the Latvian Church Charitable Trust, an organisation that provides for the spiritual needs of Christchurch Latvians and their descendants. The Trust is the social and cultural core of Latvian society in Christchurch and, indirectly, the rest of New Zealand.
Merv is also the Chief Executive of the Christchurch Agency for Energy (CAfE), a charitable organisation charged with reducing energy use in Christchurch and the transition to an energy mix with an increasing percentage of renewable forms. Merv is a former Chair of the Telecommunication Users’ Association (TUANZ) and the Telecommunications Disputes Resolution Service.
Jude McNabb
Name: Jude McNabb
Org: Volunteer Nelson
Region: Nelson
Term: Feb 2008-
Being born and raised in Karamea - a small, isolated community on the West Coast - has given Jude an insight into the role of the voluntary sector and importance of access to information.
For the past 10 years, Jude has managed Volunteer Nelson and the Community Support Service, playing an integral role in the community and voluntary sector of the Nelson region.
Susan Haynes
Name: Susan Haynes
Org: Franklin ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) Inc.
Region: Auckland
Term: August 2009-
Susan is of Ngāti Tūwharetoa descent and is born and raised in South Auckland, currently living in Waiuku with her husband and 3 children.
Susan has a background in training, support and communication roles within community organisations. As the mother of an autistic teenager, she is active in the health and disability sector, both as a trainer for Parent to Parent (a national NGO supporting parents of special needs children) and a member of the Ministry of Health’s National Autism Advisory Panel.
Susan has previously held co-ordinator roles for Waiuku Families and the South Auckland Special Needs Support Group. She has also been a facilitator for Plunket's Education In Schools parenting programme, the Ministry of Social Development's SKIP parenting programme, and also for the Franklin Parent's Centre.
Teri Sofaea
Name: Teri Sofaea
Org: Elected Pacific Island Consultation Advisory Group (PICAG) Representative
Region: Auckland
Term: Feb 2009-
Hailing from Mangere, Teri has been involved in the community and voluntary sector in the Auckland region for many years. She has been a Cook Island representative for the Manukau area on the Pacific Island Advisory Committee and has also served as the Chairperson for Ephatah Support Services.
For the past twenty years, Teri has worked for the Ministry of Social Development's Business Unit - Work and Income. She is a Case Manager and Coordinator for the Lu’i Ola Mangere Access Services (Pacifika Communities Embracing Disability).
Simon Gurnsey
Name: Simon Gurnsey
Org: Canterbury Men's Centre
Region: Canterbury
Term: March 2011-
Simon has a long history of board membership in both educational and community organisations. He worked for four years in an internet-based educational provider (OnlineGroups.Net), maintaining an online learning environment for post-graduate accounting students. Since joining the Depression Support Network and subsequently the Canterbury Men's Centre, Simon has helped a number of organisations set up their own websites, such as: International Playback Theatre Network , Mensline Christchurch , Hagley Writers’ Institute .
His interest in website development for community organisations has led to a voluntary position as webmaster for Australian and Aotearoa New Zealand Psychodrama Association (ANZPA) and as webmaster for the NZ Association of Psychotherapists.
Simon is currently completing a post graduate diploma in NFP Management through UNITEC and training to become a certificated sociometrist through ANZPA. He is also a member of ANZPA's bi-cultural working party, Ohomairaki.
Steve Gibling
Name: Steve Gibling
Org: New Zealand Recreation Association
Region: Wellington
Term: March 2011-
Steve has been employed in the recreation and sport sector since he graduated from CPIT in Christchurch with a Diploma in Applied Recreation, majoring in Community Recreation, in 1999. He has since gone on to work in the community recreation, events, parks and aquatics sectors with a number of local authorities and as a volunteer at club level.
Steve has also gained a Post Graduate Diploma in Human Resource Management from Massey University and is now working towards further qualifications in the management sector. An avid cyclist and triathlete, Steve has competed to an international level in triathlon and mountain biking. He is currently the Chief Executive of the New Zealand Recreation Association and is also on the Organising Committee of the Association of Non-Government Organisations of Aotearoa (ANGOA).
Previous Advisory Group members
These members also contributed to the strategic development of CommunityNet Aotearoa until reaching the end of their term or leaving the Department.
- Moana Tāne, Northland - 2005-2010
- Dave Henderson, Wellington - 2005-2010
- Peter Sykes, Mangere - 2002 - 2009
- Julia Stuart, Wellington - 2005-2009
- Karaitiana Taiuru, Christchurch - 2007
- Puipuifatu Antonio William Seiuli, Pacific Island Consultant and Advisory Group - 2005-2007
- Kaeti Rigarlsford, Wellington - 2002-2007
- Ruth Gardner, Christchurch - 2002-2007
- Rakiihia Tau, Tuahiwi - 2002-2007
- Bill Dashfield, DIA- 2003-2007
- Georgina Johnson, Tokomaru Bay - 2002-2005
- Ross Bell, Wellington - 2002-2005
- Stephen Blyth, DIA - 2002-2004
- Vaine Hosking, Dunedin - 2002-2004