On 29th January 2022, Ngāti Rehua-Ngātiwai ki Aotea Trust welcomed Charles Nepia (Rongowhakaata/Ngati Hine) as our new Kai-Whakahaere with a powhiri held at Kawa Marae.
Ko Puketapu te Maunga
Ko Waipaoa me Karaua nga awa
Ko Horouta me Takitimu nga waka
Ko Ngāti Maru te hapu
Ko Rongowhakaata te iwi
In 2001, Charles began his professional career as a Civil Engineer/Project Manager with Fletcher Construction in Auckland, before moving to Client-side project management with the Physical Facilities Department of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands. He moved to Tonga with his family in 2009 to lead the reconstruction of the Nuku’alofa CBD for the Government of Tonga.
He continues to work remotely as a Consultant and Senior Project Manager for various Governments and the World Bank in Tuvalu, Samoa, Vanuatu, Kiribati, Tonga, and the Solomon Islands, supporting the development and improvement of infrastructure and governance in the Pacific Region. Charles also provides ongoing specialist development support and consulting services to hapu and marae organisations within Tainui and Ngāti Rehua Ngātiwai Ki Aotea.
Charles is married to Joelene, daughter of Noelene Ngawaka-Fortzer. They have four children and have resided on Aotea since 2011.
Charles brings his engineering knowledge, project expertise and management experience to support the strategic objectives of the Ngāti Rehua Ngātiwai Ki Aotea Trust and strengthen the management of the Trust operations.