Governance
The Mary Potter Hospice Foundation’s Board of Trustees provides governance for the Hospice on behalf of the people we serve.
Mary Potter Hospice Patron
Dame Kerry Prendergast (CNZM)
We were delighted when Dame Kerry Prendergast became the Patron of Mary Potter Hospice in 2017. Dame Kerry is the former Mayor of Wellington and former Vice-President of Local Government New Zealand and holds an MBA from Victoria University.
Dame Kerry is currently Chair of the New Zealand Film Commission and the Royal NZ Ballet. She is a Director of Oceania Healthcare, deputy chair of NZ Conservation Authority and a Trustee of the Wellington International Arts Foundation.
Dame Kerry was awarded a CNZM in 2011 for her services to local government, and is a distinguished Alumni of Victoria University. In July 2016 Dame Kerry was also awarded a Lifetime Excellence Award for Outstanding Contribution to Local Government.
Our Board of Trustees
Steph Dyhrberg, Chair
Steph Dyhrberg (Kāi Tahu) is a well-known employment barrister in Wellington and on the Kāpiti Coast. She has been on the Board for 7 years. Steph is involved in community and professional organisations including the Rotary Club of Kāpiti (Youth Director), Kauri Theatre (Patron) and a member of the judging panel for the Electra Business Awards.
In 2018, Steph was awarded Wellingtonian of the Year for her work in tackling sexual harassment in the legal profession. Steph and her husband Murray Bell are long standing supporters of the Hospice, as donors, volunteers and advocates for our work. They have 2 adult daughters.
Professor Gregor Coster (CNZM), Deputy Chair
Prior to being Professor Emeritus at Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington, Gregor was Professor of Health Policy and Founding Dean of the Wellington Faculty of Health at Victoria University. He previously held the role of Elaine Gurr Professor of General Practice at the University of Auckland after fifteen years in full-time general practice.
He is a past Chair of District Health Boards New Zealand and Chairman of the Counties Manukau and West Coast District Health Boards. Other past positions include the founding Chair of WorkSafe New Zealand which is the national health and safety regulator, and Board Member of the Accident Compensation Corporation, Deputy Chairman of the Pharmaceutical Management Agency (PHARMAC) and of Health Workforce New Zealand. Gregor was made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List in 2007 for services to public health.
Martin Lenart
Martin, a chartered accountant, is a business consultant and mentor with Business Mentors NZ and provides advisory support to 12 SMEs. He holds a number of directorships including Arthritis NZ on which he chairs the Investment committee.
Martin also gives his time generously to volunteering and has served the Hospice in that way for many years, and is a Trustee of the Forever Foundation.
Tui Te Hau
Tui Te Hau is the Founder of Bird Island – Innovation for global good, and formerly led the public experience team at the National Library of NZ. In her work, Tui has sought opportunities to deliver greater value for communities, whanau, hapu and iwi.
Tui is an experienced leader, a scholarship recipient for the 2017 Global Women Breakthrough Leaders Program and finalist in the government category for the Wellingtonian of the Year 2017.
Anthony Carter
Anthony is a New Zealand born Pacific Islander of Samoan, Kiribati, Tuvalu and English descent. He holds numerous leadership roles including Co-Chair – Wellington City Council Pacific Advisory Group, Lead Manager/General Manager – Central Pacific Collective, Governance/Management – Vaka Atafaga Pacific Nursing Service, a member of the Wellington Regional Skills Leadership Group, among many more community-focussed organisations.
He also serves as the Chair of the Mary Potter Hospice Pacific Advisory Group, a role which has given him the opportunity to contribute and further serve the Hospice and our Pacific communities.
Catherine Epps
Catherine was drawn to serve on the Board of Mary Potter Hospice after a positive experience of the services a hospice can provide when her Dad passed away when Catherine was a teenager.
Catherine has since qualified as a Speech-language Therapist specialising in working with adults who have neurological impairments- including those who have chronic or progressive disabilities. Catherine has thrived when supporting others to achieve, and has done this via Senior Leadership roles at ABI Rehabilitation, Capital and Coast District Health Board, and currently at PHARMAC. Catherine is a member of the Institute of Directors, holds a Masters in Human Communication and Deaf Studies, plus is a Fellow of the Australasian College of Health Service Managers.
Catherine migrated from the UK to Aotearoa in 2006, and now identifies as a kiwi who loves pastimes that mean she can enjoy the best of this country; good food, tramping, sailing, and being with her family.
Peter Chew
Peter is a partner at KPMG and has over 20 years of consulting experience supporting the UK and NZ governments on performance improvement, the development of performance measurement frameworks, value for money, operational efficiency, project and programme management, and change management.
Peter has had a wide range of community involvement over many years – he is currently the Board Chair of his local primary school, as well as leadership coaching to school Principals through Springboard Trust.
Dr Tim Jefferies
Tim Jefferies is a partner and general practitioner at the Onslow Medical Centre in Johnsonville. He specialises in family medicine, with specific interests in aged care, allergy and occupational medicine. He has extensive experience working in aged and palliative care in rest homes and in general practice.
Hori Waaka
Kia ora my name is Hori Waaka
He uri ahau no Ngāti Toa Rangatira, Ngāti koata, Ngāti kuia, Te Ati awa me Ngai tahu
E noho ana ahau ki te rohe o Pōneke engari ko Wairau toku kainga.
I am the Manager of Hei Oranga Ake – a community based, nurse lead Hauora hub.
I have been in iwi lead Māori health services for over 10 years, my passion is to provide preventative medicine in the primary health care sector and to support our community with harm reduction.
Kura Moeahu QSO
Te Kāhui Maunga, Ngā Ruahine, Te Āti Awa, Ngāti Mutunga, Taranaki-tuturu, Ngāti Tama, Ngāti Toa
Kura Moeahu has strong whakapapa connections to the Wellington Region and Taranaki. Raised amongst his mother’s people of Waiwhetu Marae. A tribal leader for his people he is currently the Chair of Waiwhetu and Pipitea Marae, Te Rūnanganui o Te Āti Awa, Atiawa Toa FM Radio and the Harbour Island Kaitiaki Board. A board member of Creative NZ, Deputy Chair of the Wellington Māori Cultural Society. Kura also holds a number of directorship and advisory roles.
A Cultural Advisor and Consultant who has a strong a background in Māori governance, Strategic Planning, Treaty of Waitangi Facilitator, Iwi Engagement, as well as the Tumu Whakarae/Principle Advisor Māori in Parliament, overseeing and ensuring tikanga Māori is upheld and promoted within Parliamentary Services. Highly sort for his knowledge in mātauranga Māori and local iwi knowledge in the Wellington region. A true orator of his people and steeped in ancient karakia, whakapapa, kōrero tuku iho.
In 2022, he was honoured with Absolutely Positively Wellingtonian Award and the Te Awe Māori Business Network Awards for his service to the community. Kura was also acknowledged and received the Companion Queens Service Order in the 2023 New Years Honours.
Fluent in Te Reo Māori, passionate storyteller and composer of many waiata about his people and takiwa. Both he and his wife Alishia are a formidable couple, often seen leading many functions throughout the Wellington region, on parliament, as well as at local, regional, national and international events.
Kura has a strong commitment to the long term wellbeing and sustainability of Te Āti Awa Taranaki Whānui identity and presence through the empowerment of Te Reo Māori me ona Tikanga. He believes in achieving a balance between his Te Āti Awa Taranaki Whānui identity, continued learning, professional advancement and empowering others to achieve their true potential. Kura is inspired by the legacy of proud mentors who worked selflessly to protect their whānau, hapū and communities and who educated their children to achieve the highest standards in their chosen endeavours. Kura is committed to performing his best to benefit of ngā iwi katoa. Both Kura and his wife enjoy spending time together with whānau, friends, especially their mokopuna.
Liz Gibbs
Liz has over 30 years of experience in leadership, marketing, and philanthropy, both internationally and locally.
Since moving to Aotearoa in 1997, Liz has worked in international development, the arts, and the community sector, including serving as CEO at Save the Children New Zealand and Philanthropy New Zealand.
Liz is currently Chief of Social Impact at the Selwyn Foundation.
Liz lives with her partner on the Kapiti coast and enjoys exploring Aotearoa’s outdoors with our dogs as well as snowboarding and sailing.
John Scutter
John is a Chartered Accountant and a Licensed Insolvency Practitioner and specialises in business restructure and forensic accounting. His business is based on the Kapiti Coast, but John acts for clients throughout the country, from small to large businesses.
John has held different governance roles over the years and is currently the Chairperson of Work Ready Kapiti and Chairperson of the RSA Poppy Trust. He is a member of the Institute of Directors.
John has recently joined the MPH Board, having been an avid supporter for many years with his wife Sue as volunteers and financial contributors – work they are committed to and see as a privilege to play a small part in this invaluable organisation. They have two adult children and two grandchildren and love being part of the Kapiti community.
Te Pou Tautoko
Te Pou Tautoko provides advice and supports the Hospice to implement the Māori Service Plan and ensure our services meet the needs of Māori communities. The group ensures that a Māori voice is maintained through all levels of Mary Potter Hospice.
Te Pou Tautoko has contributed to projects that influence palliative care on a nation-wide basis. The group has assisted with education and research projects, as well as providing support at formal ceremonies and occasions. All Hospice staff have the opportunity to seek guidance and advice from Te Pou Tautoko when working on specific projects.
Pacific Advisory Group
The Pacific Advisory Group supports Mary Potter Hospice to increase awareness of Hospice within the Pacific communities of our service area and gives advice to the Hospice to ensure culturally safe services are accessible to Pacific patients and families.