Jamie was born and bred in Taranaki, growing up on the family farm at Okoki, Urenui and is affiliated to a number of Taranaki iwi. As a local, the mounga is his tupuna – “we are a reflection of the mountain is he is of us.” Jamie has a strong relationship, connection and sense of responsibility to Mounga Taranaki. As Chair of Taranaki Mounga he is well placed to do his part to increase the Moung’s health and wellbeing and the relationship to his people and the wider community.
Jamie is also passionate about the potential of New Zealand and its people and has a keen interest in Māori economic development and transforming the way in which we relate to our environment and one another in Aotearoa, New Zealand.
Jamie is an experienced director and has held governance positions over the past 20 years in the areas of iwi development, agribusiness, fishing, investment, health, housing, Māori development, tourism, philanthropy and education.
As well as his role as Independent Chair of Taranaki Mounga, Jamie is also the chair of Tourism New Zealand, the Māori Television Service, Venture Taranaki, Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Mutunga, Ka Uruora and Te Kahui Maru GP. He is also a director of Moana Ltd and Taranaki Whanui Limited.
Jamie is a recipient of the 2010 Sir Peter Blake Emerging Leadership Award. He was also awarded the Maori Young business Leader of the year award in 2016.