Chancellor Sir Anand Satyanand, Tania Te Rangingangana Simpson and Vice-Chancellor Professor Neil Quigley in 2020 when Simpson was honoured. Photo: University of Waikato.
Tania Te Rangingangana Simpson has been made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her services to governance and Māori.
Simpson (Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngā Puhi, Ngāi Tahu) is a professional director with more than 27 years’ experience in governance encompassing a range of iwi, not-for-profit, commercial and public sector positions.
She was born in Ōtorohanga and lives in Matangi and is one of three from The News circulation area.
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Tania Simpson
Throughout her career Simpson has focused on projects and roles aimed at improving outcomes for Māori, iwi development and recognising Māori values within business.
She has specialised in roles focused on the environment, sustainability and climate change and has been recognised with a range of awards for her contributions to Māori business.
In 2020, she was recognised by the University of Waikato with a Distinguished Alumni Award. The award is given to a small number of alumni who have achieved significant success in their career and made outstanding contributions to their communities.
Ms Simpson arrived at the University of Waikato with the intention of studying languages, however realised early on that Māori language and culture was the right pathway for her. She graduated in 1987 with a Bachelor of Arts degree.
She joined the Housing Corporation the following year as Māori advisory officer in Hamilton and then as Te Kuiti office manager responsible for effective management of tenancy and lending portfolios in Ōtorohanga, Te Kuiti and Te Awamutu.
See: Waikato alumna receives award
Simpson is currently a director of Auckland International Airport, Meridian Energy and Tainui Group Holdings.
She has chaired the Sustainable Seas National Science Challenge since 2016, which has funded several innovation projects and development of a business model to allow for the creation of small whānau-owned aquaculture farms.
She has been a member of the governance group for the Deep South National Science Challenge since 2014, deputy chair of Waitangi National Trust since 2017 and a member of the Waitangi Tribunal since 2008.
Simpson is a past director of Global Women, AgResearch, Radio Maniapoto, Mighty River Power/Mercury Energy from 2001 to 2015, Landcare Research, Ngāi Tahu Tourism and the New Zealand Conservation Authority. Ms Simpson was the first Māori director and a deputy chair of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand between 2014 and 2022.
Tania Te Rangingangana Simpson. Photo: Supplied
