Our People

Maui Solomon

Chair and Chief Negotiator

Maui has 35 years legal experience specialising in indigenous rights including cultural and intellectual property, where he has played a key role in the WAI262 claim regarding indigenous flora and fauna, and advised at an international level. Maui was chief negotiator for the Moriori claim and settlement and has had a long history of tribal leadership in previous governance and executive roles. Maui’s expertise is sought nationally and globally including in economic fora and the formulation of trade agreements.

Maui now lives with his wife Susan on Rēkohu where they run a regenerative native plant nursery and sheep and cattle farm. They have five children and six mokopū (grandchildren).

Grace Le Gros

Trustee and Negotiator

Grace was a member of the negotiation team for the Moriori settlement. She has lived in the North Kaipara rohe for 40+ years. Grace has been involved with many sectors of the community and Government over many years, specifically supporting claims against the Crown in a Waitangi Tribunal setting. Grace is currently a Director | CEO of Mauri Ora ki Ngāti Whātua Trust.

Grace is strongly committed to upholding Nunuku’s peace covenant in ongoing negotiations and spaces of conflict and is vested in ensuring intergenerational knowledge transfer via Hokopapa to ensure Moriori have voice wherever they are throughout the world.

Tom Lanauze

Trustee and Negotiator

Currently I work as a farmer and I am an indigenous advocate for tchakat’ henu of Rēkohu and rangata matua. I am a trustee and negotiator for Moriori Imi Settlement Trust and a trustee for Hokotehi Moriori Trust. During my years in this space, I have taken on roles as trustee, chairman, negotiator with the Crown, contractor, cultural representative and many others. I was born and raised here on Rēkohu, I hope for the continuation of the Moriori story and have an ongoing interest in the uplifting of our people through building accessible resources and education to further empower our community. All this work encompasses the hope for the preservation of our culture for future mokopu.

Paul Solomon

Trustee and Negotiator

Paul served as a Trustee of Hokotehi Moriori Trust (HMT) for 12 years and was a member of the negotiation team for the Moriori settlement.

He has worked at WorkSafe New Zealand for 18 years; 15 years as a Forestry Inspector and 3 years as a Kaiarawhiti o Te Pou Ora in te ao Moriori/Māori space in strategy and engagement.

Sharon Wadsworth

Trustee and Negotiator

Sharon was born and educated in Auckland where she now lives. Her professional career is in property, private trust and estate law, both here and in the United Kingdom. More recently she has turned to property management including tenancy, maintenance, refurbishment and investment structuring.

Her ancestor, Matene Totara, is one of the “Missing Voices”, a term created to identify those who were so stigmatised by their Moriori history that they were unable to acknowledge their hokopapa. Sharon has been a trustee representing Moriori since 2015 with Hokotehi Moriori Trust and Te Keke Tura Moriori Identity trust prior to joining MIST.

Jo Stevens

Board Secretary

Jo brings extensive expertise to her role as Board Secretary, having specialised in the legal and government sectors during her career to date.  She is dedicated to helping MIST achieve its goals to build a solid foundation for current and future generations of Moriori and maintaining open communication with members and the various people and entities MIST collaborate with.