Dilworth Trust has announced the appointment of Matanuku Mahuika to its Board, marking another significant step in its ongoing commitment to enhancing governance at Dilworth and ensuring the Board is equipped with the depth and diversity of capabilities, skills and experience it needs to ensure Dilworth’s success now and in the future.
Mr Mahuika brings extensive legal and governance expertise to the Dilworth Board. He currently practices as a barrister at Bankside Chambers, providing legal and advisory services in corporate, commercial, and public law, as well as Treaty of Waitangi issues. His experience includes governing complex and high-value organisations in the commercial, iwi, public service, and for-purpose sectors, and he has made significant contributions to the Anglican Church, where he is currently Chair of Te Kaunihera, the governing body of St John’s Theological College, and Chancellor of Te Pīhopatanga o Aotearoa, the Māori Anglican Church.
He has worked with early-stage and start-up businesses, overseen many complex change projects, and chaired numerous large organisations including Eastland Group, Sealord Group, and Ngāti Porou Holdings. Amongst other roles, he is currently Deputy Chair of Callaghan Innovation and a Board member of New Zealand Trade & Enterprise. Former roles include Deputy Chair of Aotearoa Fisheries Limited and Inaugural Chair of the Ministry Standards Commission for the Anglican Church.
Dilworth Board Chair Mr Jonathan Mason commented that he is delighted by this latest appointment and the expertise that Mr Mahuika will bring to the Board.
“Matanuku brings a depth of expertise that complements what is a strong, diverse, and future-focused Board, and the right governance credentials to help drive the delivery of equitable outcomes for our students and their communities.”
“The Dilworth Trust has a practice of recruiting Trustees based on a rigorous skills matrix to ensure the Board continues to be served by a wide range of expertise and perspectives, and Matanuku’s appointment further reinforces this focus.”
Mr Mahuika’s appointment follows a range of Board-led governance initiatives over the past two years, including the appointment of an Independent Chair in 2025, which run alongside the six-year transformational change programme at Dilworth School led by Headmaster Dan Reddiex. This change programme has already enabled Dilworth to move forward in a substantial way, supporting initiatives to drive fundamental shifts in school culture and curriculum, and implementing world-class safeguarding standards through Australian Childhood Foundation accreditation.
“I am excited by the Board’s vision to take Dilworth into the future, with our focus on ensuring more deserving young men have access to a safe, first-class education and experience, and Matanuku will make a major contribution to that kaupapa” said Mr Mason.