E huri ana te tai!
Acting Chief Executive, Caron Solomon Ward (Waitaha, Kāti Māmoe, Kāi Tahu) is farewelling the team to take her skills elsewhere.
After five and a half years at Aukaha, and her last year as Acting Chief Executive, Caron Solomon Ward (Waitaha, Kāti Māmoe, Kāi Tahu) is farewelling the team to take her skills elsewhere.
The former General Manager Mana Ahurea moved into an acting CE role while former CEO Rachel Wesley went on sabbatical to complete her PhD in archaeology.
During that time, Rachel decided to commit to her studies full time. The Board offered a permanent CEO position to Caron, however with mixed emotions she declined the offer.
Caron will be taking up the role as Kaiwhakahaere o Mana Ruruku at Te Kaunihera a rohe o Ōtepoti Dunedin City Council, implementing Te Taki Haruru, the DCC’s new Māori Strategic Framework.
“Leaving Aukaha was a difficult decision for me, but when the opportunity came up to implement Kāi Tahu values into the DCC, it felt like an opportunity I couldn’t let pass,” she says.
“My time at Aukaha and working with our Mana Whenua panel has provided me with the tools to take on this challenge. The new role compliments the work I have been doing at Aukaha and I’m excited to once again achieve mana whenua aspirations and outcomes in this new role.”
Caron joined Aukaha as Operations Manager in late 2019, a role that required her to move Aukaha into a modern-day organisation, ready to become a core driving force in the onset of an infrastructure boom in Dunedin.
That boom was slightly halted with the COVID-19 outbreak, but it gave her enough time upend Aukaha processes and set up a core Mana Aukaha / Business Support team.
She later moved into the Mana Ahurea space where she was able to apply her service design, law and project management skills.
“Building new things is my thing, working with creative, positive and passionate people is my thing. I hardly missed a day of work when I was in that team as I was so invested in its success, and I am proud to have been a part of that team’s journey,” she says.
Part of her success in Mana Ahurea includes overseeing the following projects: The Queenstown Lakes District Council streetscapes projects, Te Pā Tāhuna with Ngai Tahu Property, the Beaumont Bridge, Te Puna o Whakaehu and George Street design with the DCC, the new ACC build, several projects with Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka including Aquinas College and the design of the new Dunedin hospital.
“My time at Aukaha has been rewarding in so many aspects. Not only have I deepened my own connections to te ao Māori and gained immeasurable knowledge, I have been privileged to lead and support a team that is so hardworking and dedicated to achieving mana whenua aspirations.
“This really has been the most rewarding role I have had in my working career, and I am forever grateful to have been part of such a unique, innovational and aspirational kaupapa.
“I look forward to continuing to work with Aukaha on the other side and would like to mihi to everyone I have worked with in my role at Aukaha.”
The Board will be going to market later this month to seek a new CEO. Until a new Chair is selected, Kaiwhakahaere Mana Takata Chris Rosenbrock will take on Interim CEO.
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