Fiona Wiremu is the first Māori woman to be appointed chair of Whānau Āwhina Plunket|Royal New Zealand Plunket Board.

Ms Wiremu (Tūhoe, Ngāti Ranginui) is also the chair of the board of Te Puna Ora o Mataatua.

The organisation proudly supported Ms Wiremu during her pōwhiri at Te Mānuka Tūtahi Marae last week in a ceremony to acknowledge the new appointment.

Ms Wiremu has extensive experience in Māori and community health-led organisations. She serves as chair of Te Whare o Rehua, Te Puna Ora o Mataatua’s recently launched medical subsidiary, which includes Rehua Medical, Rehua Nuku Ora Mobile Clinic, and Ngā Ringa Kōkōmuka | Rongo Māori Clinics.

Having joined Whānau Āwhina Plunket’s Board as a trustee in early 2022, she stepped into the chair role in August 2025.

Te Puna Ora o Mataatua deputy board chair Tamarangi Harawira said Ms Wiremu’s governance experience including leadership of Te Puna Ora o Mataatua’s finance and audit committee and as a member of the risk and policy and research committees would be invaluable.

“In addition, her ability to focus on a long-term vision - understanding the bigger picture and how best to achieve the vision coupled with her knowledge of te ao Māori will benefit Plunket significantly,” he said.

Ms Wiremu said Whānau Āwhina Plunket was valued by families across Aotearoa New Zealand to support them in providing quality care for tamariki and mokopuna under five.

“Ensuring a baseline universal care that is complimented with equity provision is necessary to ensure we provide the best start in life for our future generations of Aotearoa,” she said.