Three Appointed to Maritime New Zealand Authority Board

Maxine Moana-TuwhangaiBelinda Vernon

Russell Watson

Three new board members have been appointed to the Maritime New Zealand Authority, including Maxine Moana-Tuwhangai, Belinda Vernon and Russell Watson.

The new members are replacing Michael Ludbrook and Dave Morgan, whose terms ended in February, and Ken Gilligan, whose term ends on April 31.

Moana-Tuwhangai has experience in financial and management accounting in the public and private sectors, and operations management in the education industry. She has held management and accounting roles for Tainui Group Holdings, Environment Waikato and Te Wananga o Aotearoa.

Vernon, who will begin in May, is an Auckland-based consultant with a background in accounting, shipping and conservation. She has worked in senior accounting and management roles in the shipping industry in New Zealand for Tasman Express Line and McKay Shipping. Her initial shipping experience was gained with Ellerman City Liners in London. She was also a member of New Zealand’s Parliament from 1996 to 2002 and is a director of the Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences.

Watson has more than 37 years of working experience in the New Zealand shipping industry. He retired as general manager of NYKCool New Zealand in 2012, though he continues to represent the company in New Zealand on a part-time basis. He was a member of the Executive of Shipping New Zealand for more than 20 years.