Tū Ātea appoints Shane Taurima as Pou Matua
Shane Taurima (Ngāti Kahungunu, Rongomaiwahine) has been appointed Pou Matua, Group Chief Executive, of Tū Ātea and will take up the role in February 2027.
Tū Ātea Chair Robin Hapi said the appointment followed an extensive and rigorous search process involving a strong field of candidates.
“Following a period of rapid acquisition-led growth, Tū Ātea is entering its next phase, focused on deeper integration, commercial maturity and sustainable performance. We were looking for a leader with the strategic, commercial and cultural capability to lead that transition and ensure our growth translates into enduring benefits for Māori.
“Shane brings extensive experience leading transformation and strengthening organisational and financial performance, alongside trusted relationships across iwi, Māori, government and complex stakeholder environments. He understands how commercial performance and kaupapa Māori can work together.”
Shane is currently Kaihautū, Chief Executive, of Whakaata Māori, which he has led for almost eight years through significant digital and organisational transformation and a substantial strengthening of its financial resilience.
Tū Ātea has grown rapidly in recent years, bringing together significant spectrum assets and businesses spanning telecommunications, engineering, network services and infrastructure.
Antony Royal has led Tū Ātea since its establishment, bringing together its spectrum assets and businesses including Broadtech, JDA, Feenix and Transworks into a single Group, and laying the commercial and operational foundations for its next stage of growth. His planned departure as founding Chief Executive was announced in June.
“Antony's leadership has been instrumental in building Tū Ātea into what it is today. He has led with real commitment to the kaupapa, and we are enormously grateful for everything he has given to get us to this point,” Robin said.
Shane said he was honoured to be entrusted with the role.
“Tū Ātea stands on the shoulders of generations of Māori leaders who fought for recognition of spectrum as a taonga and for Māori rights and interests in the technologies and infrastructure shaping our future.
“My focus will be on bringing together the assets, businesses, capability and people within Tū Ātea to build a high-performing Māori enterprise that creates enduring value for our people.”
Shane said he saw a strong connection between his work at Whakaata Māori and the opportunity ahead.
“I see Whakaata Māori and Tū Ātea as different branches of the same rākau (tree), nourished by the same pakiaka (roots), our whakapapa and the generations who fought for mana motuhake and tino rangatiratanga.
“The branch is different. The pakiaka are the same.”
Robin said the Board looked forward to welcoming Shane to Tū Ātea.
“We have significant assets, talented people and considerable opportunity ahead. We look forward to Shane joining Tū Ātea and leading the Group into its next stage of development.”
ENDS
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Jessica Paul
Group Communications & Chief Impact Officer
Tū Ātea