Dr Benjamin Pitman – Chair
An artist and designer, Benjamin has also been involved in education, training and development since 1970, teaching at senior secondary, industry and university level.
Returned to Northland in 2013 after thirty-four years in Sydney and two in Kaua’i, Hawai’i. His other home is a 1762 stone village house in the south of France, deep in Cathar country where he teaches French and English and maintains a studio.
Benjamin spent many years as a Māori community leader in Sydney and was foundation secretary of Sydney Marae Incorporated and leader, Māori Satellite group, Rotary Club of Sydney CBD, serving also on the Sydney CBD Board as Community Services and International Director. He was made a Paul Harris Fellow in 2009.
He is active in Te Tiriti o Waitangi claims for Te Parawhau and Ngāti Hau. A great-great grandson of the Ngāti Hao o Ngāpuhi chief, Patuone, older brother of Tamati Waka Nene.
Graduate of the University of Auckland; Auckland Secondary Teachers’ College; University of NSW; University of Technology, Sydney; and, Catholic Institute of Sydney.
Iwi & Hapū Affiliations – Ngāpuhi: Ngāti Hao – Te Popoto; Te Parawhau; Ngāti Hau
Current Positions: Chairman, Te Parawhau ki Tai (Te Pouwhenua o Tiakiriri Kukupa Trust); Secretary and Leader, Business Development Unit, Akerama Marae; Member, Wairau Māori Art Gallery Charitable Trust Board and Trustee; Member, Haerewa Māori Advisory Board, Auckland Art Gallery – Toi o Tamaki; Trustee, Te Mana Toi o Hikurangi – Hikurangi Art Station; Member, Hundertwasser Art Centre with Wairau Māori Art Gallery Project Control Group and, Project Action Team; Chairman, Creative Northland.
Information about the following trustees to be added soon
Dr Carol Peters – Trustee (WDC Representative)
Carol Ashton
Philip Alexander-Crawford
Geoff Bartlett
