Kirstin Te Wao

Head of Maori Development, Vodafone New Zealand

Kirstin Te Wao is Vodafone New Zealand’s Diversity & Inclusion Lead, appointed to the inaugural role in May 2014.

Kirstin is responsible for the development and execution of the Diversity and Inclusion Strategy, and programmes that focus on Vodafone’s strategic priorities.

In 2011 Kirstin led Vodafone’s inaugural celebrations for Te Wiki O Te Reo Māori (Māori Language Week), which triggered the beginning of her career journey across Customer Operations, Technology and now, Human Resources.

Kirstin’s tribal affiliations are to Ngāti Rangiwewehi, Ngāti Rangiteaorere in the Rotorua region and Ngāti Mahanga and Ngāti Whawhakia in the Waikato area.

Born and raised in the Tāmaki district among the whānau of Ngāti Whātua ki Ōrākei, Kirstin has two children and is currently completing a Post-Graduate Business Diploma in Māori Development at the University of Auckland.