Parekawhia McLean

Regional Director Waikato & Bay of Plenty, NZ Transport Agency

Parekawhia has been with the Transport Agency since September 2016 after five and a half years as the Chief Executive Officer of Waikato-Tainui/ Te Whakakitenga o Waikato.

Parekawhia has more than 15 years of public policy and public sector management experience including being an advisor to three prime ministers during her time at the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet.

She brings significant stakeholder management and governance experience to the role. For almost seven years she was director of her own company dedicated to advancing the creative potential of Māori knowledge, people and resources.

Parekawhia has Masters’ degrees in Social Sciences from the University of Waikato and in Public Administration and Development Policy from the University of Wisconsin. In 2014, she received a Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Waikato and in 2016 was a finalist in the Board and Management category for the Westpac-Fairfax Women of Influence Awards.