Kauri Tearaura

Kauri is a performance artist, an experienced governor, and a young leader. Born and raised in the mighty Waikato, Kauri's performance art began in the community theatre scene of Kirikiriroa Hamilton with roles in theatre productions from the age of 11. Kauri has been a Co-Chairperson of RainbowYOUTH, and served on the boards of the Young Workers Resource Centre, and Seed Waikato. By trade, Kauri is a Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) professional, having led the DEI strategy for the Department of Corrections in Te Waipounamu, the South Island. Additionally, Kauri has been a judge for the University of Canterbury Young New Zealander of the Year category of the Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year Awards, an Aotearoa Youth Leader for the National Commission for UNESCO, and a member of the Asia New Zealand Foundation Leadership Network. As a trustee for Youth Arts New Zealand, Kauri sees their role as the perfect marriage of their passions for all forms of art, and for young people.