SOUNZ Appoints Three New Trustees

Ngatapa Black, Robert Wiremu (credit Arie Hoeflak), and Dana Youngman

SOUNZ is delighted to announce the appointment of three new trustees to our governance board.  

The new trustees are Ngatapa Black, Robert Wiremu, and Dana Youngman. Together they bring a broad range of skills and experience with backgrounds in governance, arts and project management, broadcasting, television production, content commissioning, music performance, and composition.

SOUNZ Co-Chairs Tama Waipara and Eve de Castro-Robinson say:
“As Co-Chairs of SOUNZ, we are excited to welcome our newest Board members – Ngatapa Black, Robert Wiremu, and Dana Youngman, each of whom has a fresh voice, and vision. Their collective knowledge and experience bring a rich contribution to our governance as does their expansive and inclusive worldviews. Nau te rourou Nāku te rourou, ka ora ai te iwi – From your food basket and mine comes our collective well-being. He mihi maioha ki a koutou katoa.”

Ngatapa Black
Ngai Tūhoe, Te Whānau a Apanui, Ngāti Tūwharetoa
Ngatapa is a television producer, director and events project manager and has produced several music albums. She is currently Head of Content at Whakaata Māori and manages the Māori music mentoring program for youth called Pao Pao Pao. Ngatapa is also a SOUNZ composer.

Robert Wiremu
Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Tūwharetoa
Robert is a vocal coach and musicianship teacher at the University of Auckland. He is also a singer, pianist, arranger, and composer. Robert has been deputy director of Toi Waiata Aotearoa – the NZ National Singing School, and the executive producer for Opera in the Pa (Rotorua). He is currently a board member of the NZ Choral Federation and a trustee with the Kiri Te Kanawa Foundation and the Auckland Chamber Choir. He is also an advisor with Te Roopu Tautoko for Opera NZ, Artistic Advisor for Choirs Aotearoa NZ, Co-Director for Sing Aotearoa, and for “Matariki Hunga Nui”. Robert is also a SOUNZ composer.

Dana Youngman
Dana is a television executive with extensive experience working across the New Zealand screen sector. Most recently she was the Network Executive/Senior Commissioner for Sky Network NZ and worked for many years as an Executive Producer, show runner, Director, and is the former Head of Production at TVNZ. In 2021 Dana won the NZ Women of Influence award in the Diversity Category.

The new trustees will join current board members Tama Waipara (Co-Chair), Eve de Castro-Robinson (Co-Chair), Anthony Healey, Michael Norris, Noma Sio-Faiumu and Brendan Smyth.