Charities Registration Board/Te Rātā Atawhai

Gwendoline Keel (Chair)

Gwen is an experienced commercial lawyer and not-for-profit governance and management specialist. After a long career in private practice, she is presently General Counsel within the post-settlement governance entity for the Waikato iwi, commonly known as Waikato-Tainui. The Waikato iwi comprises more than 76,000 registered members connected to 33 hapuu and represented by 68 marae.

Throughout her career Gwen has acquired significant experience in the charitable and not-for-profit sector, acting for many "household name" charities and national sporting codes, and having been consistently involved in the charitable sector as a director, committee member, and volunteer. Gwen has a particular interest in the economic development of kaupapa Maaori charities, information governance, and charitable law reform.

Gwen is a member of the Institute of Directors. She was appointed to the Board in December 2019 for a three-year period, and appointed to chair the Board in September 2021.

Vaiahu Tarita Hutchinson

Turou turou oromai oromai
Te oronga atu nei au i toku marama na roto i te vaerua tuatua tika e te turanga akamaroiroi kia tiratiratu tatouIekoko

Tarita Hutchinson is an experienced trustee and fiduciary with over three decades in senior advisory roles across the Pacific in the public, private, and not-for-profit sectors. As a Chartered Member of the New Zealand Institute of Directors and a Fellow of CPA Australia, she brings extensive governance expertise and a strong commitment to community service.

Tarita is dedicated to creating sustainable impact through her work, especially within Pacific communities. As the founder of Temarama Wealth, she focuses on empowering Pacific entrepreneurs to build resilient wealth infrastructure that supports their communities.

Tarita is excited to bring her skills in financial governance, strategic planning, and community-focused solutions to her role on Te Rt Atawhai|Charities Registration Board which she began in October 2024.

Roger Holmes Miller

Roger is a barrister and solicitor and notary public who specialises in commercial and trust law, governance, acquisitions and mergers. He was the first Chair of Te Rt Atawhai (the Charities Registration Board) and previously served on the Board between 2012 and 2021. Roger was made an officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to governance and the community in 2022.

Roger has been a director or trustee of numerous commercial, community and charitable entities. He has also chaired several other organisations, including the Porirua City Council Community Services Boards, Care NZ Manaaki, Scots College Wellington Foundation, Ski Racing New Zealand, and Snow Sports New Zealand. Roger was appointed to the Board in December 2024 for one year.

Jane Wrightson

Jane is an independent director and the current retirement commissioner. She is a director of Radio New Zealand, chairing its Audit and Risk Committee, and chairs a small charity that distributes funds to eight industries through the Workforce Futures Fund. Jane is also a former chair of Experience Wellington, a council-controlled arts and heritage charity, and has served as a director for other not-for-profit entities. She has previously held senior executive roles in public media organisations as a funder, regulator, programme commissioner, and sector advocate. Jane is a chartered member of the Institute of Directors.

Carolyn Risk

Carolyn is a Christchurch-based barrister with extensive governance experience. She has had a 30-year career as a senior leader in the public sector and started her career in private practice in Christchurch. Carolyn is a member of the Gambling Commission, the Audit and Risk Committee for the Parliamentary Counsel’s Office, and the Audit and Risk Committee for Environment Canterbury. She is also a lead reviewer for the Treasury Gateway Process.

To view the decisions made by the Charities Registration Board, see our legal decisions page.