IANI NEMANI
Mangere Bridge,AUK
Summary
I am a strategic engagement specialist, and experienced change-navigator with over 20 years of experience leading regional and national level engagement practice, implementing models, and uplifting capability across organisations. Skilled at building alignment across distributed teams, clarifying accountabilities, and embedding sustainable ways of working. I n addition to bringing strong Pacific knowledge and skills, I am known for calmness, relational leadership grounded in the currency of mana, Pacific cultural power-fale and practical problem solving. Experienced in regulatory environments including Immigration New Zealand, Kāinga Ora and Competenz, and through organisational governance, a proven ability to support teams and organisations through transition, strengthen stakeholder relationships and designing engagement functions that last. I am a trusted advisor, connector, navigator and facilitator committed to meaningful engagement and people-centred change.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
Work History
PRINCIPAL ADVISOR SOCIAL INNOVATION
Auckland Council
01.2025 - 10.2025
- Lead and implement community and stakeholder engagement plan for two key project areas:
- Te Ararata Stream - Māngere and;
- Ngā Wairau (North Shore Wairau Valley) stage one Takapuna Golf Course
- Develop and manage community and stakeholder advisory groups to inform the blue-green network projects
- Liaise between Healthy Waters and other parts of Auckland Council to support social procurement activities and ensure local communities access community economic and workforce development infrastructure opportunities through good social procurement practice
- The Healthy Waters team manages Auckland's stormwater and flood protection systems, working to reduce flood risk, improve water quality, and protect the health of the region's waterways and natural water environments. Within this team exists the blue-green network programme a system of waterways and green spaces giving storm water room to flow, helping reducing flooding while improving environmental and community outcomes
- Healthy Waters Team
MANAGER STRATEGIC ENGAGEMENT
K?inga Ora Homes and Communities
04.2021 - 10.2025
- Championing of He Toa Takitini the Partnerships and Engagement Framework for K?inga Ora
- Project Manage Keteparaha an online toolkit to support regional managers and staff carry out and implement the engagement model
- Manage the national engagement Community of Practice forum
- Co-Lead national engagement on the K?inga Ora Strategies, Plans and Frameworks (K?inga Ora Strategy 2030; Asset Manage Plan; Environment Strategy; the Urban Development Strategy and the national Supported Housing Plan).
- Responsibility for engagement policy, guidance, practice capability uplift and ensuring national consistency
- Provision of engagement guidance for internal engagement on policy, property acquisitions and community development
- Supported the implementation plan for national engagement on the K?inga Ora disability strategy refresh.
- Key facilitator K?inga Ora national leadership forums
- Lead the national centre of excellence for engagement, ensuring compliance with the K?inga Ora Homes and Communities Act (2019) and Urban Development Act (2020)
- Instrumental in delivering the T
- Mau Mana Moana public service leadership scholarships to K?inga Ora employees.
- The National Partnerships and Engagement Team fostered strategic partnerships and community engagement to help deliver housing and urban development outcomes that reflected local needs and obligations and ensuring legislative obligations were adhered.
- National Engagement and Partnerships Team
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT & ENGAGEMENT COORDINATOR
K?inga Ora Ora Homes and Communities / ?ranga Development
09.2019 - 04.2021
- Delivering local community and stakeholder engagement and community development initiatives for the ?ranga development Project.
- Building strong relationships across government, community, schools and local businesses
- Managing community events, reporting, and community feedback loops
- Delivering community-led projects including the ?ranga Community Garden project
- Project managed stakeholder communications and youth employment generation programmes
- ?ranga Development was one of four large scale development programmes led by the Hobsonville Land Company prior to the merger with Housing New Zealand and Kiwi Build.
MAORI & PACIFIC MANAGER
Competenz
06.2015 - 07.2017
- Developing and leading national engagement with M?ori and Pacific communities to raise awareness about trades training and apprenticeships
- Delivered cultural competency training to the organisation
- Representing Competenz at national forums including the M?ori and Pacific Trades Training forums across the country
- Representing Competenz in national research groups to understand the lack of M?ori and Pacific engagement
- Competenz was at the time, the lead industry training organisation (ITO), qualifications and standard setting body for the engineering and manufacturing industry.
RELATIONSHIP MANAGER PACIFIC SKILLS
Immigration New Zealand (MBIE) Migrant Settlement and Attraction
02.2011 - 06.2015
- Lead Pacific migrant settlement and community engagement initiatives
- Rebuilt trust between Immigration New Zealand and the Pacific overstay community
- Secured extra funding from the MBIE to support Pacific migrant financial literacy training - a collaborative effort with agencies and providers
- The role of the Migrant Settlement and Attraction team was to attract skilled migrants and investors to Aotearoa, and support their successful settlement through clear information, trusted engagement, and initiat9oves that strengthen migrant wellbeing and long term contribution
PROPERTY & RELATIONSHIP MANAGER
Auckland City Mission Housing Limited (ACMHL)
11.2025
- Lead property procurement from the private sector for rental and lease by ACMHL
- Nurturing values driven relationships and partnerships with Landlords, property managers, property maintenance suppliers to ensure our wh?nau are well housed
- Design and implement stakeholder and community engagement, activities and initiatives to encourage inclusive communities where our wh?nau live while giving neighbours confidence that the ACMHL are trusted landlords
- Redesign the operations, standard setting and provision of best practice guidance for property maintenance including introduction of new processes and procedures, supplier and provider diversity.
- Lead the design of a Pacific employee strategy
- The Auckland City Mission Housing Limited (ACMHL) is a subsidiary of the Auckland City Mission (the Mission) and is the Community Housing Provider arm of the Mission.
- Housing
Education
GDipTheol - Theology
UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND
01-2004
GDipEconDev - Economic Development
AUCKLAND UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
01-2004
PGDip Arts - Social Policy
MASSEY UNIVERSITY
01-2000
Bachelor of Social Work -
MASSEY UNIVERSITY
01-1997
Skills
- Implementation Leadership: embedding new operating models, governance, workflows and practice standards across national teams
- Change Leadership: supporting teams through, new ways of working and tough times
- Stakeholder Partnering: deep experience working with Iwi Māori, mana whenua and rōpū Māori, Pacific communities, government agencies, NGO, industry and vulnerable groups
- People leadership and capability uplift: designing and delivering training, building communities of practice, coaching and mentoring
- Operating model design: establishing engagement frameworks, toolkits, policy and guidance documents, standards setting for national consistency
- Relationship Management: navigating diverse voices, building trustful relationships, influence across multiple fronts
- Governance and Accountability Clarity: strong governance experience and ability to translate between operational and strategic contexts
- Pacific cultural leadership: cultural knowledge holder, facilitator, story-teller, connector, way finder, navigator, and guardian of Pacific languages
- Group facilitation
- Pasifika navigator
- Collaboration
- Engagement design and delivery
- Participatory democracy
- Diversity and inclusion
- Community development
INTERESTS
Pasifika indigenous models of community engagement, Distributive leadership for workplaces, Restorative justice, Use of GenAI in Education and Workplaces, Te Reo M?ori me ?na Tikanga, Pacific Languages and role of Whakapapa AI (Ancestral Intelligence) in education and workplaces, Regenerative Agriculture, Knowledge re-creation, Emergency Management
Affiliations
- 2025 Present: ADVISORY GROUP MEMBER / Fire and Emergency Local Advisory Group (Auckland)
- 2021 2025: BORAD DIRECTOR / Muka Tangata Workforce Development Council for Primary Industries (Ministerial Appointment)
- 2021 2024: BOARD (Co-Chair) MEMBER / Leadership New Zealand
- 2018 2024: BOARD MEMBER (Interim Chair) / Centre for Pacific Languages (Ministerial Appointment)
- 2023 2025: ADVISORY GROUP / Pacific Strategic Advisory Group / Waihanga Ara Rau Workforce Development Council Infrastructure
- 2018 2023: COUNCIL MEMBER / Consumer Experience Council Te Whatu Ora Auckland AHB.
- 2009 2018: BOARD MEMBER / Manukau Institute of Technology Pacific Community Advisory Board
- 2002 2004: BOARD MEMBER / Injury Prevention Network of Aotearoa New Zealand (IPNANZ)
- 1998 2000: BOARD MEMBER / Family Life Education Pasifika (FLEP)
- 1998 2000: BOARD MEMBER / Mangere College
- 2019 Present: TRIBUNAL MEMBER / Human Right Review Tribunal Ministerial Appointment
- 2020 Present: TRIBUNAL MEMBER / Social Workers Complaints and Disciplinary Tribunal Ministerial Appointment
OTHER ROLES of INTEREST
Multiple other roles between 2004 2011 at the Department of Labour / MBIE included Policy Advisor, Labour Market Knowledge Manager, Senior Advisor (Pacific Labour Market), Lecturer (MIT), Injury Prevention Coordinator (Manukau City Council) and Social Worker (Children, Young Persons and their Families Service)
FURTHER LEARNING & INQUIRY
- 2025: Future Search Certified Facilitator
- 2020: IAP2 Certification International Association for Public Participation
- 2018: Mana Moana Leadership New Zealand (Alumni)
- 2010: Immigration New Zealand (Warranted Officer)
REFERENCES �
Provided on request.
Timeline
PROPERTY & RELATIONSHIP MANAGER
Auckland City Mission Housing Limited (ACMHL)
11.2025
PRINCIPAL ADVISOR SOCIAL INNOVATION
Auckland Council
01.2025 - 10.2025
MANAGER STRATEGIC ENGAGEMENT
K?inga Ora Homes and Communities
04.2021 - 10.2025
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT & ENGAGEMENT COORDINATOR
K?inga Ora Ora Homes and Communities / ?ranga Development
09.2019 - 04.2021
MAORI & PACIFIC MANAGER
Competenz
06.2015 - 07.2017
RELATIONSHIP MANAGER PACIFIC SKILLS
Immigration New Zealand (MBIE) Migrant Settlement and Attraction
02.2011 - 06.2015
GDipTheol - Theology
UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND
GDipEconDev - Economic Development
AUCKLAND UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
PGDip Arts - Social Policy
MASSEY UNIVERSITY
Bachelor of Social Work -
MASSEY UNIVERSITY