Our leaders

The Executive Leadership Team at Te Tari Whakatau, led by Chief Executive Justine Smith, provides strategic direction for the agency. Their role includes collaborating across government and maintaining trusted relationships, including with hapū and iwi. The team also oversees operational performance, resource stewardship and builds organisational capability to deliver on priorities with integrity, good faith and respect.  

Justine Smith, Chief Executive, Office of Treaty Settlements and Takutai Moana – Te Tari Whakatau

Justine Smith (Ngāti Apakura) was appointed Chief Executive, Office of Treaty Settlements and Takutai Moana − Te Tari Whakatau in May 2025. Justine’s previous experience over more than 20 years includes key leadership roles in Māori–Crown relations, including at the Office of Treaty Settlements, Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Department of Internal Affairs, Tupuna Maunga Authority and Auckland Council.  Justine holds a Bachelor of Arts (First Class Honours) in History from the University of Otago. 

Tui Marsh, Deputy Chief Executive – Treaty Reconciliation and Takutai Moana

Tui (Ngāpuhi and Ngāti Porou) joined the agency in 2022 as Deputy Secretary Treaty Reconciliation and Takutai Moana. She provides leadership and supports teams working with Māori groups to settle Treaty of Waitangi claims and to help with applications recognising rights in the Marine and Coastal Area. With 25 years’ experience in public service, Tui has influenced policy and service delivery at both national and regional levels. She spent seven years as Regional Director for Northern Districts at Te Puni Kōkiri, the Ministry for Māori Development, and 14 years at the New Zealand Qualifications Authority. Tui attributes her commitment, drive, and resilience to her lived experience of many challenges faced by whānau, hapū, and iwi Māori.

Warren Fraser, Deputy Chief Executive – Policy, Legal, Corporate

Warren (Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga) leads the policy, legal, corporate, and technical services at Te Tari Whakatau as Deputy Chief Executive. He joined the Office of Treaty Settlements in January 2015 as the Regional Director for Treaty settlement negotiations in Te Rāwhiti, responsible for negotiations stretching from the Bay of Plenty to Wellington and including the Chatham Islands.  In July 2019 he was appointed to the inaugural Executive Leadership Team at The Office for Maori Crown Relations: Te Arawhiti.  A graduate of Otago University Warren had an 18-year career at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade including postings to Ottawa, Brussels and Canberra.  His last role at MFAT was as Head of the Trade Law Unit.