Natalie Hilterman (Chairperson)

Tēnā rā koutou kua tae mai i runga i te kaupapa o te rā nei

Ko Te Arawa te waka
Ko Ngongotahā te maunga
Ko Utuhina te awa
Ko Tamatekapua te whare tipuna
Ko Te Arawa te iwi
Ko Ngāti Whakaue te hapū
I tipu ake au ki te pā o Ohinemutu
Kei Tauranga moana au e noho ana i tēnei wā tōnu
Ko Brendan tōku hoa rangatira
Ko Cash rāua ko Charlie āku māhanga
Ko Nat tōku ingoa
Tēnā rā koutou katoa

Kia ora koutou. I am Natalie and am a huge arts enthusiast. I felt it was time to give back and be part of this process in supporting the arts from a community level. I am humbled and grateful to be part of the Creative Communities Scheme whānau and hope we can support you to deliver and enhance the communities we live in through your craft.

Anne Henry

After 40 years living away from the Western Bay, Anne has returned to the area and resides at Katikati, where she grew up. Community is where she works and thrives, and she considers herself fortunate to be able to contribute in many ways to the wellbeing and prosperity of her local and district-wide communities. Anne is an elected member of Western Bay of Plenty District Council for the Katikati–Waihi Beach Ward. She is passionate about the arts in all of its many forms, as a participant, a teacher and engaging in hands-on experimentation. Anne particularly loves the tactile connection with ‘Mother Earth’ when working with clay.

Jannine Spiers

Jannine has over 25 years of experience in the film industry. She is a creative director, artist and production designer, and is currently New Zealand Project Manager for the NZ International Youth Silent Film Festival (IYSFF). Her responsibilities include coordinating youth filmmaking workshops and teaching art direction and art department skills. For the past three years she was also Events Manager for Film Bay of Plenty. Jannine’s artistic passions are marionettes, film and sculpture in various mediums. She feels contributing as an assessor for the Creative Communities Scheme provides an excellent opportunity to get involved in other aspects of local community arts and to support the ideas and projects being generated by creatives in the Western Bay.

Rupal Mehta

I am Rupal Mehta and I emigrated to New Zealand from the western part of India. Being a professional Indian classical and folk dancer and having travelled around world to promote Indian culture, I am very happy and grateful to support and promote the artistic community of the Western Bay of Plenty district through the Creative Communities Scheme.