Strategic Governance.
Board Director.
Business Owner.
Josh Wharehinga is an experienced board director and governance leader with a strong background in strategic leadership, community engagement, and organizational oversight across public and private sectors.
Josh Wharehinga is a seasoned Māori leader, governance expert, and social entrepreneur dedicated to creating lasting impact across Te Tairāwhiti and Aotearoa. With a career spanning education, local government, health, and commercial enterprise, Josh has served on over 20 boards — including as Deputy Mayor of Gisborne and Co-Chair of Toitu Te Ora, the Iwi Māori Partnership Board. He blends indigenous knowledge with contemporary governance to drive meaningful change, champion community voice, and strengthen local leadership. As the founder of several successful businesses and a respected speaker on international stages, Josh is committed to empowering whānau through culturally grounded, future-focused solutions.
Governance
Josh has just completed his fourth and final term as an elected councillor on the Gisborne District Council. Josh is our regions first Māori Deputy Mayor; he was Deputy Mayor for two terms.
Josh was appointed to the Tairāwhiti Iwi Māori Partnership Board – Toitū Te Ora for it’s establishment in July 2022. In February of 2024 he was appointed as a Co-Chair of the Board. In Aug 2025 he was made the full chair of the board.
In 2022 he was appointed by the Hon Nanaia Mahuta as an Honorary Adviser for the Asia New Zealand Foundation. In 2024 Josh was appointed as the New Zealand Ref and Judge Associations appointment to the board of Boxing New Zealand. In February 2026 he was made the President.
Josh is also a Trustee to Core Education Charitable Trust, a charitable, not-for-profit company that provides public good services for the education sector. As of July 2025 he was made a Director on Core Education Ltd.
In the past he has served as a two term board member of Hauora Tairāwhiti – District Health Board, appointed as the Deputy Chair for his second term. As a Director to Gisborne District Council’s CCTO Gisborne Holdings Ltd he was responsible for the governance of $120M+ of Commercial Assets for the Gisborne District. He was also on Te Mana Whakahaere – the governance board for Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, Aotearoa Scholarships Trust, Te Maruata Roopu Whakahaere – the Māori advisory board to the Local Government New Zealand board, and the Audit, Risk and Finance committee for Local Government New Zealand to name a few.
Commercial
Josh owns several businesses held under the umbrella of Wharehinga Ltd, feel free to read about his businesses at www.wharehinga.nz.