Kelly Parekowhai

Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki, Ngāti Whakarongo

Kelly Parekowhai is a Māori planner, policy leader, and impact entrepreneur. He is currently a Senior Associate and Te Ao Māori Technical Lead at Barker & Associates, and the Founder of IwiConnect — Aotearoa’s first B2I (Business to Indigenous) engagement platform.

With over a decade of experience across local and central government, Kelly has led strategic portfolios spanning housing, papakāinga, environmental planning, and Tiriti policy. He has managed large cross-functional teams, advised Ministers and executive leadership at MPI, TPK and Auckland Council, and held national governance roles — including with the Ministry for the Environment’s RM Digital Futures Steering Group.

Raised in a whānau of Māori commercial and recreational fishers, Kelly carries a deep connection to te taiao — anchoring his governance style in tikanga Māori, innovation, and equity-led outcomes.