Mereana Hond is an international broadcast journalist, cross-platform storyteller, and Māori leader of Taranaki, Te Atiawa, and Te Whānau a Apanui descent. A fluent speaker of Māori, she has anchored her work in the assertion of self-determination and the reclamation of language and culture from historical grievance and loss. In the early 1990s, Mereana worked on the Taranaki claim to New Zealand’s Waitangi Tribunal and lectured in Māori Studies and Law at Te Herenga Waka (Victoria University of Wellington). She spent a decade delivering training within the public sector and to members of the New Zealand judiciary in te reo Māori (Māori language) and tikanga (customs).
She brought that lived experience to a journalism career spanning over 20 years in 24-hour broadcast newsrooms – including Al Jazeera English, AP Television News, and major New Zealand networks. Today, Mereana heads a consultancy supporting indigenous peoples to tell their own stories in the digital space. She leads engagement for Reo Kōrero, a global initiative born from Te Ataarangi’s 40-year Māori language revitalisation movement. Grounded in her community, she serves as a Trustee for her tribal papakāinga (ancestral lands). Mereana executive-produced Tangata Pai, the first mainstream drama series to feature over 30% te reo Māori, now streaming on Netflix and soon to be on PBS in the US. She regularly anchors major cultural events, including Te Matatini (the world’s premier Māori performing arts festival). With a career spent at the intersection of global media and indigenous rights, Mereana is a seasoned presenter who moves beyond talk to facilitate the uncomfortable, and necessary conversations.
To book Mereana for a Women Deliver side-event please email info@moderatethepanel.com
