Welcoming Riana Manuel: Blueprint for Learning and Te Pou chief executive

We warmly welcome Riana Manuel as the new Blueprint for Learning and Te Pou chief executive.

Sue Bidrose, Te Pou and Blueprint board chair, says the appointment is fantastic news to share. “Riana brings visionary leadership and extensive experience from working in health for the past 30 years. We are excited to have her on board to lead Te Pou and Blueprint for Learning, and join the wider the Wise Group leadership team.”

A skilled strategic leader within the Māori and wider health sectors, Riana has extensive experience leading kaupapa Māori organisations.

Riana’s appointment follows the announcement in February that current Te Pou and Blueprint for Learning chief executive, Rae Lamb, will be retiring at the end of June.

Prior to her appointment as the chief executive for Te Aka Whai Ora – Māori Health Authority, Riana was the CEO for both Te Korowai Hauora o Hauraki and the Hauraki PHO. A registered nurse, who still holds her practicing certificate, she has also worked as a clinical nurse director for Waikato DHB, and General Manager – Māori Health for Waikato DHB.

Throughout her career, Riana has always had a strong commitment to workforce development as part of the wider health context. It’s an area she says she is particularly interested in, and this new role extends on her previous work in the sector.

“My aim has always been to ensure people in both rural and urban areas have services appropriate to their communities. Rather than applying a universal approach to healthcare, I am deeply committed to equity and ensuring that our health systems acknowledge and apply this to the way we deliver, and therefore how people receive services,” says Riana.

“I am a mother and a grandmother, and I want to ensure we create intergenerational transformation for our tamariki and mokopuna to come.

“I believe there is more we need to do with workforce, particularly around mental health and addictions. Working as CE for Te Pou and Blueprint for Learning is a wonderful opportunity, and I very much look forward to this mahi.”

Riana will start her new role on Thursday 19 June 2025.

Riana Manuel