At the beginning of 2008, Ella was appointed as a senior
lecturer in Te Ara Poutama, the Faculty of Maori Development at
Auckland University of Technology. Ella is enrolled in a PhD
focussing on Maori working in film, video and television.
Ella has been involved in Maori education and development as a
researcher, academic and lecturer for much of the last fifteen
years. She has worked extensively with Maori organisations,
developing their governance, management and strategic planning
capacity.
Ella was the presenter of Ask Your Auntie for three
years. Prior to her role with Maori Television, in 2005 Ella was
Manager of Maori Health Relationships for Plunket. Before that Ella
was Head of Puukenga School of Maori Education at Unitec New
Zealand Institute of Technology, and a lecturer in Management
Employment Relations at Auckland University between 1996 and 2001.
Before that she was the Executive Director of Greenpeace NZ for two
years.
Ella has three daughters and lives in West Auckland.