Ella Henry
The Indigenous voice in the International Marketplace

Business Development Consultant
New Zealand

Ella Henry has been teaching in the field of Maori development for much of the last twelve years, whilst completing a Master of Philosophy (Management Studies) and embarking on PhD studies focusing on Maori development and the Treaty of Waitangi. Since 1988, Ella has been involved with Maori film-makers, first as a member of Te Manu Aute, which called for a Maori funding agency, Maori television channel, and greater support for, and recognition of, a unique Maori film-making perspective. Te Manu Aute brought together the expertise of patriarchs and matriarchs of the fledgling Maori film industry, such luminaries as Merata Mita, Don Selwyn, Barry Barclay and Tama Poata. In 1996, Ella was a member of a group of Maori in film and television who set up Nga Aho Whakaari: Maori in Film, Video and Television, the association that represents the professional and political interests of Maori in the moving image industries. Ella is currently a business development consultant for iwi, hapu and whanau organisations, and is working on developing a series of Maori television and film projects.