Margaret Kawharu (Ngāti Whātua/Mahurehure) has an MA (Hons) from the University of Auckland in social anthropology. For the past 20 years, Margaret has worked extensively on Treaty of Waitangi claims through the research, presentation, negotiation and settlement phases. She currently serves on Ngāti Whātua o Kaipara post-settlement entities, as a trustee on Ngā Maunga Whakahii o Kaipara Development Trust, a director on Ngā Maunga Whakahii o Kaipara Investments Ltd, as chair of the Parakai Recreation Reserve Board, a co-governance mechanism over an 18-hectare reserve in south Kaipara. Margaret was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to Māori in 2012. She is the Senior Māori Advisor at Massey University.
