Wayne descends from Hemi Whiro and is the son of William (Bill) Hemi and Florence May Hemi.

Wayne and Elaine live in Richmond and have been together for over 50 years. They have two children and five mokopuna.

He spent most of his working life, (over 45+ years) in the fishing industry, starting as a general factory hand and moving up the ladder to various Supervising, General Management and Company Director positions.

Wayne has held various positions within the Ngāti Kuia operation, starting as the Managing Director of Kaikaiāwaro Fishing Company Ltd, back in 1992.

He represented Ngāti Kuia on both the Taumata Paepae and Treaty Tribes Coalition forums during the Māori Fisheries Settlement negotiations. He was a trustee during Te Whakatau negotiations and for almost two years held the Interim General Managers position until a replacement was found.

Wayne’s current Ngāti Kuia responsibilities are as follows:

Trustee of Ngāti Kuia Trust Trustee of Kaikaiāwaro Charitable Trust Director on Te Hoiere Asset Holding Company Ltd Director on Pakohe LP Ltd Director on Titi I Te Rangi Ltd Te Putea Pou Member Te Taiao Pou Member Fishing Kaitiaki

Wayne’s is now semi-retired, and when not attending to his Ngāti Kuia responsibilities, his interests away from work and family are sport, music, motorbiking, camping, boating and fishing, walking and reading.