Meet The Team
Jo Kennedy - General Manager
Jo hails from Auckland and is now proudly based in Raetihi.
With an impressive 15-year track record in middle management at Air New
Zealand, she's a seasoned pro in the travel industry. Prior to joining Visit
Ruapehu, Jo focused on her marketing passion as the head of marketing for Niue
Island. Beyond her professional life, Jo is an enthusiastic cyclist, passionate
about exploring the stunning landscapes around her.
Catherine Pakai-Dewes - Marketing Coordinator
Catherine’s roots run deep in the heart of the Ruapehu region. Growing up in Ohakune, she had Mt Ruapehu and its stunning landscapes right on her doorstep. Holding a Bachelor of Communication Studies from the University of Waikato, Catherine brings both academic knowledge and real-world tourism experience to everything she does.
Catherine has spent countless winters on the slopes of Mt Ruapehu, honing her skills as a snowboarder and getting to know the mountain’s trails. Off the snow, she’s an enthusiastic hiker, always looking for new tracks to explore. More recently, she’s taken up mountain biking, driven by a passion for discovering even more of the Ruapehu region and the wider New Zealand outdoors.
Mahalee Guieysse - PR and Trade Manager
A nomad at heart, Mahalee made her way to
Aotearoa after living and traveling to over 30 countries around the world. With
her heart in Ruapehu, Mahalee is a dedicated tourism professional with a
passion for destination management, trade, operator capability and PR. She loves exploring our Greater Outdoors and enjoys hiking, running, and yoga. Tēnā
koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa.
Debbie – Administrator
Originating in the Hawke’s Bay, Debbie has wound her way
throughout New Zealand and the world, and back again to the beautiful Ohakune,
to enjoy the peace and rejuvenation of spirit offered by the mountain and
surrounding bush and birdlife.
Debbie has had a career encompassing administration in the
realms of law, medicine and media, and now joins the Visit Ruapehu team to
support them in their promotion of the community in Ruapehu.
isite team:
Amy – Team leader
Tena Koutou Katoa
Ko Tainui toku waka
Ko Taumatini toku maunga
Ko Mokauiti toku awa
Ko Te Paemate toku marae
Ko Ngati Maniapoto toku iwi
Ko Ngati Waiora toku
hapu
Ko Amy Coburn toku
ingoa
No Matiere ahau
I am passionate about showcasing our region and supporting
visitors and locals alike. I enjoy working with businesses and community
partners to highlight the unique experiences Ruapehu has to offer. Building
strong relationships and providing welcoming, knowledgeable service is at the
heart of what I do, and I take pride in helping our community thrive.
Whakatauki
He aha te mea nui o te ao?
What is the most important thing
in the world?
He tāngata, he tāngata, he
tāngata.
It is people, it is people, it is people.
Hinewai - Visitor consultant/ VR PR and trade support
Kia Ora from Taumarunui. Born and living here in the beautiful Taumarunui and Ruapehu District. Working in the isite and enjoying the face-to-face meeting with international people and our locals, providing the varied services they may need. Passionate about promoting our region and connecting people to unforgettable experiences and sharing our unique, challenging, thrilling and breath-taking Rohe/area. My background is 15+ years in hotel hospitality. And then I worked from home as a Home Carer. So, I guess my outlook is when we have people enter the doors of the isite we are welcoming you with a friendly “Kia Ora” and smile, into our place, our town, our region, our backyard. We want you to have excellent service, connection, knowledge, fun and a smile on your face as you leave on your adventures.
Joanne – Visitor consultant
Joanne joined our Visit Ruapehu team in early 2025 as our casual
visitor consultant. She absolutely loves the opportunity to get to meet
everyone that stops into our sites and assist with their queries. She
previously worked in the banking sector before taking time off to raise her
family. In her spare time, she loves to travel around and enjoy any local
hidden gems in each area she visits. Her favourite hobbies are playing piano
and racquet sports. She has previously resided in the Manawatū, Bay of Plenty &
Waikato areas, but she thinks nothing beats the Ruapehu district and loves to
share about all that our wider area offers!
Janeen – Team leader
Locally born and bred in Raetihi I recently returned home
after living in Brisbane just short of 10 years in the retail industry.
I love spending time with my whānau who my heart is – they inspire me,
guide me and keep me strong.
When I’m not spending time with my family, you’ll find me
out running enjoying the fresh air and taking in the stunning sceneries that
surround us.
I love interacting with our customers, sharing my knowledge
of our beautiful country and what we have to offer.
Denise - Visitor consultant
Sandra – Visitor consultant
I grew up in Taupo and then moved to Auckland and started a
family, then became a sales representative for 15 Years with Weathermaster.
Then six years ago moved to Ohakune and loving the slower
pace and spending time with the whanau.
Im Loving all the walks available in and around the area and
also the amazing wildlife that is at my back door.
Working in the I Site I have learnt so much more about what
is on offer around the area and enjoy passing this information onto our
customers.
Zita - Visitor consultant
Raised in
Ohakune with breath-taking landscapes, captivating natural surroundings, a playground
full of endless adventure and opportunity as far as the eye can see I am proud
to call the beautiful Ohakune in the Ruapehu district my home.
I have been
lucky enough to work in an abundance of diverse roles throughout my life, finding
myself in a tourism position that promotes and emphasizes our area, natural
attractions and activities to locals and visitors from various walks of life. I
take great pride in helping our communities, operator’s and surrounding regions
to achieve the best outcomes and satisfactory results in all that our magical
region has to offer.
Visit Ruapehu Board
Ah-Leen Rayner - Chief Executive, Breast Cancer Foundation NZ
Ah-Leen is a highly experienced executive who has spent the past 25 years in a range of commercial and general management roles with leading corporations.
As the CEO Breast Cancer Foundation, Ahleen is delighted to be working with a cause where purpose drives the organisation and makes a fundamental difference in the lives of New Zealand wāhine.
She was the Executive General Manager of Tourism at
KiwiRail, where she developed the Great Journeys of New Zealand brand.
During her time working in tourism, her passion was using tourism
infrastructure and assets to enhance economic prosperity within regions, which
underpins her commitment to the Visit Ruapehu board. Prior to that, she spent
over ten years in sales and marketing positions within listed and family-owned
multinational companies with in retail, construction, diversified technology and
logistics markets.
Andrea Tyler - Owner and Operator, Plateau Lodge
Born in Australia in a place called Kalgoorlie, Andrea's childhood was very desert-oriented, but her passion has always been travelling. Andrea's extensive travelling has taken her to all seven continents. She is currently living in New Zealand creating a life as a motel owner at Plateau Lodge.
Andrea has been fortunate enough to work with many large hotels over the last 20 years from P&O Resorts in their luxury eco-tourism islands to land base Millenium, Hilton, and Ayres Rock Voyages Resorts.
Andrea is very passionate about tourism and supporting the community. She believes in nurturing villages and developing the region to grow her business in National Park Village.
Annie Rolls - Owner and Operator, Opotiki New World
Visit Ruapehu’s Antoinette Rolls (or Annie to others) was
the owner of Ohakune New World until 2021. Since 2021 she moved with her family
to Ōpōtiki, to take ownership of the New World there. She is the last remaining
founding director of Visit Ruapehu under its new structure formed in 2019
having previously been appointed as a trustee in 2014.
As a business woman, coupled with her local relationships
and whakapapa, Annie brings a wealth of experience and dedication to her role
as our Board Chair. She is passionate about Ruapehu as a people and as a place
and in her spare time loves to play golf, ski, travel and spend precious time
with whānau.
Janelle Hinch - Owner and Operator, Opus Fresh Apparel
Janelle is the proud owner and operator of Opus Fresh
Apparel and a Ruapehu District Councillor. She has a strong commitment to
sustainability and doing the right thing. Janelle is an accomplished Ohakune
business owner, and strong skier, mountain biker and hiker. Janelle is the RDC
representative on Visit Ruapehu’s Board.
Nigel Douglas - Chief Executive Officer, OMD
Nigel has worked in advertising for over 30 years and runs
NZ’s most recognised media agency, OMD in Auckland. He has been connected to
Ohakune for most of his life, working at Kings part time in his early twenties.
He also has a house in Ohakune where he spends his most joyous times, skiing,
hiking, biking and imbibing.
