Caren Rangi
Quick Facts
Biography
Caren Jane Rangi ONZM (born ~1967) is a Cook Islands accountant, public servant, and company director. She is the first Pacific woman to serve as chair of the Arts Council of New Zealand Toi Aotearoa.
Of Manihiki and Rarotongan descent, Rangi was born in Christchurch, New Zealand. She grew up in Napier suburb of Tamatea, and was educated at Tamatea School, Tamatea Intermediate, and Tamatea High School. She studied for a Bachelor of Business Studies at Massey University before working for the Office of the Controller and Auditor-General. In 2008 she became a consultant, and subsequently worked in a range of governance roles.
Rangi has served on the boards of Te Papa, NZ On Air, and Radio New Zealand. In 2015 she was appointed as a director of the Cook Islands Investment Corporation. From 2015 to 2017 she was National President of PACIFICA, the Pacific women's council. In April 2021 she was appointed as chair the board of the Arts Council of New Zealand Toi Aotearoa. She is also currently the Chair of not for profit organisation Pacific Homecare, and was recently appointed to the Hawke's Bay Regional Recovery Agency and the Hawke's Bay Regional Economic Development Agency.
In 2022, Rangi officially opened Bergman Gallery in Auckland, New Zealand, the sister gallery of the original gallery in Rarotonga, Cook Islands. There was also a delegation from the Cook Islands attended the official opening with the Minister of Cultural Development, George Maggie Angene, Cultural Development Secretary, Anthony Turua and Cook Islands Consular Officer, Keu Mataroa.
Honours
In the 2018 Queen's Birthday Honours, Rangi was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to the Pacific community and governance.