Riana Manuel is Te Aka Matua │ chief executive of Te Aka Whai Ora, Māori Health Authority. Riana is a skilled strategic, and visionary leader within the Māori and health sectors, with extensive experience leading kaupapa Māori organisations. 

Riana is a registered nurse practitioner, who has based her career in community and Māori healthcare. Prior to her appointment as Chief Executive for Te Aka Whai Ora, Riana was Nurse Director at Waikato District Health Board, Chief Executive of Hauraki Primary Health Organisation and rural iwi-based health provider Te Korowai Hauora o Hauraki. 

Riana’s aim has always been to ensure people in both rural and urban areas have services appropriate to their communities, rather than applying a universal approach to healthcare.