Kaapua Smith

Kaapua (Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Apa, Ngāti Awa, Ngāi Tahu) is Head of KPMG IMPACT, the firm's team  dedicated to partnering with organisations to drive the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and creating positive social and environmental outcomes for Aotearoa and New Zealanders.

Kaapua is based in Wellington and is deeply involved in the firm’s work in Economic and Social Impact including the development and delivery of KPMG New Zealand's Tōmua methodologies, which draws on kaupapa and mātauranga Māori approaches to assist in solving contemporary business challenges.  She has worked with many clients to support them to develop integrated, purpose and people-led systems, processes and projects, and is particularly skilled at working in complex stakeholder environments.

With a career spanning more than 20  years across government and corporate sectors, Kaapua has held influential roles including Political Advisor and Press Secretary for the Minister of Māori Affairs and the Minister for Whānau Ora, as well as positions at Te Puni Kōkiri and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Prior to joining KPMG, she spent eight years as Head of Sustainability at Contact Energy, where she led climate strategy, ESG reporting, and tangata whenua engagement.

Kaapua is a passionate advocate for the development of Kaupapa Māori, believing that Māori knowledge, systems and tikanga are essential to the sustainability of our country’s natural resources and the advancement of communities most in need of support. Her leadership reflects KPMG’s commitment to delivering meaningful impact in ESG and sustainability—both within the firm and in partnership with clients across Aotearoa.

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