Katie is of Te Arawa and Mataatua descent. Her mother is a Tapsell of Ngāti Whakaue and her father is a Paul of Ngāti Awa, Ngāti Manawa and Tuhoe. Growing up Mourea, Katie inherited the responsibilities that come with tribal membership and leadership.
In 1998, Katie graduated with a Bachelor of Laws at Victoria University of Wellington, specialising in international trade and environmental law. She entered the NZ Foreign Service the same year and by the year 2000, she was a New Zealand diplomat in South Korea. In 2005 she returned to raise her two young sons in Rotorua before she resumed her diplomatic life in 2011 as a senior political and security advisor for the United States relationship.
In 2010 Katie was appointed a Director on the CNI Iwi Ltd (a role she held for 8 years), she also became the Chair of the Ngāti Whakaue Assets Trust and a Trustee on multi million dollar forest and farming Trusts. In 2016, Katie decided to refresh her legal skills and is now a Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court. She has completed the course requirements for membership to the New Zealand Institute of Directors.
As a former diplomat, government advisor, lecturer, working mother, trustee and director and now, a Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court, Katie is excited to bring her legal skills home in the service of the owners and beneficiaries of Rotoiti 15.
