Te Puoho is committed to advancing the social and cultural well-being of indigenous New Zealanders (Māori). He is an associate director for Wakatū, a Māori organization managing over $188 million worth of assets on behalf of 4,000 Māori tribal owners. He serves on the boards of Wakatū’s subsidiaries, including Kono NZ, New Zealand’s No. 77-ranked food and beverage company, and Manaaki, tasked with reinvesting profits in the cultural revitalization and social well-being of the owners. Te Puoho spent 10 years working for New Zealand’s government, including a stint within Parliament advising ministers on prominent policy issues, such as regional economic development, multimillion-dollar Māori treaty settlements, and fisheries management. He also trained in Japan with seafood corporation Nissui.