Born and raised on a sheep and beef farm in Mauriceville, Wairarapa, Marise is the daughter of Maryann Kerehi Stuart (Ngatuere) and Alan Stuart; mokopuna of Tutahanga Otekai Arahi Ngatuere, and descendant of Tawhirimatea Tawhao Ngatuere.

A Ngārimu VC 28th Māori Battalion scholar, and, Fulbright scholar at Harvard University, Marise is working with Nobel Prize laureate (Economics) Professor Amartya Sen exploring the challenges to Māori economic development. In addition to her studies, she is designing and implementing Māori economic development programmes (in Te Tai Tokerau and the Wairarapa) using lessons from the successful, Māori response to Covid-19.

Marise has extensive experience in governance, health and digital innovations, and a passion for maximising Māori capabilities and wellbeing, through economic development.

Marise is a member of Te Rōpū Whakakaupapa Urutā (National Māori Pandemic Group), as well as the Harvard Indigenous Health Response, supporting strategic advice and advocacy for COVID-19 across Aotearoa, and Indigenous peoples across the globe, respectively.