Ko te amorangi ki mua, ko te hapai o ki muri.

After graduating from Auckland University with an LLB, Te Rau practiced law in Auckland and Wellington, specialising in litigation. From 2005 to 2017, Te Rau held a number of senior executive roles across government, including Deputy Secretary for the Environment, and Deputy Chief Executive roles at the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development. Te Rau also holds a number of governance roles including with Te Runanganui o Ngati Porou, and advisory roles with Stats NZ, the Reserve Bank of NZ and the Ministry of Defence. In 2016, Te Rau co-authored Mauri Ora – Wisdom from the Māori world.

Lynette has extensive experience in the Māori broadcasting and media sector. Over the past 15 years at Māori Television Lynette has developed a close rapport with iwi and community leaders in Te Ao Māori. Her recent roles at Māori Television as Head of News and Current Affairs and News Planning charged her with the responsibility to co-design and implement the multiplatform approach to news dissemination. Problem-solving and planning is king to executing any task at hand and Lynette brings this strength to the teams she works with. She quickly identifies the problem or goal and takes you on the journey to achieve it. Lynette has executive level knowledge of operational Human Resources disciplines. She has experience in financial literacy, people management and high-level strategic design.

Sarah has spent the last 15 years working in the financial services industry, most recently at Māori investment advisory firm, Taupo Moana Funds. Over the 9 years she worked at Taupo Moana, her roles included Investment Analyst, Investment Advisor, Investment Operations Manager and most recently General Manager. Sarah has also worked in London (Northern Trust), Vancouver and at Perpetual Trust in Wellington, involved in funds management, trust administration and investment advice. Sarah holds a Bachelor of Commerce and Administration majoring in Money and Finance, and Economics from Victoria University.

Te Pare leads the oranga whanau, social development, practice at Te Amokura, with a particular focus on improving system and policy settings to benefit whanau.

Raised in Whangara, north of Gisborne, Te Pare is passionate about community driven systems-level design, specifically to improve outcomes for whanau.

She has been involved in the health and social sector for the past 30-years, holding various senior management roles in DHBs and the wider sector, including as Chief Executive of Turuki Healthcare in Tamaki.

Te Pare has been involved in various transformational change programmes over the years to improve outcomes for Māori and Pacific – bringing a provider perspective to the establishment of the National Hauora Coalition, leading locality planning and whanau ora development in various communities.

She is currently working towards an Executive Masters in Public Administration through ANZSOG.

Rawinia leads the Hauora, Health outcomes, practice at Te Amokura, having joined us from the Transitional Unit at the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, where she helped to drive the establishment of the Maori Health Authority.

Rawinia, or Ra, as she is affectionately known, has over 25-years’ experience in the health and social services sectors. She has held a variety of senior leadership roles in organisations such as District Health Boards, Primary Healthcare Organisations and Te Puni Kokiri. Her experience includes driving change management processes to optimise performance, the implementation of policy and strategy into initiatives grounded in community and leading end-to-end commissioning processes using frameworks and principles steeped in Te Ao Maori. Ra has a Bachelor Degree in Social Practice (Community Development) and a Masters in Business Administration (MBA).

Hinerangi has more than 20-years experience as a Māori communications specialist providing strategic communications, engagement, media and marketing services to many organisations, always with a kaupapa Māori lens. She has also been a journalist and a Press Secretary in Parliament.

Major campaigns she has led include the ‘Karawhiua campaign’ for Te Puni Kōkiri (2021-2022), the ‘Constitution Conversation’ for the Ministry of Justice (2012-14) and ‘Te Mana campaign’ for the Ministry of Education (2006-2009).

 Hinerangi has a degree in broadcast communications and is actively involved in whānau, hapū and iwi development. She lives with her partner and two of their five bilingual children in Wellington.

Over the last seven years, Taimania has worked across several complex public sector work programmes in the areas of Crown Māori Relations, Māori Development, Natural Resources and Education. Taimania has experience in designing and implementing systems to improve consideration and implementation of Treaty commitments in policy development and is well versed in the machinery of government. She has also been involved in historical Treaty settlement negotiations and government responses to contemporary Treaty claims. A critical thinker with a drive to deliver high quality outputs and outcomes, Taimania can provide leadership and support for specific projects or general capability for any team.

Before joining Te Amokura, Taimania was a Senior Policy Analyst at the Ministry for the Environment, she also spent time working as an advisor to the Chief Executive. Taimania also has experience working for iwi and community organisations, focusing mostly on social development.

Taimania has undergraduate degrees in Arts (Social Policy)(Hons) and Business Studies (Economics) and a Master of Arts (Social Policy)(Hons) from Massey University.

Taimania was raised in Gisborne. Her whānau are from Rangitukia and Tikitiki on the right side of the Waiapu valley!

Born in Taihape and raised in Wellington, Hollie graduated from Te Panekiretanga o te Reo Māori (Institute of Excellence in Māori Language), has with a BA and GDipArts from Victoria University and the University of Hawai'i (Mānoa), and is a licenced Toi Reo Māori translator certified under Te Ture mō Te Reo Māori 2016. Hollie has worked in public sector policy design and implementation over the last 10 years across education, training and employment, and been involved significantly in the Māori language sector, specialising in intervention logic for language planning and policy design informed by the application of sociolinguistic and language revitalisation theories. Hollie has whakapapa to Ngāti Tamakōpiri, Whanganui nui tonu, Ngāi Tahu, Rangitāne O Wairau, me Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa.

After completing a BCom at the University of Auckland Kara spent several years in manufacturing management with Nestle. Over the past fifteen years Kara has held executive roles in retail with JB HiFi, Warehouse Stationery and The Warehouse. His most recent role as GM of Warehouse Mobile involved the creation & launch of NZ's leading virtual network in partnership with 2 degrees.

An analytical and strategic thinker Kara has a range of core competencies including sourcing, project management, consumer insight, negotiation and ideation.

Kara was born and raised in Auckland and has whakapapa links to Ngāpuhi and Ngātiwai.

He is Advisory Chair for the boy's hostel of InZone Education and a keen coach of cricket & soccer.

Cath has worked at senior levels of the Public Sector in New Zealand and Australia. Her experience spans policy development, leading legislation initiatives, the design and implementation of stakeholder engagement processes and leading and working with teams to build capability and improve performance. Most recently, she led Te Ture mō Te Reo Māori (Māori Language Act) which was passed in 2016. A critical thinker, experienced in navigating diverse and complex situations, she has proven experience of working both within Māori and government contexts.

Arihia graduated from Victoria University with a BA in te reo Māori and linguistics and is a licensed Toi Reo Māori translator. She has a background in communications, content development, production management, editing and publishing which all reflects her creative commitment to te reo Māori. Arihia has worked with many clients to develop creative marketing ideas for Māori language revitalisation. She understands the importance of integrating all communication initiatives.

Arihia has written, edited and published in the Māori language everything from children’s books to contributions to He Muka the prestige publication of the Māori Language Commission. She’s also written copy and designed collateral for major campaigns promoting te reo Māori and language planning.

Karli graduated from Victoria University with an LLB/BA (Social Policy and History (Hons)). Prior to joining Te Amokura, Karli worked for Victoria University of Wellington's Faculty of Law as the Kaitakawaenga Ture - the Māori Law Students' Co-ordinator. During her time at University Karli was involved with Ngā Rangahautira - the Māori Law Students Association, Wellington Community Justice Project and Community Law Wellington as a Volunteer and Advocate at Epuni Care and Protection Residence. Karli was also born and raised in the thriving metropolis of Gisborne.

Marama was born and raised in Tāmaki Makaurau and belongs to Ngāpuhi and Ngāti Kahu ki Whangaroa. Educated through kōhanga reo, kura kaupapa and kura Māori, Marama graduated from the University of Otago with a BSc and PGDip in Neuroscience and Developmental Anatomy and a Master of Science Communication (endorsed in Popularising Science).

Marama has senior policy experience across the public sector, most recently in education policy and budget at the Ministry of Education; Treaty settlement negotiations at Te Arawhiti; and Managed Isolation & Quarantine (MIQ) Policy at the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. Marama has also served as a private secretary to the Minister of Education.

Te Wehi Wright belongs to Te Arawa, Ngāruahinerangi, Ngāti Raukawa and Ngāti Kahungunu ki Te Wairoa and is a product of Kōhanga Reo and Kura Kaupapa Māori Aho Matua. He completed a conjoint BA/LLB majoring in te reo Māori, Māori studies and Resource Management at Te Herenga Waka, Victoria University of Wellington and has spent the past 5 years working in the private sector, focusing on measuring and building the cultural capital of organisations. Before joining Te Amokura, Te Wehi worked for Tuaropaki Trust, one of the most successful intergenerational trusts in Aotearoa, specialising in increasing the cultural capital of the Trust. He has project management experience and has worked in strategy design, innovation, engagement and policy.

Pele is a graduate of Auckland University with a Bachelor of Education and Master of Arts, and is one of the first graduates of the Kura Kaupapa Māori Dip. Teaching in the formative years of the Kura Kaupapa movement in Auckland (now Te Kura Takiura). She moved back to the East Coast to help lead the establishment of Kuranui, a kaupapa-ā-Iwi model of education. Over the past twenty years she has been instrumental in producing a stream of outstanding graduates from the small East Coast towns of Tolaga Bay and Tokomaru Bay. Her upbringing instilled in her a love of mātauranga, te taiao and haka.

With over 10-years as a professional sportsperson, Nehe brings strategy, leadership and high-performance capability to Te Amokura. With a depth of experience in health and wellbeing, Nehe has a system level focus on delivering better outcomes for Maori.

Hailing from Te Tairawhiti, and with whakapapa to Ngati Porou and Tapuika, Nehe debuted for the Ngati Porou East Coast rugby team in 2021, winning his only game for the season against Poverty Bay, and importantly, allowing him to claim a 100% winning streak for his tribal team!

In 2015, Nehe was awarded the World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the year, having played a key role in the All Blacks winning the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

Rewa Harriman (nee Hudson), is an experienced Māori journalist, with a passion for storytelling. She has been in the broadcast industry for more than fifteen-years, working as a reporter and producer for various news and current affairs shows. Her most recent roles have included producing a new ob-doc series for TVNZ, and Current Affairs show, The Hui.

Before entering broadcasting, Rewa, was a professional tennis player, winning multiple doubles tennis titles on the International Tennis Federation world circuit. Rewa retired from tennis in 2001, and now plays ‘momager’ to her two tamariki and their sporting endeavours!

After graduating from Victoria University of Wellington with a BA in Anthropology and Masters in Education, Thomas worked in an academic role for the university before spending time in the private sector. Thomas then transitioned to the public sector and has worked across government for close to 20-years in a variety of roles spanning policy, strategy and engagement for numerous departments and agencies including the Treasury, the Environmental Protection Authority, the Social Investment Agency, the Ministry of Education and Te Puni Kōkiri.

Thomas has also served as the Private Secretary for the Minister of Research Science and Technology.

With whakapapa to Ngāti Porou, Te Aitanga-a-Hauiti, Te Aitanga-a-Mahaki and Ngāti Kahungunu ki Ahuriri, Thomas was raised by his grandparents in Awekairangi with regular trips back to his Tairawhiti homeland.

Eli is a graduate of Victoria University, graduating in 2016 with a BCom in Management and GDip in Tourism. Eli has whakapapa links to Ngāi Tahu, Ngāi Tāmanuhiri, Ngāi Tuhoe and Ngāti Whātua ki Ōrākei. He was raised in Tūranganui-a-Kiwa.

Prior to joining Te Amokura, Eli spent 3-years working in the public sector with a focus on policy design and implementation. An innovative and creative thinker, Eli has worked across business feasibility, legislation initiatives as well as policy development in the Māori language and youth development sectors. Eli is passionate about traditional Māori knowledge systems, in particular, and utilising those systems to provide insights that develop solutions and approaches that achieve best outcomes for Māori.

Andrea is a Senior Project and Programme Manager who has helped lead project teams to deliver change across government for 15+ years. As Programme Manager, Andrea helped lead a multi-disciplinary and multi-agency team to deliver New Zealand’s environmental reporting obligations, including the production of the flagship report ‘Environment Aoteraroa 2019’.

Recent assignments have required a greater Te Tiriti focus and partnership approach to working with iwi and Māori organisations. Andrea has a range of project management tools and methodologies to draw from but is primarily driven by delivering change through people. With whakapapa to Ngāti Porou and Te Ātiawa, Andrea grew-up in Wainuiomata and completed her Bachelor of Commerce and Administration degree at Victoria University. She now lives on the Kapiti Coast with her Irish husband, daughter and dogs.

Katherine (Kat) has worked across the health and education system for over 15 years, primarily with NGOs and Government providers focussing on Māori Health, Public Health and Workforce Development.

Kat has held a variety of leadership roles at the Ministry of Health, and recently with the Māori Health Directorate, to support the NZ Health System Reforms. With a passion for achieving equitable health outcomes, particularly from a Te Ao Māori perspective, Kat has deep experience in the development and delivery of cultural competency training programmes, with a focus on delivering more successful health services.

Kat hails from Whanganui and holds a BA in Māori Studies and a Post-Graduate Diploma in Public Health from Massey University.

Glenys has 36 years’ experience across the education sector including early learning, primary, secondary and tertiary education. Her specialist area is Māori medium education pathways. She has held senior leadership and management roles in kura, the Education Review Office and the Ministry of Education.

Glenys has recently been responsible for leading the redesign of the national curriculum (Te Marautanga o Aotearoa) where she worked with education experts and leaders, whānau and ministry officials to lay the foundation for an authentic indigenous curriculum that supports the aspirations of ākonga, their whānau, hapū and iwi. Glenys holds a Bachelor of Education from Victoria University as well as Post Graduate Diplomas in Education (VUW) and Social Sector Research and Evaluation Methodologies (Massey University).

Prior to joining Te Amokura, Leah worked in the private sector, primarily in insurance and telecommunications. With a law degree from Auckland University of Technology, Leah has experience in data analytics, research and strategic design thinking. Leah was raised in the small northland town of Kaihu, before moving to her tribal hometown of Taupo. She has whakapapa links to Ngāti Tūwharetoa and Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki.

Awhina graduated from the University of Auckland with a BA (Māori Studies) and BHSc with a focus on Public Health and Māori health research. During her time at university Awhina was involved in Ngā Tauira Māori (the Māori Students Association) and MAPAS (the Māori and Pacific Admission Scheme) within the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences. Before joining Te Amokura, Awhina interned at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade working in the multilateral space on environmental issues. Awhina was proudly born and raised in Gisborne, with whānau ties to Tikitiki and Rangitukia.

Born in Tāmaki and raised amongst indigenous populations in Tuba City, Arizona (Navajo Nation) and Lāʻie, Hawaiʻi (Kānaka Maoli), Sala returned to Aotearoa in 2020 having completed a Juris Doctor, Master’s in Public Administration, and BA in Political Science from the Brigham Young Universities in Utah and Hawai’i.

Sala has spent the last few years honing her skills in administration, research and writing, policy analysis and project management, and Experience Design & Management (ExDM). Passionate about transformative leadership and cross-cultural understanding, Sala is technically trained in intercultural peacebuilding and Alternative Dispute Resolution.

Sala has whakapapa to Ngāti Whitikaupeka, Ngāti Tamakōpiri, Ngāti Pikiao and Whakaue, as well as Hawaiʻi, Samoa and Tonga.

Carlos was raised in Ōtaki. He is a raukura of Kōhanga reo and is currently completing a BA in Māori studies and Development studies at Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington. In 2019, Carlos graduated with a diploma in Maori language fluency from Te Wānanga Takiura o Ngā Kura Kaupapa Māori o Aotearoa.

Carlos interned with Te Puni Kōkiri in 2018 and continued as an advisor and business analyst until mid 2021. During his time at Te Puni Kōkiri he gained valuable experience in engaging with external agencies, monitoring and reporting of funds, and data and analytics, specifically with Whānau Ora.

Carlos is passionate about working with young Māori with a focus on ensuring that our education system is better equipped to take care of our rangatahi.

Omiha was born and raised in Tāmaki Makaurau, with whakapapa links to Te Rarawa, Ngāpuhi, Ngāi Tahu and Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairoa.

She is a proud alumni of kōhanga reo, kura kaupapa Māori and rūmaki reo. In mid 2021, she completed a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Māori Studies and Communications at the University of Auckland.

During her studies, she worked as a recruitment officer for Te Wānanga o Aotearoa where she gained experience in community engagement and has also worked across a range of media and consultancy projects.

Omiha is passionate about mātauranga Māori and reo revitalisation which she hopes to incorporate into her mahi with Te Amokura.

Born and raised in Tairawhiti, including secondary education at Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Te Waiu o Ngati Porou in Ruatoria, Miria is currently studying towards a Bachelor of Arts in Cultural Anthropology and Te Reo Māori, minoring in Public Policy at Victoria University of Wellington. In 2020, she was included on the Dean’s list for achieving academic excellence. Miria has worked in engagement and Māori responsiveness at the Gisborne District Council which focussed on developing the Council’s relationships with hapu and iwi across the Tairawhiti. In 2019, Miria worked as a marketing and communications intern at the Heartland Bank.

Rawinia (aka, Ra or Whaea Ra) enjoyed a long career in the public sector, primarily in administration and finance roles, having worked previously with the Department of Māori Affairs, Te Tira Ahu Iwi (Iwi Transition Agency), Te Puni Kōkiri, the Office of the Māori Trustee and Hato Pāora College in Feilding. Ra is married to Vaughn and has two sons, Sonny and Luther, who keep her just as busy as the Te Amokura whanau.

Rotorua is “home” for Ra where she has whakapapa links to Te Arawa, Ngati Whatua and Ngāi Tahu.