WHĀNAU | TEAM

KAUMĀTUA | ELDER

Born in Waikato, I am of the Tainui Waka of the Hapuu Ngaati Tamainupoo and Ngaati Maniapoto heritage. My experiences have come through my personal and whānau life and my work locally, regionally, nationally and internationally.

Since those early days, I have added significant experience, professional training and qualifications. I have built on my strong foundations with professional training and national experience in leadership, professional and cultural supervision, counselling, and group facilitation. I have continued my indigenous spiritual energy healing practice. In this basket of resources, I have added internationally renowned, advanced-level training in Appreciative Inquiry, Presentation and Story-Telling, and Aotearoa-based tertiary qualifications in Mātauranga Maori and Bi-Cultural Supervision. In my experience, these resources and approaches combine powerfully and positively to mobilise and achieve personal, professional and organisational change and development.

KUIA | ELDER

Ko Mataatua raaua ko Ngaatokimatawhaorua ooku Waka
Ko Pou e rua toku Maunga
Ko Waitangi tooku Awa
Ko Te Pewhairangi tooku Moana
Ko Te Tiriti o Waitangi tooku Marae
E noho ana au ki Papakaaianga ki Waitangi
Ko Kiingi Taurua raaua ko Mate Horomoana Ashby ooku Maatua
Ko Haami Peihopa tooku Hoa Rangatira
Ko Tui Taurua ahau

My first psychiatric admission was in 1977. I have been working in the mental health sector for 30 years. I hold firm to the voices of my tuupuna; they are my guides. My hapuu is the mental health lived experience haapori.

My work integrates the principles of Hinengaro (mental wellbeing), Oranga (health) and Toa (resilience) to advance Maaori mental health equity. This cultural framework strengthens my ability to represent the indigenous perspective in numerous forums.

Governance roles include Chair, Te Hiringa Hauora/Noku Te Ao, and Deputy Chair for both the Health and Disability Commission & Medical Council Whakawaha Community Advisory Group., Co-Chair Collaborative Lived Experience Advisory Roopu and Trustee for the Collaborative Aotearoa Charitable Trust.

I graduated from Te Wananga o Aotearoa Post Graduate Diploma Kaitiaki Professional Supervision and have begun my Masters of Applied Indigenous Studies, Te Waka Hiringa for Te Wananga o Aotearoa.

TARAHITĪ | TRUSTEE

Iwi: Ngāti Apa, Ngā Wairiki, Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Kauwhata, Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Paoa, Kai Tahu, and Tumatakōkiri

Mikaere Paki is a Trustee at Hauora Aotearoa with over 20 years of experience in education and Māori strategy. Mikaere brings a deep cultural perspective to his work. As Tumu Ā Tikanga at Te Arawhiti, he led the integration of tikanga Māori into government practice. He is known for his guiding belief that understanding who we are must come before what we do. Mikaere is also a skilled facilitator, welcoming and orienting diverse groups to te ao Māori.

TARAHITĪ | TRUSTEE

Iwi: Ngāti Rangiwewehi

MANA INCORPORATED - KAIWAIHANGA | TUMU WHAKARAE - FOUNDER and CO-CEO

He aha te mea nui o te ao? He tangata he tangata he tangata.

Kelly is a māmā of 3 beautiful tamariki and a nanny. She was born and raised in Gore and moved to Tamaki Makarau in 2005. Kelly is the CEO of Mana Incorporated, an organisation based in South Auckland committed to inspiring, enhancing and empowering rangatahi (youth), whānau, and the wider community.

TARAHITĪ | TRUSTEE

Iwi: Tūhourangi Ngāti Wāhiao, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, and Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga

Horiana Jones is a registered clinical psychologist, and co-team leader of Oranga Tamariki’s (Child Protection Services) Bay of Plenty Clinical Services.  Horiana is also a business owner of Rapuhia LTD, offering psychology focused consultation, supervision, and private practice.

Horiana has whakapapa connections to Te Arawa waka and Tainui waka, Tuhourangi Ngāti wahiao, Ngāti Tuwharetoa, Ngāti Raukawa ki te tonga, and is based in Rotorua.

Horiana is a DBT trained clinician, a co-investigator on an FASD prevalence study, and an active member of He paiaka Tōtara (National Māori psychologist Rōpu). 

POUTIAKI - CEO

Iwi: Ngāti Apa, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Ruanui

Ko Jase Te Patu ahau. He kaihāpai pūmau mō te hauora hinengaro, me te kaiwhakarongo i ngā reo o te rangatahi. With over 33 years of dedication, I bring a uniquely grounded perspective, weaving the wisdom of Māori mātauranga into everything I do to uplift the hauora of young people across Aotearoa.

As a TED Talk speaker, Edmund Hillary Fellow, and the founder of Hauora Aotearoa, my mission is clear: to ignite generational change through mental health education. My passion for this mahi comes from the deep desire to see my nephews, nieces, and future generations equipped with the tools they need to thrive when life gets tough.

I am inspired by Io, guided by our tūpuna, and wholly focused on the wellbeing of our mokopuna. Together, we can build a future where every young person stands strong, connected, and resilient. 

POU WHIRINAKI | POURURUKU - TEAM LEAD and MASTER FACILITATOR - KIRIKIRIROA

Iwi: Ngaati Maniapoto, Ngaati Apakura

Ko Kylie Paekau ahau. Over the past 15 years, I have worked in hauora, primarily as a Kairongoā Honohono and Wairua Practitioner, supporting many whānau in their mental health and hauora journeys using a holistic Māori approach. From my lived experience, I bring a special interest in both Neurodivergence and trauma recovery to my mahi. My earlier background in Business Management and Early Childhood Education allows me to utilise various skills in my role.

As a Māmā of five and an Aunty to many, I am often surrounded by rangatahi and aware of their challenges. I believe our rangatahi hold their own wisdom. With the right nurturing, guidance, and advocacy, they can be supported to connect deeply with their own innate sense of self and develop the resilience needed to thrive in today’s world. Seeing the positive effects hauora practices have had on my own rangatahi has inspired me to share this mātauranga more widely so all our mokopuna have a better chance to live well, learn well, and lead well.

He oranga ngākau, he pikinga waiora.

KAITAKAWAENGA | POUAKO - SCHOOLS MANAGER and FACILITATOR - KIRIKIRIROA

Iwi: Ngaati Maniapoto, Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairoa, Airihi.

He uri ahau nō Ngāti Maniapoto, nō Ngāpuhi, nō Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairoa, nō Tūhoe ōku iwi. He uri nō Ingarani me Airani anō hoki. Kia ora katoa!

I am proud to descend from a diverse whānau of kaiako (teachers) and hauora (wellbeing) practitioners who inspire me. He Kaiako ahau, I am a primary teacher, Yoga facilitator and trained in Taumārire mindfulness by M3, which lead me into this mahi. Having been through my own health challenges as a rangatahi (youth) and Kaiako (teacher), I now understand the vital need for Hauora in our education spaces.

I now love mindfulness, finding presence in music, sunsets, and the ngahere, and enjoying kai. My hope is for all Kaiako (teachers) and rangatahi (youth) is to be well so they can stand proud in who they are, naturally, and take on the life they deserve.

Kia ora katoa!
May all be well!

POUAKO - FACILITATOR - TE WHANGANUI-A-TARA

Iwi: Ngāti Porou & Ngāti Hāmoa (Samatau, Afega, Fusi, Faga)

Kia Ora, Tālofa Lava! Ko Tausilia McClutchie ahau. I come from the beautiful Te Tairāwhiti-Gisborne, and I am proud of my Sāmoan and Māori heritage. I strive to reflect this in everything I do. My whānau/aiga have always role-modeled service and helping others in need, enabling me to give back to my communities by accompanying rangatahi on their journey.

I am passionate about empowering rangatahi to be their best authentic selves through accessible hauora practices. It's my belief that some mindfulness and hauora practices can be sharing kai, having fun through kēmu, being outside in te taiao or listening to music whilst adding HĀ. Most importantly, our rangatahi bring so much of their own pūkenga and have a lot to offer, which is one of the many reasons I love working alongside them.

We really have the best mahi building a space of whanaungatanga and manaakitanga, a space where rangatahi want to continue to come back to.

POUAKO - FACILITATOR - TE WHANGANUI-A-TARA

Iwi: Ngāti Maru, Ngāti Porou, Ethiopia

Tēnā koe, Ko Honestly Watene tēnei! He uri tēnei nō Ngāti Maru, nō Ngāti Porou, nō Ethiopia hoki. With my diverse background and humble upbringing, as a young Māmā, I can relate to the challenges rangatahi may face through my lived experiences. I am a recently retired New Zealand sportswoman, now shifting my energies to rangatahi development.

After becoming a Māmā I felt a calling to reconnect with Te Ao Māori and reclaim Te Reo, this combined with my youth development projects, has led me to Hauora Aotearoa.

I am passionate about elevating the strengths of diversity and supporting rangatahi to reach their highest potential. With our collective strengths, we can build stronger connections to have an Aotearoa where all people, especially our rangatahi, can face life’s challenges with strength, courage, determination and resilience. Life can be challenging at times, but it is harder without Hauora. Tū mai e te iwi, the time is now! 

POUAKO - FACILITATOR - TĀMAKI

Iwi: Ngaati Whaawhaakia, Ngaati Tiipa

Kia ora raa  e te iwi, ko Leeana Berryman-Savage ahau.
Whaanau mai ai ahau ki Waikato, Raahui Pookeka, whakatangata ai ahau ki te tonga o Taamaki. 

My passion has always been deeply rooted in my culture and in uplifting and empowering all cultures. As a maamaa living in South Auckland, and through my work across various social services, I've seen firsthand the disconnection many of our tamariki experience, especially those caught within the system.
It was in those moments that I truly felt, as a Maaori wahine, that this is my calling. This is how I give back by sharing my tino rangatiratanga and helping to guide and uplift our rangatahi.

I'm passionate about working with rangatahi; seeing them thrive gives me goosebumps and a deep sense of fulfilment.

POUAKO - FACILITATOR - TĀMAKI

Iwi: Te Whakatōhea, Ngāti Whātua ki Kaipara, Ngā Puhi

I have worked with rangatahi Maori and Pasifika for many years supporting their leadership journey and pathwaying them into the workplace. My passion will always be to help our rangatahi recognise the greatness that already exists within them, and give them the tools and encouragement to step fully into it.

I’ve been a gardener and beekeeper for many years, carrying mātauranga that has been passed down from those who came before. For me, the maara is a place where I find deep healing and connection. One of the greatest lessons I’ve learned is how closely our actions impact the taiao, and how, in turn, the taiao impacts our hauora. I see it as a responsibility to share this mātauranga with our future leaders and to encourage them to recognise that, despite all the technology in the world, there is magic that exists within the taiao.

My hope is that all rangatahi in Aotearoa have access to the tools and knowledge they need to nurture and strengthen their hauora.

POUAKO - FACILITATOR - TĀMAKI

Iwi: Ngā moutere o Fiji

Ni sa Bula Vinaka. My name is Joape, and I hail from Mualevu, Vanuabalavu, Lau, on the beautiful islands of Fiji.

I am deeply passionate about child and youth mental health and wellbeing. With a background in Psychology, Public Policy and ongoing studies in Law, I’ve worked across community, government, and international spaces to amplify youth voices and promote holistic wellbeing. My policy experience includes an internship with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, where I contributed to child and youth wellbeing strategies, as well as work in human rights and gender equality.

I’m currently serving on the Ministry for the Environment’s Youth Advisory Group, advocating for climate action that reflects the realities and mental health impacts facing young people today. Whether volunteering with the Pacific Climate Warriors or leading community-centred workshops, my work is rooted in cultural identity, resilience, and community. I believe that supporting young people begins with listening to them, and I’m committed to ensuring that their stories, needs, and strengths shape the systems designed to serve them.

PUĀWAI PROJECT COORDINATOR

Iwi: Ngāti Whātua, Ngā Puhi, Tūhoe.

Kia ora! Ko Ashleigh Putt-Fallows ahau. I’m currently a student at Te Herenga Waka. My passion has been in advocacy since I was 15 working in environmental activism and since then I have been privileged enough to be a part of mahi in rangatahi and Te Ao Māori spaces. A lot of my mahi centres around rangatahi voice, leadership and issues as well as equity, human rights and Te Ao Māori. I have been lucky enough to work in a variety of spaces from policy makers to communities and everything in between.

I want to see rangatahi now and the next generation be safe and heard, a major part of that is supporting mental health and hauora and so I am led here.

Tukua kia tū takitahi ngā whetū o te rangi. Ehara ahau i te rangatira mō āpōpō, engari he rangatira ahau mō tēnei rā.