Whānau annual symposium 2019
Pūao Te Rā!
Christchurch Town Hall
10-12 April 2019
Check out the video highlights:
Whānau Ora Symposium Day 1
Whānau Ora Symposium Day 2
Rangatahi Symposium
Ka nui te mihi ki ngā pūkōrero !
big thanks to all of our keynote speakers
Rangatahi advocate Tamatha Paul
For the first time this year in Victoria University’s 122-year history, its student association is being led by a Māori female.
Tamatha Paul, 21, from Tokoroa, is committed to tackling issues such as the university’s sexual violence policies, rent rises for students and better access to mental health services for students. The former dux of Tokoroa High School sees her historic appointment an important one for Māori and is excited to lead a new executive team this year – one that better reflects its 22,000 student members.
As well as being a role model for other rangatahi, helping the community in her hometown of Tokoroa is her main motivation for pursuing a tertiary education – and Tamatha is the first in her whanau to go to university.
In December Tamatha graduated with a degree in political studies at Victoria University’s Te Herenga Waka Marae, before taking up her role as president this year. It’s the first step in what looks like a promising future in politics.
Rangatahi advocate Tamatha Paul
Rangimarie Parata Takurua
Rangimarie Parata Takurua was born in Rotorua and her whānau moved back to Christchurch in the 70’s where she was educated concurrently at Te Wai Pounamu Girls’ College and Avonside Girls’ High School. She attended Massey University where she graduated with a Bachelor of Business Studies degree in 1985. Rangimarie has an extensive background in finance and investment having worked both locally and internationally as well as serving on a number of boards at an iwi, community and national level. Kapa haka is in her blood and she is a founding member and current tutor of the kapa haka roopu Te Ahikaaroa which is now in its 26th year.
In 2002 Te Ahikaaroa opened their own early childhood centre, Nōku Te Ao and in 2014 the founding whānau of Te Ahikaaroa and Nōku Te Ao also established the world’s first pā wānanga, Te Pā o Rākaihautū a unique 21st century pā wānanga (learning village) committed to educational success for the whole whanau, from early childhood, primary and secondary schooling to tertiary education, situated all on the one site. Te Pā o Rākaihautū is the realisation of a whānau’s combined vision to redefine how, where and when the best learning happens for our whānau. They are pushing the reset button on Māori educational under-achievement because that’s what you do when something is broken.
Rangimarie Parata Takurua
Sonny Ngatai was raised in Rotorua and went to Kohanga reo before his whanau relocated to Titahi Bay(Wellington). His parents were of the generation that were not exposed to the reo, however they have a deep desire for their tamariki to grow up learning te reo. Sonny was awarded the highest achievement any Young Māori orator can receive, the winner of the National Korimako Award two in a row at Ngā Manu Korero Nationals in 2013 and 2014. As well as this, Sonny spent his last high school year as head Boy for his prestigious boarding School Hato Pāora College. When Sonny was young, he wanted to be a doctor-until everyone started telling him he should be on TV.
Sonny went on the University of Auckland to study medicine with the Chancellor’s Scholarship for top Māori and Pacific Island scholars in his back pocket. However reality soon caught him, and his focus changed. Sonny’s passion and commitment to defending Child rights has seen him step up as NZ Unicef Ambassador. Sonny was spearheaded by the producer of the first ever rangatahi webseries Hahana with deep passion for promoting Te Reo Māori and inspiring youth, he quickly accepted the challenge. Since Hahana, Sonny has gone on to Present, Direct and create all kinds of shows, with his most recent show “Tiki Towns” playing on Prime and Nickelodeon.
Sonny Ngatai
Eugene Ryder
Eugene Ryder
Minister for Whānau Ora, Hon. Peeni Henare
Hon Peeni Henare is the Member of Parliament for Tāmaki Makaurau, and is of Ngāti Hine and Ngāpuhi descent. He is the Minister for Community and Voluntary Sector, Minister for Whānau Ora, and Minister for Youth, as well as Associate Minister for Social Development. Prior to politics Peeni worked as a businessman, broadcaster and teacher.
Politics and public service is in his blood: his father was Erima Henare, who was head of the Māori Language Commission; his grandfather was Sir James Henare, a lieutenant colonel in the Māori Battalion, member of Te Rūnanga o te Tiriti o Waitangi, and Commander of the British Empire (CBE); and his great-grandfather Taurekareka (Tau) Henare was also a Member of Parliament, for the former electorate Northern Māori from 1914 to 1938.
Minister for Whānau Ora, Hon. Peeni Henare
Donna Matahaere-Atariki
Donna Matahaere-Atariki taught at the University of Otago before becoming Education Manager at the Ngāi Tahu Development Corporation and Executive Officer at Te Runanga o Ngāi Tahu. She was Executive Director of Arai Te Uru Whare Hauora, Chief Executive of He Oranga Pounamu and part of the National Strategy Group for Early Childhood Education, the National Strategy Group for Race Relations, and the Ministry of Social Development’s National Advisory Council for Families and Community Services. She sits on the Ministry of Health’s NGO Council and the University of Otago Council, chairs Te Rūnaka o Ōtākou, and is a Trustee of Well South Health Network and her local women’s refuge.
Donna Matahaere-Atariki
Dr Catherine Savage
Catherine is passionate about equity, communities leading change for themselves, and learning as a lifelong journey. She is the managing director of Ihi Research with her partner John. Catherine has an employment history that is connected by the common thread of learning. Beginning her career as a teacher and educational psychologist, she worked with children and whānau in schools on the East Coast of the North Island. She spent ten years as a senior lecturer at Victoria University where she was the associate director of the graduate teaching programme. She completed her Education Doctorate at Massey University in 2006, which investigated the School Network Reviews of 2004. While at Victoria, worked on several major Ministry of Education research and development projects including the national evaluation of Te Kotahitanga (2010).
From 2010 to 2014 Catherine was the Chief Executive of Te Tapuae o Rehua, a subsidiary of Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, where she led research and educational development initiatives on behalf of the iwi. Her work brought about a new era of partnership and collaboration between the Iwi and tertiary partners and saw the initiation of key partnership projects such as Mau ki te Ako, He Toki ki te Rika and Whenua Kura.
Since 2014, Catherine has successfully led research for clients such as Site Safe, Work Safe, Ako Aotearoa, All Right?, Te Pūtahitanga o Te Waipounamu and Rātā Foundation. She has produced a series of research and evaluations projects investigating social impact from innovative approaches to achieving social change. Her research interests lie in qualitative methodologies and working with Māori whānau to improve educational and social outcomes. She has published and presented nationally and internationally on culturally responsive practices and the development of Iwi led initiatives.
Dr Catherine Savage
Jaye Pukepuke, Bros for Change
Founder of Bros for Change, Jaye Pukepuke saw the need through his own lived experience to take an holistic approach to the complex issues rangatahi face in life and is all about creating positive outcomes for rangatahi in Te Waipounamu by introducing them to Maori concepts which lead them on a journey of self-discovery they were able to develop a six week course which progresses through three central pou or themes; whakawhanaungatanga, hāuora and whānau. Jaye is a futures driven leader, who is not afraid of taking risks or putting in the hard work. Jaye and his team are constantly looking at ways they can support local rangatahi, from hāngī fundraisers to helping whānau over Christmas, to strategising and working towards their next goals to develop their urban style marae and establish a maara kai to meet the needs of their community”. We first met Jaye when he participated in the Te Pūtahitanga o Te Waipounamu ‘hothouse’ in 2014, which allowed Jaye to network, develop valuable business and community relationships and progress a great idea into reality. After piloting camps for rangatahi tane in Christchurch in 2016, Jaye and Ben launched Bros For Change in 2017 with their planned series of six week courses. Five years on we catch up on Bros for Change progress.
Jaye Pukepuke, Bros for Change
Emeritus Professor Sir Mason Durie
Emeritus Professor, KNZM, FRSNZ FRANZCP
For over 40 years, Sir Mason has been at the forefront of a transformational approach to Māori health and has played major roles in building the Māori health workforce. His efforts have been recognised by the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, the Public Health Association of New Zealand, the Māori Medical Practitioners Association, the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand, and the Polynesian Society. In addition to a lifelong commitment to Māori health, Sir Mason also championed higher education for Māori. As Deputy Chair of Te Wānanga o Raukawa, Professor of Māori Research and Development, and Deputy ViceChancellor at Massey University, he provides national academic leadership for Māori and indigenous development and regularly assists Iwi and Māori communities to realise their own aspirations for socio-economic advancement. Apart from serving on the Boards of Te Papa and the Foundation for Research Science and Technology, Sir Mason has been Chair of the Guardians Group for the Secondary Futures project, and a Commissioner for the New Zealand Families Commission. He chaired the Ministerial Taskforce on Whānau Ora and was also Chair of Te Kāhui Amokura, a Standing Committee of the New Zealand ViceChancellors’ Committee. Sir Mason is currently a member of the Mental Health Inquiry panel. In the 2001 New Year Honours Sir Mason was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to Māori. In the 2010 New Year Honours, he was promoted to Knight Companion of the same order, for services to Māori health, in particular public health services.
In 2017, Sir Mason Durie was announced as the winner of the Te Toi o Ngā Rangi Lifetime Achievement Award at Māori Television’s annual Matariki Awards ceremony.
Emeritus Professor Sir Mason Durie
International Speaker, Jo Ann Kauffman
As the President and Founder of Kauffman & Associates, Inc., Jo Ann Kauffman (Nez Perce) built the company from a one-woman shop into an organization that now employs more than 50 people in Spokane, WA; Washington, DC; and other locations across the country. Jo Ann is actively involved in all aspects of KAI operations and ensures that KAI clients receive high-quality management support. Jo Ann is certified in facilitation and consultation on public and behavioral health topics.
Jo Ann grew up in Seattle, WA, and on the Nez Perce Reservation in Kamiah, ID. After working to advance Indian health care, including serving as executive director of the Seattle Indian Health Board, Jo Ann founded KAI in 1990. Jo Ann holds a master’s degree in public health from the University of California at Berkeley.
Jo Ann was honored by Business Beat as Minority Small Business Person of the Year 2006 and as owner of the Fastest Growing Minority Business in 2004, 2007 and 2008. In 2015, the Spokane YWCA awarded her the Women of Achievement Carl Maxey Racial & Social Justice Award.
Jo Ann serves on the Board of Trustees at Eastern Washington University (EWU) and leads Advisory Committee of the new Lucy Covington Center at EWU. Lucy was a political activist from the Colville Confederated Tribes who fought to save her land and people. The Center at EWU was created to establish a permanent legacy for Lucy Covington and her groundbreaking work to secure the unique and important status of tribal governments. In 2017, Eastern Washington University awarded Jo Ann an honorary doctorate.
The Gannett Freedom Forum awarded Jo Ann its Free Spirit Award in 1998 to honor her longtime community activism and advocacy for First Amendment rights.
International Speaker, Jo Ann Kauffman
Minister for Māori Development, Hon. Nanaia Mahuta
As a mother, and a constituent MP with 20 plus years’ experience who has come from ‘flax-root’ politics, Nanaia Mahuta remains connected to the aspirations of people from all walks of life. Those who work hard for a living so that their children can do better, kaumatua, trades-people, those who aspire to own their home, those who own small businesses and those who lead a range of services and organisations and huge iwi entities.
During her time in Parliament, Hon Nanaia Mahuta supported policies and initiatives that built the capacity of communities, especially social service organisations, greater investment in education, employment and training opportunities particularly for young people, supported the continuation of the Treaty Settlement process and supported specific initiatives that lift the wellbeing and opportunities for young mums and those who are vulnerable and victims of abuse.
As of the 2017 election, Nanaia is the Minister for Māori Development and Local Government, and Associate Minister for the Environment.
Hon Nanaia Mahuta is a tribal member of Waikato-Tainui, Ngāti Maniapoto and Ngāti Hine and her parliamentary experience has enabled her to contribute to the collective aspirations of Maori and all New Zealanders
Minister for Māori Development, Hon. Nanaia Mahuta
Ezekiel Tamaana Raui
Sadly losing five friends to suicide, Ezekiel knew something needed to be done and it needed to be done pronto and is the brainchild of Tu Kotahi (Stand Tall); a million dollar programme created in the wake of one of the biggest youth suicide clusters in New Zealand history. His pursuit for social change through community-based initiatives lead him to being selected as one of four Māori ambassadors to attend the 2015 White House Tribal Leaders conference hosted by President Barack Obama and First Lady, Michelle. He was awarded the Matariki Young Achievers Award in 2016 for his work in supporting mental health issues. Ezikiel went to Buckingham Palace and received the Queen’s Young Leader Award for his work around encouraging young Māori to talk more openly about mental health issues. At only 21 years of age, Ezekiel Raui has achieved more than someone twice his age, and is a true leader.
Ezekiel Tamaana Raui
Hon Dame Tariana Turia was a New Zealand member of Parliament from 1996 until 2014. She was Minister for Whānau Ora; Disability Issues and the Community and Voluntary Sector. She has also been Associate Minister in Health, Maori Affairs, Social Development, Child, Youth and Family; Housing, Corrections, Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment. Dame Tariana has been a champion of rangatiratanga for Māori as well as advocating strongly for disabled persons and Pasifika communities. Before entering politics, Dame Tariana was the chief Executive of Te Oranganui Iwi Health Authority (the longest and largest Māori Health Service provider in the Central Region). Dame Tariana was co-leader of the Māori Party since its inception in 2004 until November 2014. Two of her greatest achievements are in Whānau Ora and tobacco reform. Whānau Ora represents a transformation in the way services are designed and delivered, contracts arranged, and providers work together. It is a bold and innovative approach which places the aspirations and outcomes for whānau at the centre.
Hon Dame Tariana Turia
Maruhaeremuri Nihoniho
Maru is the founder and producer and leads a team of developers that includes artists and programmers. As well as designing and developing her own games she also produces 3rd party games both commercial and non-commercial titles across multiple platforms including PlayStation, Apple iOS, PC, Mac and other technologies such as Virtual Reality.
She is a creative person thinking of new concepts and how to utilise existing technology to bring those ideas to life whether it be developing new or redeveloping existing concepts.
Maru has recently completed her Master of Applied Practice – Technological Futures. The aim was to get an in-depth understanding of converging and emerging technologies, how disruption will change current platforms and to be prepared for future platforms.
Maru was awarded Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit on 20 October 2016 for services to gaming and mental health.
In May 2017 she was awarded the MCV Pacific Women in Games Award for Innovator of the year presented by Microsoft Xbox and last year was presented with the Māori Entrepreneurial Leader Award 2018 from the University of Auckland Business Leaders Awards and named as Forbes Top 50 Women in Technology in December.
Maruhaeremuri Nihoniho
PŪAO TE RĀ – URAMAI TE RĀ
As dawn breaks the sun beams through,
Giving light to opportunity; giving light to hope
For more information email vicki@mokowhiti.co.nz or 03 3296975
