Our Team
Fahran Kohine Whippey Rawhiti
Fahran Kohine Sixtus-Rawhiti is the Chairperson of TPKCT. She is also a Trustee for Tokaanu Marae, and Trustee member for Kahakaharoa Blocks and Papakore Takarea Paurini (Te Heu Heu). With 16 years specialising in Mental Health as a Maori whanau ora practitioner and ICU Team leader, Fahran is currently employed as an ICAHMS Clinician for Lakes DHB in Tūwharetoa Rohe.
Both Fahran and her husband were in the army. Fahran did 15 years service as a RNZAMC D196676 Combat Medic and Registered Comp Nurse-Spec Officer. In this role she set up field hospitals, theatre and trauma medicine. She supported combat troops, deployed overseas as a Company Medic and received commendations and leadership awards. Her qualifications include; Bachelor of Nursing Degree, Diploma in Mental Health Specialist Diploma in Military Medicine, Qualified Whanau Ora Practitioner. Master of Arts in Health Science. She is also currently undertaking her doctorate at Otago University School of Psychology.
Kahi Dickinson
Kahi has been involved with Maori Land ownership and block research for twenty-five years. In 1994 she got a NZ Office System certificate which is equivalent now to a three year business study diploma.
Due to her computer and office management Kahi has had a number of trustee roles on Ahuwhenua trusts, whanau trusts, charitable trustee and is currently an administrator of four ahuwhenua trusts and in also a responsible trustee in two of them.
Kahi also completes the sale of houses transactions by manual lodgements through LINZ. Provides reports to Trusts on block history and its current status. She is an active member of Jehovah Witness congregation for 45 years. Her husband of 48 years is helping look after three mokopuna aged, 18months, four year old and seven year old. Kahi is passionate about our Maoro owned resources used to empower young ones to feel worth it and build up their self esteem away from materialistic concepts. Our resources need to be used to benefit all not just a priviledged few to gain extraordinary wealth.
Rangitunoa Black
Ngāi Tūhoe, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Te Arawa, Ngāi Te Rangi, Rongowhakaata, Te Whānau a Apanui
Rangitunoa Black was born at Ruatoki and educated at Tawera School, Ruatoki, Kawerau College and Queen Victoria School. She attended Training College and Waikato University where she graduated with B. Soc.Sc in Māori and Sociology and completed further studies at Victoria graduating with BA(Hons) in Art History in 1984. She wrote all her BA essays in Māori as a political statement. Rangitunoa worked as a reporter for Te Karere for a year and wrote over 100 news items. She compiled a documentary which was broadcast on TVNZ in 1989 on Māori Resources in the Auckland Public system with specific reference to the Grey Collection. In 1988 she began working at the Auckland Public Library and was Senior Māori Librarian and Kaitiaki o Nga Taonga Māori since 1991. She started writing at a very young age and kept an exercise book of short stories. She submitted her first short story to the Te Aranga Māori Women’s Welfare League competition for Māori students writing in Māori and won the essay section which was judged by John Rangihau. She has a lot of unpublished journals but select pieces of her poetry are now being published. The National Library bought the copyright for three of Black’s poems: "Claims", "Oh Woman, Oh Woman", and "Oh Woman, Indigenous Woman" which were subsequently to be broadcast by National Radio under Rangi Chadwick’s direction. Black writes in both Māori and English and the essence of her poetry comes from an oral base. She states: "The imagery in my poems reflects the life I’m living in but also takes with me the treasures of my ancestors - their spirit, their rhythms and their knowledge of the future which they left in Nga Moteatea." She adds, "I will illustrate through a chant and link it to my poetry. I have a new language in English to communicate Māori [ethos]. My audience is Māori." She is a member of Te Ha and Ngā Puna Waihanga.
Mary Te Uira Taewa
Currently teaching as part of Special Needs Team at Te Kura O Hirangi, a kura a-iwi o Ngati Tuwharetoa that was established in 2004.
Married to Jake Taewa of Ngati Porou, and mother of 7, grandmother of 20 and great grandmother of 7. A great grand daughter of Kuikui Takarea Papakore Paurini nee Te Heuheu to Koro Tupu Paurini and Kui Herena Awetoroa Paurini nee Mariu to their daughter, my mother Parehuia Irihapeti Hauauru Tupu Paurini. Grateful to be part of Te Puna Kaiora and it's kaupapa. Kia tau te rangimarie.
Bryce Tukino Hemi Sixtus
Bryce comes from a diverse background , his parents both met in the military with his mum coming from Ngāti Tūwharetoa (Ngati Tūwharetoa) and his father from Motueka (german heritage). At the age of 4 Bryce was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and finally finished remission in 2016.
After attending high school at Te Aute College in the Hawkes Bay, he decided to follow in his parents footsteps and join the military . After successful deployments around the world on HMNZS Te Kaha Bryce took a posting to Wellington to be closer to his family.
While in Wellington he found his passion for writing children's books and began volunteering with Wellington Children's Hospital in weekends, children's cancer camp (Camp Quality) in holidays and Project Boost, a program setup to give long term patients in the children's ward someone to talk to or play with, as a way of giving back to the excellent service that was provided to him throughout his life.
Bryce’s qualifications include IT networking and cyber security while studying psychology and biostatistics to move into the career space of helping his people and adolescence through mental fatigue.
email: Bryce.Sixtus@TePunaKaiora.nz
Sarah Walsh
Kia ora, Ko Sarah Walsh tuku ingoa, Ko Taranaki te iwi, Ko Taranaki te maunga, Ko Ngati te whiti te hapu, Ko Waiawa te awa, Ko Orimupiko te marae
Sarah is originally from Opunake, Taranaki where she grew up on a dairy farm with her parents and two siblings. She attended boarding school at Sacred Hearts College in New Plymouth until she moved to Wellington to pursue studies in travel. She is currently living in Upper Hutt, Wellington with her partner and two children.
After she finished studying, Sarah became a corporate travel consultant and has been in that field of work for last six years until the travel industry took a hit from the covid19 pandemic. She was lucky enough to work with many different businesses to provide them with both personal and business travel locally in NZ and around the world.
email: Sarah.Walsh@TePunaKaiora.nz
Maineiti Anguna
Maineiti is of Cook Islands Maori descent, from Aitutaki and Rarotonga (NZ born). Her whangai mother is Maori. Maineiti has over 10 years of experience, in holistic health, having studied and worked at Wellpark College of Natural Therapies in Auckland. She has a Certificate of Relaxation Massage Therapy, Reflexology, Holistic Pulsing, and a Diploma of Aromatherapy. Maineiti has also completed her WRAP Certificate, Peer Employment Training at Recovery Innovations, and a Certificate in Cultural Competency. She is currently studying towards her Mental Health and Addictions Certificate L4.
Maineiti has lived experience, and believes that by being vulnerable, and sharing her experiences with others, it gives them space or an opportunity to open up. To share. Has the belief that wellness is an ongoing journey, of self awareness, adaptation and healing. Nothing makes her happier than connecting with people from all walks of life, and helping to support others who have had, or are experiencing similar life challenges. It is an honour and second nature, for her to walk alongside others, to manaaki and to awhi. Also having lost her brother to suicide, it is important to hold the torch of hope for herself and others. Hence, she is passionate about helping to tautoko people, to lead hopeful and meaningful lives, empowering people to make well informed choices about their own wellbeing. Friendly, caring, strong advocate, resilient and an excellent communicator. Maineiti wants to be part of the change, and wants to make a difference in people’s day to day lives.
Lea Aroha Te Huia-Eastwood
Ko Tongariro te Maunga, Ko Taupō te Moana, Ko Ngāti Tūwharetoa te iwi. Ko Ngāti Maniapoto te iwi hōki.
Lea descends from the Tūwharetoa and Maniapoto on her Mother’s side. On her Dad’s side she comes from Canterbury, with lineage to France, Germany & other European areas. She has studied and worked in the areas of Psychology and Education for the last 20 years, within the areas of special education,early childcare, gifted education, parenting, women’s groups, grief & loss, arts therapy, palliative care, holistic and mental health & wellbeing, tamariki, rangatahi, kaumatua.
As an clinical arts therapist (AThR) Lea has worked at; Lake Taupō Hospice, family support services, working in areas of grief and loss, complex grief, and bereavement with patients and whānau. She is an I am Hope counselor community (online @ iamhope.org), Whitecliffe College, Pae Ārahi – Māori support and guidance, Toiora Manawhenua Lecturer (Indigenous Arts Therapy) Infant Child Adolescent Mental Health Services; supporting rangatahi mental health alongside Clinician Pinnacle Health (currently scoping and developing) supporting mental health in group setting in community.
Currently Lea continues to work at Whitecliffe as Pae Ārahi – Māori support and guidance at the College, with a specific focus and additional lecturing position in Arts Therapy faculty with kaupapa Māori learning and teaching, and the further development of Ngā Toiora Manawhenua Aotearoa (indigenous arts therapy NZ). In developing culture into curriculum by supporting the learning and teaching of kaupapa Māori and indigenous ways of knowing as lecturer and Māori support and guidance, Lea aims to raise the cultural awareness, sensitivity and competence of the arts therapists that will practice within our communities and organisations of Aotearoa.
Darren Whippey
Ko Tongariro te maugna, Ko Taupo nui a tia te moana, Ko Te Arawa te waka, Ko Tuwharetoa te iwi, Ko Turangitukua te hapu, Ko Te heu heu te rangitira, Ko Hirangi te marae.
Darren was born at Lower Hutt hospital , in 1975. Brought up in a loving and caring home, Darren’s mum would have their family attend the Latter Day Saints church every Sunday. It was this going to church that would instill in Darren a strong moral compass, and sense of community.
Through his lived experience of mental health, and addiction, Darren has gained an insight; through which he is able to better understand the needs of people facing similar challenges, and walk alongside in their healing journeys.
Darren is a creative who has a passion for visual arts, poetry and music. He has studied at Auckland University of technology, where he has gained his level 5 and 6 in a Bachelor of visual arts (still yet to complete his level 7). Darren has also studied at Mainz Music School, where he has gained his Certificate (Level 5) in Audio Engineering and Music Production.
Strategic & Operational Advisors
Lachlan Sloan
Lachlan’s mother immigrated with her parents after world war two from Fiji where she was born. His maternal grandparents were a mix of German Samoan and Fijian Indian & Samoan. Lachlan’s father’s family originated from Scotland.
Lachlan has had a number of executive level roles in both New Zealand and Asia. He spent 15 years working and living in Asia between Hong Kong and Singapore. During his time in Asia he successfully co founded a real estate services company which employed over 350 people across 7 countries with 50 operating locations. This business went from one office to 50 in under 5 years, with gross income at USD$80 per year at the time of his departure.
Since returning to New Zealand, Lachlan has been working extensively on community based initiatives and has worked as a consultant and caregiver for Te Roopu Awhina with high needs youth in the care of Oranga Tamariki.
Lachlan holds a double degree in Business & Psychology and is a qualified IT technician. He has a passion for real estate and building last organizations. Lachlan is the proud father of four children and is based in Auckland.
Tracy Moyes
A natural connector with a love of community, Tracy brings a plethora of community building, strategic programme management and marketing experience to Te Puna Kaiora.
A strong strategic thinker with excellent leadership, strategic planning and programme management skills, Tracy has proven skills in leading and motivating high functioning project teams and developing and delivering strategic programmes of work in highly complex and political environments.
With extensive senior leadership experience in both the public and private sector, Tracy has led a number of high profile strategic programmes of work to drive economic growth in New Zealand. These include overseeing the design and development of Wellington’s technology and digital hub and ColliderWgtn programme; the establishment of Auckland’s innovation precinct, GridAKL; and the development of Auckland’s first regional visitor strategy, major event strategy and destination brand.
These local projects are complemented with global experience in senior roles in London, San Francisco and Hong Kong with Streaming Media Inc. - a company that helped shape and propel the streaming media industry.
email: Tracy.Moyes@TePunaKaiora.nz
Jonah Merchant
An entrepreneurial thinker with demonstrated strategic leadership and innovation management skills. I bring a strong background and interest in emerging technologies, the future of work, and corporate innovation strategy and culture.
I have successfully bridged the corporate and startup worlds, from management of large scale innovation teams and technology programmes in some of New Zealand’s best known corporates, including Air New Zealand’s groundbreaking Innovation & Ventures team; through to being a pioneering figure in the development of New Zealand’s entrepreneurial and startup ecosystem over the last decade as cofounder of BizDojo, New Zealand’s largest coworking and innovation hub provider which is acquired by global category leader FTSE-250 UK listed IWG Plc in December 2017.
Jonah’s passion lies in developing innovation solutions and cultures which empower both people and businesses to be adaptive, resilient and creative problem solvers. Jonah is a father of three children and spends a considerable amount of time in the lakes district as his in laws live in Turangi where his family spends most of their summers.
Join our team
We always need volunteers with lived experience to help deliver support services. Many of our positions also offer some level of pay. Get in touch and we can tell you more.