Ko Ngā Rangatira

Atawhai's advice to young people is to do as many different things as possible to find your voice. "I started off doing law and kapa haka. I ended up in policy and economic measurement. I tried many things. I have landed where I was meant to be. Kia kaha tatou!"

Kerri Butler is experienced in supporting and leading programmes around mental health first response and restrictive practice intervention. She sees mental health work as an opportunity to "make a difference in a field that she is passionate about."

Dr. Rees Tapsell has been involved in developing several Māori specific approaches to the provision of mental health care for Māori in both government and NGO settings for more than 30 years.

Her focus is to help collective efforts aimed at addressing the inequities Māori and vulnerable persons experience within the existing health system.

Dale is equally comfortable in many different environments whether it be on the Marae or in the Boardroom, in clinical settings or with government ministers and business partner. 

Juanita is a strong believer in working in partnership to influence change and encourages a collective approach to achieving equity in hauora outcomes for Māori. As the Deputy Chief Executive – Systems, Strategy and Policy at Te Aka Whai Ora, she is responsible for developing policy and strategy advice to improve hauora Māori outcomes.

Much of her work involves identifying where and how Māori health inequities occur and testing ways to eliminate these inequities.

Wiremu’s mahi challenges traditional models of leadership and wellbeing, advocating instead for restorative, whakapapa-driven approaches that honour both te tangata and te taiao.