He Rangatira Leaders

Riki is most passionate about seeing more Māori enter careers in the health workforce. He strongly believes this will add to the necessary intelligence and capability the system requires to perform more effectively for whānau.

Rawiri Blundell is a transformative Māori health leader, researcher, and equity strategist whose mahi is grounded in whānau, whakapapa, and justice. With over 20 years of experience across the health sector, Rawiri has championed Māori-led solutions that prioritise mana motuhake, cultural safety, and system change.

As a clinician-researcher, Jade is committed to health equity. Her doctoral work at the University of Auckland investigated treatment inequities in thyrotoxicosis for Māori, laying the foundation for her continuing research into ethnic inequities in endocrine health. E kore e mimiti te puna o te aroha o tōku whānau whānui. Whether in the clinic, classroom, or meeting room, she carries the aspirations of her people and strives to uplift Māori voices in all spaces.

Hiraina’s legacy is one of transformative leadership, where equity is not a goal, but a lived, ethical responsibility. She continues to empower mana wāhine and uplift the next generation of Māori clinicians, knowing that whānau hold the solutions to their own wellbeing.

Dr Anne-Marie Jackson is a pioneering force in Indigenous science, kaupapa Māori research, and Māori education. With deep roots in rural Southland and whakapapa to multiple iwi, her journey reflects the aspirations of her late parents—hardworking woolhandlers who instilled in her a commitment to whānau, service, and excellence.

Eboni Waitere is an executive leader, literary champion, and unapologetic advocate for Māori storytelling.

Professor Suzanne Pitama is an esteemed educational psychologist, researcher, and leader in Māori health education. Her mahi is driven by a relentless pursuit of equity in healthcare, ensuring Māori health perspectives are embedded within medical training, research, and practice.

Mareta Hunt is a champion for child health equity, Māori well-being, and injury prevention, driven by kaupapa Māori and Te Tiriti o Waitangi. With deep ancestral ties and a lifelong commitment to Te Reo Māori, she ensures Māori voices shape digital health engagement and policy.

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.