Awerangi Tamihere

Ngāti Kauwhata, Rangitane, Ngāti Porou, Rongowhakaata, Ngāi Tahu

Awerangi Tamihere (MNZM) has spent the last 30 years working in health strategic planning, organisational development, and social policy reform, with whānau development as her focus.

She first entered the health sector as a speech-language therapist and then moved into strategic and management roles in health reform. Throughout her roles, she continues to partner with Māori to create spaces for whānau to co-produce outcomes.

She is the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Whānau Ora Commissioning Agency and Waipareira Trust, where she uses a collaborative approach to improve the well-being of Māori communities. Working with whānau, hapū, and iwi ensures there is self-determination in the changes to healthcare provision.

As COO, she was pivotal in overseeing the agency's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. She pushed for Māori wellbeing to be considered regarding isolation policies and vaccine rollouts. She also worked to ensure an understanding of the different challenges communities may face, which led to a mobile nursing team that provided initial support, testing advice, calls to a GP and the public health team, and setting them up from a medical point of view.

Awerangi also examines how community-based organisations and agencies can tackle poverty in New Zealand. She recognises the importance of asking families what barriers they encounter on their path to empowerment.

Awerangi emphasises that it's important for families to have the right to determine their own path for transformation. She has focused on measuring outcomes achieved to understand the success of short-, medium-- and long-term solutions.

In 2023, Awerangi was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit at the King's birthday awards for her services to Māori health.

Links:

Waatea news – Awerangi Tamihere

Tackling Poverty NZ

Awerangi Tamihere’s International publications

He Rangatira Our Leaders

Hata Temo

Ngāi Tūhoe

Ko Maataatua te Waka

Ko Maungapōhatu te Maunga

Ko Hinemataroa te Awa

Ko Tūhoe te Iwi

Ko Ngaati Tawhaki, Ngaati Rongo, me te Maahurehure ngā hapū

Kahurangi Fergusson - Tibble

Ngāti Porou, Te Aitanga ā Mahaki, Ngāti Uenukukopako

Kahurangi Fergusson-Tibble has focused his career on the mental health, addictions, and disabilities sector.

Emeritus Professor John Broughton

Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Kahungunu-Ki-Heretaunga

Emeritus Professor John Broughton has dedicated over 30 years to Māori oral health, injury prevention, and Kaupapa Māori research methods. In recognition of his services to Māori health, theatre, and the community, he was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the Queen's Birthday Honours in 2016.

Diane Koti

Ngāti Porou, Te Whānau ā Apanui, Ngāti Maniapoto, Waikato-Tainui

Diane Koti is an expert in Indigenous development, Kaupapa development, Kaupapa Māori Research, psychology, and mental health. She is a passionate leader who works for fair, holistic, and whānau-centred health outcomes.