Carole Koha is dedicated to the kaupapa of mental health, addiction, and suicide prevention. She has helped with providing kaupapa Māori navigation and home-based support services for people affected by mental health issues, alcohol and other drugs.
Carole has been part of Kaupapa Māori Mental Health and Addiction Services for the past 35 years. Trained as a registered nurse, she has worked in both mainstream clinical services and developed and supported many kaupapa Māori mental health and addiction services within communities and iwi organisations. She is a staunch advocate for kaupapa Māori services and the inequities and inequalities they face and actively seeks to find solutions for them.
Carole has also been involved with the Suicide Prevention & Postvention Governance Group for Capital & Coast, Hutt Valley and Wairarapa DHBs for many years and through many changes. Over this time, Carole has been a strong voice for Māori and rangatahi. She is passionate about reducing inequalities and improving outcomes for tāngata motuhake and their whānau. Carole has been at the forefront of supporting people in suicidal distress and beyond. She is seen as a taonga to her community and has made a measurable difference to people who have often been marginalised.
Currently, Carole works as the Chief Executive of Te Waka Whaiora. This kaupapa Māori organisation provides a range of support services to empower tangata whai ora and their whānau in a by-Māori, for Māori way. Based in Porirua, they service the Wellington region. The services provided include:
- Te Whare Matatini Hauora (sub-acute beds for tangata whaiora),
- Ngā Kaihoe Whakatere (Navigation),
- Te Whare Tautoko (home-based care),
- Tuakana Teina Primary Health Nga Kete Aronui,
- Te Uenuku (Integration from Prison),
- Kereru Hauora (AoD),
- Tui Hauora (Primary Health),
- Whare Haumaru (Sustaining Housing),
- Kahukura (Rangatahi),
- Whakamahia to Wairua (Forensic Housing), and
- Te Menenga Pai Housing & Recovery Newtown.
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