Leoma Tawaroa is dedicated to working towards equity for Māori in her health and social care roles that focus on community and youth development work, whānau ora action, project coordination, and management.
Currently, she holds the role of Pou Ārahi Executive Director at Tūmua Innovation, a multidisciplinary Māori team dedicated to supporting community development programmes. This mahi has allowed her to work closely with her whānau and community partners and achieve her long-standing goal of becoming an independent practitioner.
She is also the General Manager Equity, Prevention Directorate, National Public Health Service at Te Whatu Ora Health. In this national role, she leads a programme of work that promotes a culture of innovation and quality improvement, ensuring that the programme supports hauora Māori aspiration for change. Leoma promotes, leads, and demands prioritisation of initiatives that achieve equity for Māori in all aspects of her work. “We must continue to push for different options focussed on whānau and not process, that remove barriers and enable opportunity for Māori leadership and whānau voice in the solutions for immunisation and screening.”
Leoma believes in whānau as a catalyst for change. Leoma and Daniel, alongside their two daughters, are the founders of Maranga Mai, a platform for change, leadership, and collaboration encouraging active participation and involvement. Maranga Mai is a rangatahi-focussed, whānau-centred opportunity for rangatahi, whānau, and community to engage and participate in cultural, creative, and physical activities that promote connection, a sense of belonging and place, resilience, and wellbeing.
Links:
New Southern suicide prevention strategy focuses on collaboration and community.
Māori suicide in the spotlight
