Mapihi is a distinguished leader, academic, and advocate whose work reflects an unwavering commitment to advancing Māori health and well-being through cultural and genealogical frameworks.
In 2022, she earned a Master of Māori and Indigenous Leadership from the University of Canterbury and is now pursuing a PhD at Auckland University of Technology. Her doctoral research explores how Te Arawa whakapapa (genealogy) can serve as a powerful tool to achieve equity for Māori accessing health services.
In 2018, Mapihi became a Salzburg Global Fellow, where she presented a paper on eliminating childhood obesity from a Māori worldview. She contributed to the Reframing Childhood Obesity: Cultural Insights on Nutrition, Weight, and Food Systems report (2020) published by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, which applied a Māori systems approach to growing nutritious food connected to the natural world.
During her tenure as Director of Equity Outcomes and Delivery at the Lakes District Health Board, Mapihi spearheaded the development and implementation of an equity plan, Te Ara ki Tikitiki o Rangi – The Pathway to Tikitiki o the Sky. This plan aimed to create pathways to optimal health outcomes for Māori in the Lakes region. She also led transformative change within the Māori health team, driving initiatives that prioritized equity and cultural alignment in service delivery.
Following the Health NZ reforms, Mapihi transitioned to a principal advisor role within the Mātauranga Māori Directorate and became a member of the Transformation and Innovation team. In this capacity, she brought subject matter expertise in applying a mātauranga Māori approach to systems change within a large government agency responsible for nationwide health service delivery.
Beyond her academic and professional achievements, Mapihi holds governance roles in two not-for-profit organizations dedicated to social services, health, mental health, and youth justice in a marae-based context. She serves as the Chairperson of Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Pikiao Trust and Co-Chair of Matua Whāngai Te Rōpū a Iwi o Te Arawa.
Mapihi has a strong background in whānau, hapū, iwi, and community development, with a passion for empowering Māori. She has been a steadfast advocate for culturally aligned health practices, ensuring equitable delivery of health, social services, and justice programs across Te Arawa and other at-risk communities.
After returning home to Rotorua in 2015, Mapihi brought her leadership to the suicide prevention space as the lead for Waka Hourua, a Māori and Pasifika suicide prevention program delivered by Te Rau Matatini in partnership with Le Va. In this role, she facilitated national hui and fono, developed cyberbullying resources, reviewed the national Te Whakauruora Māori Suicide Prevention resource and training, and established the national Pae Ora program. Her work significantly influenced government policy and direction across ministries.
Mapihi’s ability to work effectively with diverse groups—ranging from iwi and providers to senior management—has been instrumental in addressing complex challenges with resilience and determination.
A qualified and experienced social worker, Suicide Intervention trainer, and systems innovation specialist, Mapihi continues to shape the future of Māori health and well-being as she progresses her doctoral studies at Auckland University of Technology.
Links:
Stuff News Article: 'Surprise' gifting of Rotorua medical centre to Ngāti Pikiao, 6 October 2023
Waatea News Interview: Mapihi Raharuhi | Chair of Te Rūnanga O Ngāti Pikiao Trust, 2 October 2023
Healthy Families Rotorua Article: Mapihi moves to Lakes DHB, 27 April 2021
Mental Health Foundation Stories: Finding wellbeing through Maramataka
Day 1 | Te Arawa Health Strategy: Te Ara ki Tikitiki o Rangi
Gifted practice a ‘magical space’: Expanded base for iwi’s quest to connect the unenrolled
New health group aims to cut Maori suicide rate
Extraordinary Gift to Local Iwi Will Improve Māori Access to Health “Reforms in Action”
Michael Naera
Profile updated 19 December 2023
Profile updated 8 January 2025
