Maria Ngawati

Ngāti Hine, Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Porou

Maria Ngawati has always been dedicated to increasing opportunities within her community in several ways. She believes you can achieve change by using many tools and cross-sector relationships. Her mahi currently focuses on supporting access to education, research, and evaluation, what Indigenous economies mean, and how they can be a lever for change.

She has previously trained as a physiotherapist and has worked in tertiary education and health for 20 years, during which she witnessed issues within both systems. She founded Akomaiway Ltd, which helps students of any age and stage access information about educational pathways. This came about due to her frustration with a lack of understanding. Maria is a mother of five, a PhD candidate studying indigenous advancement, and a small business owner.

Maria is a Founding Member at Indigishare, which uses a tikanga approach to help new and existing Māori experts access small loans. Indigishare was created in response to supporting communities through COVID-19 and aims to revitalise the indigenous economy through koha.

She is also the Chief Executive and Founder of AkoMaiWay, a course and qualification finder based on someone's choice of life, job, or career path. The aim is to help everyone navigate Aotearoa's education system, regardless of where they are starting.

Links:

Online mental health support for all

IndigiShare

Paakiwaha Interview | Maria Ngawati

Toitū Te Waiora, the Workforce Development Council – Profile

Hāpai Te Hauora – Profile

IndigiShare - Guest article with Maria Ngawati

He Rangatira Our Leaders

Fay Selby Law

Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga

Throughout her career in health, she has also focused on uplifting the smokefree sector in Manawatu by supporting whānau, particularly wahine and māmā, in becoming smokefree.
A competent psychiatrist with a moko kauae, fluent in te reo Māori, who can sit and play the guitar and tell really good stories.

Dr. Alexander Stevens II

Ngāti Kahu ki Whaingaroa, Ngāpuhi

Almost twenty years later, Alexander has used his passion and knowledge of addressing historical sexual violence trauma, mental illness, addictions, and well-being to support Māori and Pacific communities across Aotearoa, where he has worked with over 3,500 men with childhood experiences of sexual violence. 

Eugene Davis

Ngāti Haua, Waikato-Tainui

Eugene says his leadership approach has always been to lead from behind and the side. However, he also takes on the words of Selwyn Katene (Māori Public Health Leadership Wānanga, 2002), 'Someone has got to step up the front, rather than looking around for a leader, stop looking...you're it!'