Maria is an accomplished Māori health leader and clinical social worker dedicated to advancing mental health and addictions services for Māori and Pacific communities. Her career spans over a decade, marked by specialized roles in Infant, Child, and Adolescent Mental Health and Addictions, as well as her commitment to family harm intervention and youth forensic mental health.

Maria is the first in her whānau to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work, and has since built an impressive academic foundation, including a Master of Health Sciences (Infant, Child, and Adolescent Mental Health) with Second-Class Honours from the University of Auckland (2021). She also holds postgraduate qualifications in Youth Forensic Psychiatry, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, and Infant, Child, and Adolescent Mental Health. These achievements enable her to blend clinical expertise with a Te Ao Māori worldview, delivering care that is both culturally grounded and evidence-based.

Maria’s extensive professional experience includes as the Service Manager for Māori Mental Health at Kāhui Tū Kaha (2021-2024), where she led culturally responsive mental health initiatives and bridged services between secondary and NGO sectors.

In her role, she emphasised holistic, whānau-centered care, underscoring the importance of Whānau Ora and Wairuatanga (spirituality) in mental health models, that support both whaiora (service users) and their whānau in a unified approach.  Currently, as a Clinical Social Worker Practice Supervisor in Inpatient Mental Health, Maria continues to apply her expertise across various mental health areas, including high-risk assessments, family harm intervention, and suicide prevention.

Her leadership was also instrumental in her role within the Multi-Disciplinary Cross Agency Team (MDCAT), an initiative under the Social Wellbeing Board that collaborates with police, government, and non-government agencies in family harm work. Maria also facilitates "Living Violence Free" programmes, supporting men in building healthier relationships and breaking cycles of violence.

Maria is a passionate advocate for social change, equipping Māori and Pacific whānau to become champions and navigators of their own well-being.  With her profound commitment to uplifting Māori communities, Maria’s leadership serves as an inspiring example for rangatahi (youth) and whānau across Aotearoa.

Her personal and professional journey underscores the transformative power of culturally aligned, compassionate mental health care, and her work continues to influence service delivery, and the future of Māori mental health.

Links:

Maria Potaka-Wallace shared a powerful koorero about a new way to look at whakapapa and why she is so passionate about mental health (Facebook video)

Matariki - Maria Potaka To open Matariki, Maria Potaka, Suicide Prevention/Postvention Co-ordinator for Counties Manukau shares her message for how you can look after yourself and your whaanau this Matariki (Facebook video)