Ngāti Raukawa ki Waikato, Ngāti Kea Ngāti Tuara ki Te Arawa
Harley Rogers is a senior health professional who has worked in community, primary, and secondary health. He values good strategic planning, inspiring and courageous leadership, manaakitanga, kotahitanga, and having katakata.
Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Kuri, Waikato, Ngāti Haua
Jim is the current Kaihautū – Chief Executive Officer at Awarua Whānau Services, and he is the first Tane to lead the organisation (he has a 30-year history of Wahine Rangatira at the helm). It is a special honour to be given the opportunity to navigate the pathway forward alongside his Awarua Whanau Services team.
Poutini Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō
In 2022, Joanne was appointed the first wāhine Māori Dean of the Dunedin School of Medicine. Working for over 20 years in the Dunedin School of Medicine, Joanne has shown that she is committed to making a real difference in education and health for individuals, whānau and communities through teaching, research, and service.
Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga
Juanita is a strong believer in working in partnership to influence change and encourages a collective approach to achieving equity in hauora outcomes for Māori. As the Deputy Chief Executive – Systems, Strategy and Policy at Te Aka Whai Ora, she is responsible for developing policy and strategy advice to improve hauora Māori outcomes.
Ngai Tūhoe and Ngāti Awa
Kiri's interests are Te Taiao (nature), hauora Māori, mental health, Māori philosophy, education, and law. These feature prominently in her teaching with medical students, psychiatry registrars and other health professionals, and the educational videos that Kiri creates for her YouTube channel and website titled Māori Minds.
Ngāi Tai, Sāmoan, Chinese
Maia Mariner founded Lazy Sneakers, a not-for-profit organisation that collects and redistributes reusable sneakers for free. Maia is just 18. She came up with this idea at 12 and has enabled tamariki to participate in sports and other activities across Pōneke and around the country with a simple pair of shoes. She became one of the country's youngest entrepreneurs.
Ngāpuhi, Te Rarawa
Dr Maria Baker has gained over 20 years of expertise in healthcare, mental health, and social care workforce development for Māori.
Ngāi Tahu and Ngāti Kurī
Sir Mark Wiremu Solomon is widely known for his commitment and contribution to his iwi and the broader well-being of all New Zealanders and the environment. In addition, he is recognised for the attention he has brought to addressing family violence.
Rangitāne, Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Raukawa
Naomi Manu is a dedicated champion of Māori and rangatahi development. Known for establishing the Pūhoro STEM Academy, she has transitioned to Auraki Group Limited to focus on workforce development gaps beyond those the Pūhoro kaupapa designed to address.
Ngāti Awa, Ngāi Tūhoe, Te Arawa, Ngāti Tukorehe, Rongowhakaata, Tūwharetoa
Patrick Salmon is an advocate and public voice for ways to share and uphold the well-being of Māori in modern-day society. He uses his creative skills and innovative thinking to develop solutions that support the oranga aspirations of a person's life journey.