Te Poari o Te Runanga o Aotearoa, NZNO members and proxies
Click on a name to read a member's profile or scroll down to meet everybody:
Te Tai Tokerau Regional Representative – Binky Pou
Tai Tokerau Proxy – Kataraina Wi Hongi Harawira
Tamaki Makaurau – Greater Auckland Representative – Judy Hattie Penetito
Tamaki Makaurau – Greater Auckland Proxy – Lee-Ann Waddell
Midlands Representative – Queenie Komene
Midlands Proxy – Roberta Pohatu
Bay of Plenty Tairawhiti Representative – Mairi Lucas
Bay of Plenty Tairawhiti Proxy – Titihuia Pakeho
Hawkes Bay Representative – Tracey Morgan
Hawkes Bay proxy – Maureen Ager
Central Region Representative – Des Canterbury-Te Ngaruru
Central Region Proxy – Vacant
Greater Wellington Representative – Carmen Timu-Parata
Greater Wellington Proxy – Vacant
Te Tau Ihu o Te Waka a Maui/ Top of the South Representative – Hemaima Hughes
Te Tau Ihu o Te Waka a Maui/ Top of the South Proxy – Vacant
Te Tai o Poutini Representative – Mere Wallace
Te Tai o Poutini Proxy – Vacant
Canterbury Representative – Ruth Te Rangi
Canterbury Proxy – Tania McSweeney-Hooper
Southern Representative – Tracy Witehira
Southern Proxy – Vacant
Te Runanga Tauira Chair – Shannon Lake
Te Runanga Tauira Vice Chair – Turuhira Thrupp
Te Tai Tokerau Regional Representative – Binky Pou
Ko Whakarara te Maunga
Ko Ngamako te Awa
Ko Matauri te Moana
Ko Ngatokimatawhaoroa te Waka
Ko Ngatiruamahue te Whare Tupuna
Ko Ngāti Kuri raua KoTe Aupouri ngā hapū
Ko Ngapuhi te Iwi
Ko Ngahiraka tōku ingoa engari ka whakatipu ahau e te ingoa - Binky.
Binky is married to a wonderful man David and together they have four adult children - Mackenzie, Hannah, Archie and Herewini; along with six mokopuna - Kalani, Kataraina, Tylor-Jaye, Charlie, Teina and Harper-Le.
Binky works on the Assessment and Rehabilitation Stroke Unit at Northland DHB, where she has worked since 1991, firstly as an Enrolled Nurse and since 2005 as a Registered nurse.
Binky is excited and scared (at the same time) about being the Te Poari representative and is looking forward to the challenges, the learning opportunities, the opportunity to meet and make new friends and looking forward to her own personal growth.
Tai Tokerau Proxy – Kataraina Wi Hongi Harawira
Ko Ngāti Hine te Hapū
Ko Ronald Te Ripi Wi Hongi tōku Papa
Ko Kataraina Cooper tōku Mama
Ko Waiora Raiha Jade raua ko Karaina Joy ōku kotiro
Ko Kataraina Wi Hongi Harawira tāku ingoa
I moe ahau a Arthur Harawira tāku hoa Rangatira
Ma te Atua ahau i manaaki i tiaki i roto i tāku ao katoa
Kataraina is passionate and committed to the health and wellbeing of self, whānau, hapū, iwi and others. She prides herself in being Māori and the delivery of most excellent service both professionally and personally.
Her moemoeā is to own and direct and manage a kaupapa Māori facility and to advocate at the highest level for resources to meet specific and specialised care to meet the needs of our people.
Tamaki Makaurau - Greater Auckland Representative – Judy Hattie Penetito
Tainui te Waka
Waikato te Awa
Mangatautari te Maunga
Ngāti Haua te Iwi
Ngāti te one te Hapū
Judy Hattie Penetito tāku ingoa
Judy was born in Matamata, and raised in Papakura, South Auckland. She is mother of two daughters, and has three mokopuna. Judy began her nursing training at Greenlane School of Nursing in 1979, and has since worked in a range of hospitals in the Auckland area and is now based at Middlemore Hospital as a District Nurse.
Judy has developed a range of skills working in Orthopaedics, Surgical, Medical, Gynaecology, Urology, Plastics, Maternity, NICU, and wound care. Judy is passionate about her mahi and says it is a privilege to work for the community, alongside her colleagues, her family, and her workplace. Judy is on a great journey and is truly grateful for all she has learnt.
Tamaki Makaurau - Greater Auckland Proxy – Lee-Ann Waddell
Ko Tainui te Waka
Ko Waikato te Awa
Ko Maungatautari te Maunga
Ko Ruapeka te Marae
Ko Ngāti Tukorehe te Hapū
Ko Raukawa te Iwi
Ko Lee-Ann Waddell ahau
Lee-Ann is the mother of two children, Jocelyn and Anetone. She is a recent graduate and fortunate to secure a position within the Counties Manukau Nurse Entry to Practice programme and is currently completing a placement in the Hands and Plastics Outpatient Clinic at the Manukau Super Clinic. Lee-Ann has just completed the first paper for her postgraduate certificate at the University of Auckland.
Lee-Ann got into nursing totally by accident but has come to realise that nursing is not only a great career path but also a way of life. My passion is to work with Māori to help reduce some of the inequalities that exist today, and to help Māori to understand how we can work with health care professionals to be here for our future. "We all need to work together to make this happen".
Midlands Representative – Queenie Komene
Ko Taupiri te Maunga
Ko Waikato te Awa
Ko Tainui te Waka
Ko Kawhia te Moana
Ko Waikato te Iwi
Ko Ngāti Mahuta me Ngāti Pou raua ko Ngāti Whaawhaakia ngā Hapū
Ko Rakaunui me Horahora raua ko Te Ohaaki ngā Marae
Ko Queenie Komene tāku ingoa
Queenie works as a Registered Nurse at the Henry Rongomau Bennett Adult Mental Health Inpatient Service at Waikato Hospital. She is also the Te Runanga delegate on the Midlands Regional Management Committee and the Midlands Regional Council.
Queenie has worked in a variety of areas including Respiratory/Cardiology, Forensics Departments at Waikato Hospital, and as a prison nurse for the Corrections Dept at Waikeria prison as well as a secondment to Mt Eden Prison.
Queenie has a passion for working with our Tangata Whaiora in the Acute Inpatient setting of Mental Health supporting them through their crises until well enough to take up the challenge of being responsible for their own pathway to wellbeing.
Queenie will soon further her experience in the field of Mental Health by being part of the Forensics Community Mental Health Team supporting clients within prisons throughout the Midlands/Waikato region.
Midlands Proxy - Roberta Pohatu
Ko Ngai Tamanuhiri, Ngāti Mahanga, Ngāpuhi tonu ōku iwi. Roberta is a strong Māori woman, walking backwards into the future; walking alongside her ancestors, tupuna, kaitiaki, into Te Ao Hurihuri. She is encompassed by her whānau, her two tamariki and her whaiapo/hoa rangatira are the korowai of her whānau whanui and are the centre of her universe. Roberta is honoured to be a member of Te Runanga and feels that as the new kid on the block her eyes are open to new opportunities, living outside of her comfort zone and enjoying every minute of it.
Roberta works alongside those who are mentally unwell in an inpatient setting at the Henry Rongomau Bennett, Waikato Hospital. She has a passion are working with whaiora and their whānau; which enhances her philosophy of Te Runanga.
Bay of Plenty Tairawhiti Representative - Mairi Lucas
Ko Takitimu te Waka
Ko Mauao te Maunga
Ko Tauranga te Moana
Ko Ngāti Ranginui te Iwi
Ko Ngāti Hangarau te Hapū
Ko Hangarau te Marae
Ko Mairi Lucas tāku ingoa.
Mairi is a wife, mother of six, and nanny to one moko. Mairi has been involved in the health sector for more than 30 years; she started out as a Nurse Aid at several rest homes before completing her Enrolled nurse training in 1985. Mairi has been working in Māori health services since 1996, as a nurse in a Kaupapa Māori ward and later in a Mobile Māori nursing service in the community. She has since gained both her Bachelor of nursing and Masters of Health Practice (nursing) 2009. Mairi has recently ended a secondment to the role of Clinical co-ordinator of Māori Health Services for Bay of Plenty District Health Board and has embarked on a new journey as CNM for ‘Te Manu Toroa’ Maori provider.
Mairi has been involved with Te Runanga since 2007 as a regional representative and is privileged to be representing a very large region of dynamic Māori Nurses. Mairi is proud to work alongside nurses who are passionate about Māori nurse development and Māori Health improvement and about being their spokesperson.
Bay of Plenty Tairawhiti Proxy -Titihuia Pakeho
Ko Mauao tōku Maunga, Ko Te Awanui tōku Moana
Ko Waitao tōku Awa, Ko Rangataua tōku Tahuna
Ko Mataatua tōku Waka, Ko Ngaiterangi tōku Iwi
Ko Ngapotiki tōku Hapū, ko Tahuwhakatiki, ratou ko Mangatawa ko Ngapeke ōku Marae,
Ko Tamapahore, ratou ko Rongomainohorangi ko Te Whetu o te Rangi ōku Tupuna
Ko Luke Pakeho tōku hoa rangatira no runga oTainui.
Ko Wairita, ratou ko Micahellee, ko Stacey, ko Luke jnr ko Sylvia āku tamariki.
Ko Harlem, ratou ko Tyrique, ko Jayla, ko Oreaakai, ko Marino ko Te Auripo āku mokopuna.
Ko Ali tāku kuri, ko Pumba, ratou ko Kylan ko Dora āku ngeru.
Ko au tetahi o ngā neehi i roto i te whare kaupapa o te hohipera o Tauranga Moana.
Ko te whare kaupapa te whare Māori noa iho i Aotearoa. Tokorua ngā neehi pakeha, tokowhā ngā neehi tauiwi, tekau ma ono ngā neehi Māori hoki, e mahi ana i roto i te whare kaupapa o te hohipera o Tauranga.
Hawkes Bay representative - Tracey Morgan
Ko Maungatauri tōku Maunga
Ko Pokaiwhenua tōku Awa
Ko Mangakaretu tōku Marae
Ko Ngā hau e maha tōku whare tupuna
Ko Raukawa tōku Iwi
Ko Tainui tōku Waka
No Putaruru ahau, engari e noho ana ki Ahuriri inaianei
Ko Tracey Morgan tāku ingoa
He piko he taniwha, he piko he taniwha, he piko he taniwha, taniwha-rau.
Tracey is married with four children aged 21, 17, 14 and 12 years, and currently works as an Independent Nurse based in the community, and on a fixed term contract as a Plunket Nurse. Tracey started her career as a Kaiawhina for Plunket over eight and a half years, offering support and education to mother and pepi and whānau before completing her Bachelor of nursing training. Tracey has a range of skills in Tamariki Ora, Cervical Screening, Smoking Cessation, CVD Risks, Sexual Health, School Based, Immunisation, and B4School Checks and she has continued her post-graduate study with a Certificate in Primary Health specialising in Tamariki Ora.
Tracey enjoys being the autonomy of being an independent practitioner; and being able to be a voice for Māori Health.
Tracey believes Te Runanga has been a way forward to help me grow personally and professionally and her future plans are to be a Nurse Practitioner in Tamariki Ora.
Hawkes Bay proxy - Maureen Ager
Ko Whakarongorua te Maunga
Ko Utakura te Awa
Ko Ngatokomatawharua te Waka
Ko Napuhi te Iwi
Ko Ngā te Rangi te Hapū
Ko Mokonuiarangi te Marae
Ko Maureen Ager tōku ingoa
Maureen currently works for the Hawke’s Bay DHB as Project Manager for Well Child/Tamariki Ora which involves a whole systems approach and workforce development.
Maureen is a registered nurse, and her passion is nursing, child health and the health of Māori and is a member of the Napier Branch of the Māori Women’s Welfare League.
A key focus of her role has been about reducing inequalities and disparities using evidence based nursing care, quality improvement, and clinical governance.
Greater Wellington Representative – Carmen Timu-Parata
Ko Takitimu te Waka
Ko Ngāti Kahungunu te Iwi
Ko Kahuranaki te Marae
Carmen is married with three children, and lives on the Kapiti Coast. She currently works as an outreach nurse at Valley PHO in Lower Hutt. Carmen has worked in a variety of nursing settings, including, tamariki ora, primary care nursing research, education and nurse lecturing. Carmen feels thrilled to be a member of Te Runanga and is looking forward to being involved with this dynamic rōpū.
Te Tau Ihu o Te Waka a Maui/ Top of the South Representative - Hemaima Hughes
Ka timata au te mahi mo te kaupapa o Te Runanga o Aotearoa e ruamano me whitu tau ki ruamano me iwa tau. Ka timata ano te mahi mō te kaupapa o Te Runanga o Aotearoa i Hakihea ruamano me tekau tau.
‘Me kimihia te ara to tika he oranga mo to ao’ ‘Seek the right path to benefit your world’.
Ngā mihi nui kia koutou katoa, ka tu ahau i raro i te maru o tāku tipuna Muriwai. He uri o Mokomoko me Kimohia āku tipuna. Mataatua te waka, Matiti te maunga, Waioeka me Otara ngā awa, Whakatohea me Ngāpuhi ngā Iwi, Ngāti Ira me Ngaitama ngā Hapū. No Opotiki tāku kainga tuturu, inaianei e noho ana ki Whakatu/Nelson. Ko Hone Hughes tāku hoa tane, tokorima āku tamariki e rua ngā tama hine me e toru ngā tama tāne. E rima ōku mokopuna e rua ngā kōtiro, e toru ngā tamaiti tāne Ko Hemaima ahau.
Hemaima Hughes is an independent Māori Nurse Consultant and manager of Maima Oranga Services Ltd, Nelson. Hemaima is happily married, a mother of five and a nanny of five mokopuna. Hemaima has managed to juxtapose both the worlds of education and clinical practice simultaneously, and has over 41 years in clinical nursing, Māori health leadership, research and management, nursing and cultural safety education, provision of clinical and cultural supervision, policy, curriculum, and programme development.
Hemaima has always been passionate about nursing which has fueled her desire to focus on building and strengthening the Māori health nursing workforce, education, recruitment and the retention of Māori nursing students and Māori registered nurses. She believes that service delivery to improve the health and wellbeing outcomes of Māori and all others can only be maintained through the provision of a highly skilled professional evidenced based nursing workforce.
Te Tai o Poutini Representative - Mere Wallace
Ko Tokotoko te Maunga,Ko Rangiriri te Ngaru, Ko Te Houhanga-a-Rongo te Marae, Ko Te Roroa te Hapū, Ko Mahuhu-o-te Rangi te Waka, Ko Ngāti-Whatua te Iwi, Ko Mere tāku Ingoa.
Mere was born and bred in Dargaville, her parents are Hinemoa Parore and Tiopira Paniora, and she has nine sisters and three brothers.
Mere background is in the health and social service fields, having first trained as a nurse than as a Medical orderly in the Air force. She has always worked in the fields of social justice and caring for people. Mere has experience in governance strategic planning and management and is currently a member of the Te Waipounamu Whānau Ora regional leadership group. She has also served a term on the West Coast Primary Health Organisation and as ex chairperson for Rata Te Awhina Trust. Mere is an Ordained priest in the Anglican Church.
Mere passion is to awhi and manaaki people, and in 1994, she trained to be a social worker, and now works as a Senior Social Worker for the West Coast District Health Board. Mere has been a member of Te Poari for over 5 years, and enjoys being able to work with other Māori who are passionate about integration, partnership and best practice to achieving a way forward for Māori health professionals.
Canterbury Representative - Ruth Te Rangi
Ko Tamatapui me Turi ngā Tangata, Ko Ngāti Apa me Ngā Rauru ngā Iwi
Ko Ngā Wairiki me Hine Waiatarua ngā hapū, Ko Paekowhai me Taranaki ngā Maunga
Ko Whangaehu me Waitotara ngā Awa, Ko Kurahaupo me Aotea ngā Waka
Ko Kauangaroa me Te Ihupuku ngā Marae
Ko Tiripi Koroheke tōku koroua, Ko Merekara Kapea tōku Kuia
Ko Josephine Koroheke tōku mama, Ko Lyell Scarlett tōku Papa
E tokotoru ngā tamariki
Ko Tamon Te Rangi-Tane te mataamua
Ko Bremen Te Rangi-Tane, Ko Genoa Te Rangi-Tane te potiki
Ko Ruth Te Rangi tāku ingoa
Being the first mokopuna in her whānau, Ruth has had the privilege of being brought up by her kuia, and as a teenager she thought taking up sports would get her out of preserving, pickling but to no avail. Ruth never appreciated those skills until she had her own children and she is thankful when her children complain about doing dishes because it means they are home, well fed and not on the street.
Ruth currently is working as a caregiver for the Golden Health group (aged care) and continues to work casually with the RNA Nursing Agency where she has learnt to adapt and appreciate different workplaces. She is thankful for the taxes she pays as it means she is employed, for the shadow that watches her at work because it means she is out of the sun and for the weariness and aching muscles at the end of each day as it means she is capable of working.
Ruth passion is kapa haka; hearing people sing off key is a blessing to the ear because it means she can hear what better way of appreciating and understanding our Tupuna stories than through waiata, haka and moteatea.
Canterbury Proxy - Tania McSweeney-Hooper
Ko Maungahaumi te Maunga
Ko Waipaoa te Awa
Ko Takitimu te Waka
Ko Te Aitanga a Māhaki raua ko Ngāti Kahungunu ōku Iwi
Ko Takipu te Marae
Ko Tania McSweeney-Hooper tōku ingoa
Tania has been involved with NZNO and Te Runanga both a student as the Te Runanga Tauira chair and since graduating in 2008. Tania is currently employed as a district nurse with Nurse Maude and has a passion for Primary Health, reducing inequalities and strengthening families, as well as supporting our nursing students. Tania remarried in 2011, and she and her wonderful husband share six tamariki.
Tania represented both NZNO and Te Runanga at the International Council of Nurses conference in South Africa to give a presentation on the experience of Māori new graduate with a fellow Te Runanga member which was an amazing experience.
Southern representative - Tracy Witehira
Hananui te Maunga
Ariki te Awa
Takitimu te Waka
Kāti Mamoe, Waitaha, Kai Tahu ōku Iwi
Murihiku tōku Marae
Ko Tracy Witehira tōku ingoa
A born and bred southlander, Tracy became registered in 2008, training at Southern Institute of Technology and has since worked in hospital and dementia wards at local rest home, and currently works as a Whānau ora nurse at Awarua Social and Health services in Invercargill. Tracy first began her nursing training seventeen years ago, but had to withdraw soon after the course started due to the birth of her son Taylor, who is now sixteen and soon after by Emma fifteen, and Samantha now eleven. Tracy always wanted to fulfil her dream of becoming a registered nurse, and found herself back at Southland Institute of Technology in 2004, as a mature student.
Tracy has been involved with NZNO since her first year of nursing training and was the Te Runanga Tauira Chair in her final year. She is very passionate about caring for our most vulnerable people in Aotearoa, especially our Kaumatua and Kuia. Tracy aims to assist whānau to be empowered, to make informed decisions and to be proactive in their own health through education and support. She also wants to enable nursing students to reach their full potential via support and mentorship.
Te Runanga Tauira chair – Shannon Lake
Pohatu te Maunga
Waikaremoana te Awa
Mataatua te Waka
Tatahuata te Marae
Nō Ruatahuna ki Ruatoki ahau
Tūhoe te Iwi
“Ko ahau, ko tahi o te tamariki o te kohu”
Ko Shannon Lake ahau
Shannon Lake is in her second year nursing student at Manukau Institute of Technology (MIT). Shannon is very fortunate to be supported in her studies by the Māori nurses unit (Ngā Ringa Awhina) at MIT, and her whānau, she know’s that there is no way she would have been this successful without them.
Shannon future nursing aspirations are to specialise in an acute surgical setting, and in time to go on and complete her masters in nursing and obtain a nursing practitioners certification, which will allow her to work more closely with Māori people in the future.
As a student Shannon understand the pressure and strain that can be placed on our families due to our studies however she believe that if we all stand together to support each other and our whānau anything is possible in achieving our dreams.
Te Runanga Tauira vice chair - Turuhira Thrupp
Ki te taha o tōku Papa
Ko Taiarahia te Maunga
Ko Ohinemataroa te Awa
Ko Mātaatua te Waka
Ko Waikirikiri me Ngahina ōku Marae
Ko Hāmua me Ngāti Tawhaki ōku hapū
Ko Tūhoe te iwi
Ki te taha o tōku Mama
Ko Taranaki, Matiti me Taiarahia ōku Maunga
Ko Waitara, Waioeka me Ohinemataroa ōku Awa
Ko Tokomaru me Mātaatua ōku Waka
Ko Owae, Opeke, Tauarau me Owhakatoro ōku Marae
Ko Ngāti Rahiri, Ngāti Ira me Ngāti Rongo ōku Hapū
Ko Te Atiawa, Te Whakatohea me Tūhoe ōku Iwi
Ko Richard raua ko Tangi Thrupp ōku mātua
Ko Turuhira Thrupp ahau
Turuhira comes from a family of five children and has devoted and loving parents who have always provided the necessary support for her and her siblings and to Turuhira when she decided to embark on a nursing career.
Turuhira is a first year nursing student at Waiariki Institute of Technology, Rotorua. Her main focus is to encourage and implement Māori health to its fullest potential, which hopefully will build a strong foundation to becoming a successful registered nurse. During the past six months of study, she has received immense support from her whānau, friends, fellow nursing students and tutors, without it she would not be where she is today. Turuhira envisage her role as Te Runanga Tauira vice chair, to be a voice for Māori nursing students throughout Aotearoa, enabling our needs and concerns to be heard. She will endeavour to strive and to bring forth positive changes and outcomes to benefit us as students, as in the words of Sir James Henare;
“ Kua tawhiti ke to haerenga mai,
Kia kore haere tonu
He tino nui rawa ou mahi
Kia kore e mahi nui tonu
We have come too far, not to go further, we have done too much, not to do more”.