Ko wai ahau?
Who am I?
Mana o te Tangata Trust Kaupapa Maori Mental Health and Addiction Peer Support Service based in the MidCentral region.
'All cultures welcome'
Meet the Kaimahi
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Leilani Maraku
Manukura Tēnā koutou katoa Kō Tainui te waka Kō Tararua te maunga Kō Manawatū te awa Kō Kererū te marae Kō Ngati Raukawa te iwi Kō Leilani Maraku tōku ingoa Leilani is a proud wife, mother and grandmother of a beautiful whanau. Leilani has been able to grow and flourish with the awhi and tautoko of her whanau. Leilani is currently the Manukura (CE) for Mana o te Tangata Trust a Kaupapa Maori Mental Health & Addiction Peer Support Service in MidCentral. Leilani’s previous roles include Te Upoko O Nga Oranga O Te Rae a central region contract with district health boards supporting 18 Maori and non-Maori mental health & addiction providers with technical support, in-service training and enhancing Tangata whaiora voice. Leilani developed and delivered adult youth and their whanau addictions peer support services throughout the Manawatu region, this also included providing services within the Manawatu prison working with male offenders (18-32) with mental health and addiction issues and their whanau on the outside. Followed by a joint initiative between four AOD NGO providers with the Department of Corrections Community Probation - Single point of entry for referrals that rolled out from MidCentral District Health Board. Leilani has the energy and drive and brings experience as mental health & addictions worker from consumer focussed platform, front line service delivery, administration and management. Present representation locally & nationally
Leilani is a strong advocate in ensuring that the voice of Tangata whaiora and their whanau are inclusive and being heard. Leilani believes it is paramount that we implement a whole system paradigm change across all sectoral sectors. |
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Niki Garbe
Pou Awhina (Adult Peer Support) Rere rere te waka ko British Airways SQ321 E koro South Downs te whakaruruhau Ko Thames tōku awa Ko Kent tōku iwi Ko Dartford tōku Hapu Ko Maida Vale tōku Marae Ko Harry Fellows rāua ko Rose Pearson ōku komātua Ko Arthur Hall rāua ko Ireana Webber ōku Komātua Ko John Fellows rāua ko Sonia Hall ōku Mātua Ko Niki tōku ingoa. Hi. My name is Niki Garbe and I am one of the Pou Awhina here at Mana o te Tangata Trust. I also do adult peer support and run several groups, including Freedom Fighters our addictions group and anxiety support. I have worked here at Mana for 2 Years but I am also studying and in the final year of my bi-cultural degree of social work at Te Wanaga o Aotearoa. I am from England but moved here to New Zealand in 2010 with my husband and 3 children in search of a better life. My children are now all grown up and my son is now married and they have just had their second baby so I am a proud nana to 2 beautiful mokopuna. |
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BARBARA LOFTS
Pou Awhina (Kaupapa Maori) Kō Kurahaupo te waka Kō Tararua te maunga Kō Manawatū te awa Kō Te Hotu Manawa te marae Kō Rangitāne te iwi Kō Barbara tōku ingoa Nō reira, he mihi tēnei ki a koutou katoa My philosophy is based on my life experiences as a mother, sister, and grandmother of my own and extended whānau. I am passionate about supporting whānau. This provided me a valuable foundation to explore more about Māori philosophies towards mauri ora/well-being. Mana o te Tangata Trust are driven by our unique culture and values, We not only attract people, but we work to maintain and grow them. My key role with Mana is as Pou Tautoko for Kaupapa Māori Peer Support, working alongside our tangata whaiora, and Pou Awhina, supporting our amazing team of kaimahi. |
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GERRY WESTHUIS
Financial Administrator Tena koutou e nga hau e wha tenei te mihi atu ki a koutou ma Ko Horana te whenua Ko Fryslan te hapu Ko Gemaal te kainga Ko Westhuis te whanau Ko Gerry toku ingoa I have worked with Mana o te Tangata since 2015. Every Friday I come from Paraparaumu to do the finances: pay the bills, pay the staff, report back to Lani about our income etc. The rest of the week I do similar jobs at other organisations in Wellington and Kapiti. I have been in NZ since 2004, I am originally from the Netherlands, I was happy when my niece Corien Westhuis followed me here and married Richie Morrell, son of Josie and Jimmy Morrell from Frasertown who have 'adopted' me into their Maori whanau. Although I must say, I consider my colleagues at Mana o te Tangata almost as family too... ! 🙂 |
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PEARL HENRY
Pou Tautoko (Day Activity Living Skills) Hoea Hoea Te Waka Ko Mahuhu Ki Te Rangi Ko Toka Toka Te Maunga Ko Kaipara Te Moana Ko Waihaua Te Marae Ko Te Uri O Hau Te Hapu Ko Ngati Whatua Te Iwi Ko Pearl tōku Ingoa. Hi Whanau, my name is Pearl Henry and I am one of the Pou Tautoko who does Day Activity Living Skills and Adult Peer Support. I also work out at the Manawatu Prison peer supporting and helping to integrate prisoners back into the community. We talk about the programs that are available to them. I have worked for Mana for 5 years and I absolutely love working with the hard-core people. I am compassionate about the people I mahi with. I was born and bred in Marton, and then we moved and lived up in Wellsford for a time. We then moved back to Marton Where I was raised until I hit my teenage years and went to an all-girls Maori Methodist Girls Hostel In New Plymouth. I married a man from Taranaki who was a gang member all his life. Together we had 9 children, but we only brought up 3 of them. He was previously married and from that marriage he had 6 children. We raised those children in a dysfunctional whanau, but through the change in both my husband and I change is coming through the whanau. |
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ARIOS TOA
Pou Tautoko (Day Activity Living Skills) Kia Ora Koutou E rere kau mai te awa nui nei Mai i te kāhui maunga ki Tangaroa Ko au te awa Ko te awa ko au. Hoea Hoea te waka ko Aotea E Koro Ruapehu te whakaruruhau Ko Whanganui te Awa Ko Te Āti Haunui-A-Pāpārangi te Iwi Nō Hiruharama ahau Ko te whānau Nahona mai ki a Whanganui Ko Arios Toa au Tihei mauri ora Kia Ora my name is Arios, my role as a Pou Tautoko at Mana O Te Tangata enables me to utilise my skills as P.T, CEP and a Kaiako that facilitate wananga, to help guide the Tangata Whaiora into a place of wellness through exercising their tinana. Below is a list of the things I’m involved in;
I have a degree in Exercise and Sports Science and a Post Graduate Diploma in Clinical Exercise Physiology (CEP). My mahi as a personal trainer spanning the last 5 years has enabled me to approach situations through a multitude of different lenses. This enables me and those I work with to achieve a beneficial outcome that’s positive for everyone involved. I am also a director of a Hauora trust that facilitate wananga that encompasses the following values;
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GORDON STRONG
Pou Tautoko (Activity Based Recovery Support) Tena koutou katoa Ko NZ Airways te waka rererangi E koro Rangitoto te whakaruruhau Ko Lyn tōku wahine, toko ono a maua tamariki Nō Tonga ahau Ko Te Papaioea tōku houkainga Ko Gordon Strong tōku ingoa No reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa Kia ora, I am the Pou Tautoko Activities Based Recovery Support kaimahi at Mana o te Tangata Trust. In my role I support and provide transport for tangata to the following activities; Lido pools, City Fitness gym, MENZ shed (wood working) and walking (at tracks both within Palmerston North and excursions beyond). I also facilitate Life Skills classes where you get to participate in topics about wellbeing and wholeness. I often use the four quadrants of the nga tapa wha Maori model of well-being. I am also fully convinced that Te Tiriti o Waitangi will one day be fully ratified. I love being a part of the tangata’s journey to wellness and wholeness. |
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DESIREE SMITH
Pou Tautoko (Adult Peer Supprot) Tēnā koutou katoa Kei te tū ōku waewae i ngā waka e rua Ki te taha tōku pāpā, hoea hoea, ko Mataatua te Waka Ki te taha tōku māmā ko Te Arawa te Waka Ko Tihirau rāua Ko Tongariro ngā maunga e whakaruruhau Ko Whangaparaoa te awa, Ko Taupo nui a Tia te roto Ko Te Whānau a Apanui rāua ko Ngati Tūwharetoa ngā iwi He Uri ahau nō ngā hāpu o Te Whānau o Kauaetongohia rātou ko Wairangi, Ko Turangitukua, Ko Parekaawa. E mihi ana ki ngā tipuna whare ko Kauaetongohia rātou ko Pakaketaiari, Ko Tūwharetoa i te Aupōuri Nō reira, he mihi tēnei ki a koutou katoa Ko Desiree Smith tōku ingoa. He Pou tautoko tōku tūranga e mahi ana. Kia ora, I am one of the kaimahi that works in the role as Pou Tautoko Adult Peer Support. In this role, I also deliver 2 programs centered around well-being utilising the value systems of Te Ao Māori through waiata and mahi toi. My passion has always been to work alongside people, especially cussed on healing, connection/redress and restoration/Mana Motuhake. I am an advocate of remedy through the lens of my culture, its reo, tikanga, and kawa. I particularly love seeing the growth & development of whānau and how these play out in a meaningful way in their lives. |
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JESSICA KLAASSEN
Pou Tautoko (Youth Peer Support) Kia ora e te whānau Ko Taranaki te maunga Ko Waitara te awa Ko Opunake te moana Ko Te Ati awa tōku iwi Ko Kai rau te marae Ko Klaassen tōku whānau Ko Kyle tōku Tane Ko Damian tāku Tama Ko Frankie tāku Pepe Ko Jessica Klaassen tōku ingoa My name is Jessica Klaassen and I’m absolutely honoured to be one of the Pou Tautoko Youth peer support kaimahi alongside the fabulous team here at Mana o Te Tangata. I have always had an interest to support and help others. This inspired me to study and graduate with a Bachelor of Arts with a double major in Psychology and Education. I am also a proud mother to my 2 boys, Damian who is 5 and Frankie who is nearly 2 and I’m engaged to my partner Kyle. When working alongside tangata whaiora, I like to implement a very person centered and strengths-based approach. This helps to build a trusting relationship where we can journey together to best suit their interests and outlook for the future. I believe when tangata whaiora are faced with adversity and challenges, that immense growth and strength can stem from the determination to be proactive and seek help from services such as ours. |
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TAIPARI WAAKA
Pou Tautoko (Youth Peer Support Kaimahi) Ko Tainui te waka Ko Maungatautari te maunga Ko Waikato te awa Ko Maungatautari te marae Ko Tainui te iwi Ko Taipari Waaka toku ingoa No reira, he mihi tenei ki a koutou katoa Greetings all, my name is Taipari Waaka. I am a father, soon-to-be-husband, an artist, youth mentor and community leader supporting whanau here, in the Manawatu region. My passion of music, artistic expression, and helping others has helped me walk a very unique path in life. Something I remind myself to show gratitude for everyday. Throughout this journey, I have learnt key skills that have helped me deal with the often turbulent ups and downs of my day to day. I found such a huge VALUE in those lessons, and my goal has always been to share them with others. Mana O Te Tangata has given me a platform to use my experiences to support those who face the same obstacles in their own lives. My role as youth peer support kaimahi, enables me to focus on helping our young people of tomorrow, better navigate the world. I have an amazing team to support me, and look forward to getting out into this beautiful community and sharing the aroha. |
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CATHERINE MITCHELL
Takawaenga (Toitu te Ora Co-ordinator) Ko E Koro Ruapehu te Whakaruruhau Ko Manawatū te Awa Ko Mitchell tōku Whanau Ko John tōku Matua Ko Jill tōku Whaea Ko Catherine tōku ingoa Ngā mihi nui ki a Koutou katoa Kia ora Koutou, I feel very privileged to be a part of the whanau at Mana O Te Tangata Trust. I am a recent employee who has been entrusted to work as our Pou Takawaenga - Toitu Te Ora AOD Coordinator, alongside our partnership with the Department of Corrections. I am currently in my final semester of a BA – Major in Psychology at Massey University (as a distance student). When I am not at mahi, I am studying, in nature or spending time with whanau and friends. I would like to leave you with a quote by Dame Whina Cooper: "Take care of our children. Take care of what they hear, take care of what they see, take care of what they feel. For how the children grow, so will be the shape of Aotearoa." |
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AROHA BROWN
Pou Awhina (Levin) - Activity Based Recovery Support Ko Pirongia te Maunga Ko Waikato te Awa Ko Tainui te Waka Ko Okapu te Marae Ko Ngāti Mahuta te Hapū Ko Aroha Brown ahau I am a mother first and foremost of two Ataahua children who are the reason for my commitment to Kaupapa māori services. I moved away from my homeland in Lower Hutt to study in a small town just 25km out of Levin Otaki. 3 years of training later I successfully recieved a Diploma in Toiora Whānau. It was a great experience to learn and grow among kaumatua and kuia with their knowledge on my shoulders. Now I am privileged to finally be working with tangata whaiora and making a difference as a Pou awhina of Mana o te tangata Trust Activity Centre Levin. “With my basket and your basket anything is possible” |
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KARLA PUHIPUHI
Pou Tautoko (Levin) - Activity Based Recovery Support Ko wai au? Piki ake kake ake te maunga o Te Aokaparangi, heke whakararo ki te waka o Tainui e hoea i te awa o Manawatū e tere atu ra. Tū mai ra te Marae o Whakawehi hei whare whakaruruhau mō te iwi o Ngati Raukawa me te hapu o Ngati Whakatere. Ko Karla Puhipuhi ahau. I have been fortunate enough to have been involved in many whanau, Iwi, Hapu, Marae and community projects over the years. Kaupapa Maori, Hauora and sports are passions that I can combine together and share in with my tamariki, whanau and peers. I have a personal commitment to helping tangata on their journey of wellness. |
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SARAH SEUMANU
Kaiwhakarite Ko Takitimu te Waka Ko Silisili te Maunga Ko Maliolio te Awa Ko Salelologa-Savaii te Hapu Ko Totolua Yeng Tung rātou ko Seuli Seumanu, ko Joan Cleghorn, Ko Alistar Gibbes ōku kaumātua Ko Jim rāua Ko Jodie Seumanu ōku mātua Ko Te Papaioea e noho ana Ko Sarah Seumanu tōku ingoa Kia ora everyone. I am very blessed to have worked at Mana for the past 2 and half years. It is truly an honour to work with my fellow kaimahi and to get to know all of the tangata that are part of our services. I am currently studying psychology through Massey, which I hope will lead to further involvement in the Mental Health sector of Aotearoa. Another big part of my life outside of Mana is my involvement with my local church, specifically with the music team. It is always a joy to meet you all when you come in to Mana, always feel free to pop in for a cuppa and a chat if you are in the area! |