Te rangi kei runga,
Te whenua kei raro,
Te moana kei waho,
Taku au kei roto,
Ko ahau hei whakatipuranga ō ngā iwi o Muriwhenua me Te Whakatohea.
I whakatupuria ahau i runga i te Marae i raro i te manaakitanga i tōku karani mama, me tōku karani papa.
Ko Te Ao Māori me te Hāhi ngā mea nui. I whakaarahia ake i Te Kao, i Te Hiku o Te Ika, ki raro i te maru o Te Aupouri Iwi. Na roto i tā rātou whakaakoranga me tā rātou arahi e taea ai e au te tāngata e tū nei inaianei.
I was raised on the Marae under the guidance of my grandparents.Te Ao Māori and religion was paramount. I was raised in Te Kao in the far north under the auspice of Te Aupouri Iwi. It is their teaching and guidance that I can proudly say is what makes me who I am today.
Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, engari he toa takitini. My strength is not mine alone but that of many.
Most of my work has been in the government sector in various roles as a kaimahi and cultural advisor. Starting at Work and Income as a Māori Cadet, then Child Youth and Family and the Department of Corrections. I then worked at Te Rūnanga o Te Rarawa as a Kaimahi in the Social Services. I have always been a strong advocate for whānau ora and tino rangatiratanga and working in these sectors has given me the opportunity to support and awhi whānau to attain this.
Mā te whititahi, ka whakatutuki ai ngā pūmanawa ā tāngata – Weaving the realisation of potential together.
I spend the majority of my time supporting and following my children and grandchildren around whether it be sports or other activities. I enjoy just hanging out with my whānau. My whānau is everything.
Ka whāngaia, ka tipua, ka puāwai - nuture it and it will grow and blossom.
If I ever feel that I need to recharge the batteries, I will do this by going back home to Te Kao in the far north.