Making a difference for Maori with asthma

The Maori Reference Group oversees the implementation of the Asthma Foundtion's Maori Responsiveness Plan. We are grateful for the skills and expertise provided by members of the MRG. 

 

Grant Berghan

Grant is from the Tai Tokerau region with links to Ngâpuhi, Ngâtiwai and Te Rarawa Iwi.  He is a freelance consultant specialising in Mâori development issues.

 

Grant has extensive experience in the health and labour market sectors.  He was the CEO of Hauora.com, a national Maori health workforce development organisation.  He has been previously employed as the General Manager of Mâori, Public Health and Mental Health at the Taranaki District Health Board.  He has also been the CEO of a Regional Mâori Public Health organisation (Te Hau Ora o te Tai Tokerau), a National Mâori Employment Commissioner, Northland Regional Manager of government work programmes, an auditor of health programmes, a Probation Officer, a Social Worker and also a freelance journalist for a Paris based weekly newspaper.

Grant has experience in policy development and implementation, funding, advocacy, facilitation and evaluation.  He was a Government appointed member to the Youth Suicide Advisory Panel, Mâori Mental Health Advisory Committee and is a current member of Te Taumata Roopu, the Maori Advisory Board for Public Health with the Ministry of Health.

 

 

 

Cheryl Davies.

Ngati Raukawa te iwi, Ngati Wehiwehi te hapu.

Cheryl has managed the Tu Kotahi Maori Asthma Trust over the past 16 years.  Tu Kotahi were formed as the first Maori Asthma Society in New Zealand in the early 1990’s.  She has presented at a number of conferences both nationally and internationally with a focus on discussing Maori and respiratory illnesses and healthy housing components.

Cheryl has a keen interest in research involving Maori and has been involved with a number of key research projects over the past ten year period.

 

 

 

 

Koa Mantell, Ngai Tahu

Koa is a representative on Te Runganga O Ngai Tahu, a member of the Iwi Steering Group for the Ngai Tahu Exhibition being held at Te Papa 2006-2009, Director on the Waitaki Health Trust, and a Board Member of Rural Primary Health Organisation and He Oranga Pounamu. She has previously worked as a Community Officer for the Department of Maori Affairs, as an Iwi Executive Officer at Ngai Tahu and as a manager of their social development services. She was also the Manager of Te Wakahauora and is employed for two days a week by Arai Te Uru Whare Hauora as the Special Project Manager.

She has her own art gallery called The Pa Gallery in Moeraki, where she exhibits whanau and other Maori art. 

Koa has asthma and has struggled with this illness for many years.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pahia Turia

Pahia Turia  is of Nga Wairiki, Whanganui, Ngati Apa and Nga Rauru whakapapa. He has been involved in iwi development in the areas of health, education, justice and social housing as well as part of his iwi claims negotiations team. He has an absolute passion for whanau and hapu development and believes that this is his greatest interest of all.
He has been involved in a governance capacity on a number of boards throughout the country.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Dianne Wepa, BSW, CQSW, PgDip(sw), Mphil(sw) MANZASW

Dianne is a senior lecturer at the Faculty of Health and Sport Science, Eastern Institute of Technology Hawkes Bay.  Her iwi is Ngati Kahungunu.  She has published the first book on cultural safety which is endorsed by the Nursing Council of New Zealand and has been adopted by the schools of nursing throughout New Zealand.  Dianne has presented at many conferences within New Zealand and overseas on the topic of cultural safety education, clinical supervision and Maori health.  Dianne is currently working on her PhD on cultural safety beyond New Zealand.

 

 

 

 

 

Tuwhakairiora (Tu) WilliamsGovernance Groups
Chairman – Te Roopu Taumata - Maori Advisory Committee Public Health (Ministry of Health)
Board Member – Amnesty International Aotearoa NZ
Board Member – NZ Social & Civic Policy Institute
Independent Chair – Maori Advisory Group Monitoring Framework and Research Agenda “He Korowai Oranga” Maori Health (Ministry of Health)
Member of Not-For-Profit Sector Advisory Committee (Ministry of Social Development)
Board Member – Funding Information Service, Wellington
Chair – Te Putahi Paho, Maori Electoral College, Maori Television Service
Board Member – Electoral College Te Huarahi Tika Trust – 2G Spectrum
Secretary – Bay of Plenty Regional Fisheries Forum (Ministry of Fisheries and Hapu/Iwi of B.O.P Region)
Secretary – Interim Working Group, Whakatohea Raupatu Claim Negotiations
Member – The Institute of Directors

Background
I have a career background in the education sector, having taught in schools and education centres in New Zealand and New South Wales. In the last 12 years I have worked mainly in the Treaty of Waitangi and Maori issues sector in my role as the Chief Executive Officer of the Maori Congress, as a researcher and also as an external consultant to various government agencies including Statistics New Zealand, the Ministry of Health, Department of Corrections, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Fisheries, Education Review Office, Te Puni Kokiri, Office of the Community and Voluntary Sector, Ministry of Social Development, Ministry of Economic Development.

I have had extensive involvement in tribal affairs including a role as a negotiator of Maori Broadcasting and the Maori Television Service, the Whakatohea Raupatu Claim, leadership in hapu, and service provider strategic planning, research and economic development, conducting wananga on Whakatohea and Mataatua moteatea, whakapapa and history. During my career I have been appointed to leadership roles and I’ve learned to refine my leadership skills to a high level of performance.

 

 

For more information about the MRG please contact us on (04) 499 4592 or email info@asthmafoundation.org.nz