About
PublicationsWānanga & Conference Presentations Search Publications Suggestions & Comments If you have any comments or suggestions we'd like to hear from you. You can send us your feedback here.  | Whakauae Team
Dr Amohia BoultonResearch Centre Director
Mai i ngā Kurī a Whārei ki Ngā Pāpaka o Rangataua he riponga waihoe au nō te Moana o Tauranga, te ūnga o ngā waka, te wai koiora o aku tūpuna
Ko Mauao te Maunga Ko Tauranga te moana Ko Ngāti Ranginui, Ngāi te Rangi, me Ngāti Pukenga ōku iwi Ko Pirirakau, ko Ngāti Kahu ngā hapū Ko Poututerangi, ko Wairoa ngā marae Ko Amohia Boulton tōku ingoa
My career to date has been varied, spanning public policy and academia however, my commitment to Māori development has been a constant thread throughout. I have a background in public policy, having worked as a data analyst (Ministry of Education) policy analyst, senior analyst (Te Puni Kōkiri) and Private Secretary (Māori Affairs) in Wellington for about ten years. I left the public service to undertake a Health Research Council Māori Health Training Fellowship, completing my doctoral studies at Te Pūmanawa Hauora, the Research Centre for Māori Health and Development, Massey University, Palmerston North. As a Health Research Council Erihapeti Rehu Murchie Postdoctoral Fellow, I was able to work with scholars at the University of Northern British Columbia, Canada and with the Lheidli T'enneh First Nations people. In 2009 I joined Whakauae Research Services and in 2016 was appointed Research Centre Director. My research focuses on Māori health and health services research; specifically, the interface between health and social policy and service-level implementation. I consider myself privileged not only to work in an iwi-owned and mandated health research centre, but to build on Heather’s original vision and continue a legacy of high quality kaupapa Māori research that makes a difference to our people. Mate atu he tētēkura, ara mai he tētēkura
Tel. (06) 347 6773
Dr Heather GiffordSenior Advisor Business and Research
He uri au nō ngā awa e rere nei, ko Rangitīkei, ko Whanganui. Nō reira, e tau tāku manu ki te pae maunga e tū mai rā, ko Ruahine, kia poia rā e ngā haumiri o tōku tūpuna, o Hauiti. Whakatau atu ki te whakaruruhau o Rātā, e tau, e tau rā.
I began my professional career as a nurse working in the field of child and family health. I have since taught at a tertiary level in health services, worked as a manager with a Māori Development Organisation and in primary health care. In 1996, I returned to tertiary study completing a Post Graduate Diploma in Public Health at Otago University. I completed a master’s in public health from the same university soon after. I then completed both a PhD and Postdoctoral Fellowship with Te Pūmanawa Hauora, the Research Centre for Māori Health and Development, Massey University. I am fortunate to have received a number of awards to support my study: a Post-Doctoral Scholarship Health Research Council NZ; a Health Research Council Postgraduate Scholarship; and a Health Funding Authority John McLeod Scholarship. In 2005, in collaboration with Ngāti Hauiti, I established Whakauae Research for Māori Health and Development, an iwi-based research centre. From 2005 - 2016 I held the role of Research Centre Director guiding the team and the organisation to a point of stability and strength. In 2016 I stepped into a senior advisory role allowing time for more research and for whānau interests to be prioritised while at the same time ensuring sustainable leadership of the centre with the appointment of Dr Amohia Boulton as Research Centre Director. My research interests to date have concentrated on health service delivery and intervention, and the development of whānau, hapū and iwi-based models to address Māori health issues, in particular tobacco control research with a focus on prevention and policy work.
Tel. (06) 347 6773 Mobile 021 243 7409
Dr Tanya AllportSenior Researcher
Ko Tokomaru te Waka Ko Taranaki te Maunga Ko Waitara te Awa Ko Manukorihi te Marae Ko Tanya Allport tōku ingoa
My passion as a researcher is to make a positive impact on the health and wellbeing of Māori through aspirational, translational and kaupapa Māori focused research. I was educated at the University of Auckland, where I gained a Bachelor and Master of Arts, before completing my PhD in 2006. While studying I worked at the University of Auckland, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, in Māori and Pacific health. Following my PhD I undertook several years of working for claimants to the Waitangi Tribunal, specialising in Māori land research. More recently, I worked as the director of Wai Research, an urban Māori research centre with Te Whānau O Waipareira, a West Auckland Māori health and social service provider. As part of that role, I led a staff of researchers, evaluators, and social impact specialists, and project managed local and national research programmes focusing on whānau Māori wellbeing and policy impacts. I am Te Āti Awa ki Te Whanganui-a-Tara from my father’s side and German from my mother’s side, and although I was born in Tauranga I spent my formative years in Northern Germany, returning to Aotearoa in my early teens. I now live with my whānau in the Waitakere Ranges in Auckland. I feel honoured and fortunate to be a senior researcher at Whakauae, as it allows me to be part of a dedicated and inspiring team that works to fulfil the aspirations of Ngāti Hauiti for all whānau Māori to have health, wealth and self-determination in line with their own values.
Dr Aria GrahamResearcher
E pari rā ngā tai ki te ākau, e hotu rā ko taku manawa
Ko Kahurānaki te maunga Ko Ngaruroro te awa Ko Takitimu te waka Ko Tamatea Arikinui te tangata Ko Waipatu te marae Ko Ngāti Hawea ko Ngāti Hori ngā hapū Ko Ngāti Kahungunu te iwi Nō Waipatu ahau Nō Tufuiopa ki Samoa me Tokomaru Bay ki Ngāti Pōrou hoki ahau Ko Aria tōku ingoa
Kia ora, talofa lava! I am very proud to be wahine Māori and from Aotearoa! I have two darling sons and a wonderful tāne. I come from a beautiful ūkaipō. I am a registered nurse and trained in Well Child Tamariki Ora nursing. I have worked for both kaupapa Māori and mainstream providers, serving our whānau and communities through clinical and kaupapa Māori practice. I have been part of several nursing and Māori nursing initiatives, interweaving kaupapa Māori in nursing leadership and developing cultural clinical competency frameworks. I graduated with my PhD ‘Tika tonu – Young Māori mothers’ experiences of wellbeing surrounding the birth of their first tamaiti (child)’ in 2018. I then worked a year in tertiary education in a school of nursing, and joined Whakauae Research Services in 2019. I am based at Waipatu Marae where I contribute to actualising my passion for Māori and health and development with whānau and the community and spend time in Whanganui with the Whakauae team developing and honing my research skills and relationships. In 2019, I was granted a Health Research Council postdoc fellowship to pilot a model based on my PhD findings in nurturing the wellbeing of māmā and tamariki Māori, hapūtanga, māmātanga and wahinetanga that is marae-based and utilises the leadership of wāhine and whānau Māori.
Mobile: 027 424 2246
Gillian Potaka-OsborneResearcher and Evaluator
Ko Aotea te waka Ko Ruapehu te maunga Ko Whanganui te awa Ko Gill Potaka-Osborne au.
My professional career and interest in Kaupapa Māori were born out of my involvement as both a kaimahi and whānau member of Te Hunga Kawitiwiti Kohanga Reo (language nest) in the early 80s. The next 15 years were spent in working in the public sector before I rekindled a passion for Māori development and joined Taumata Hauora Trust (Māori Development Organisation) as contracts manager. In 2005, I began employment with Whakauae Research Services in an administrative capacity. My current role is community researcher and evaluator which has given me the opportunity to engage, build capability and seek solutions with local communities. My passion is to grow Māori potential and I am excited about being able to use research and evaluation as methods for advancing Māori development. I was supported by Whakauae to complete a Postgraduate Diploma in Social Sector Research and in 2019 I completed my final year of master’s study. I am a member of the Aotearoa New Zealand Evaluation Association (ANZEA), Ma Te Rae Māori Evaluation Association and of the Australian Evaluation Society (AES).
E rere kau mai te awa nui mai I te Kāhui Maunga ki Tangaroa Ko au te Awa, ko te Awa ko au The great river flows from the mountain to the sea I am the river the river is me
Phone: 028 255 62852
Lynley CvitanovicResearcher and Evaluator
Born and brought up in Whanganui, I am fifth generation Pākehā of Croatian, English and Irish descent. The first of my forebears arrived in Te Whanganui-a-Tara, as New Zealand Company assisted immigrants, in 1840 and 1841. They were farm labourers from Wiltshire and Somerset in the south of England. During the 1850s some moved north to Whanganui and to the Rangitīkei. My great-great-grandmother, Hannah Whale was born in Parewānui in 1857. Most recently my paternal grandfather arrived in Whanganui, from the tiny fishing village of Drašnice in southern Croatia, around 1926. Over the past four decades I have had the opportunity to take part in, and learn from, a wide range of Treaty inspired decolonisation and social justice initiatives. My paid work experience has mostly been in the fields of community work, adult learning and public health (health promotion). My formal study has focused on sociology, qualitative research, social work and social services practice supervision. I hold MA (Honours) and MSW (Applied) degrees along with a Postgraduate Diploma in Social Services Supervision (Distinction). Since joining the Whakauae team in 2008, I have had the great privilege of taking part in many of the research activities that our Ngāti Hauiti-owned organisation is involved with. Whakauae aspires to contribute to social transformation that benefits Māori, using excellent research as the vehicle. My colleagues, and those we work alongside in the local community and beyond, provide daily inspiration for finding ways forward that can make a positive difference for Māori.
Phone: 028 255 62856
Sonja LoveridgeBusiness Manager
I was born and raised in the Waverley area and am fifth generation Pākehā on my Dad’s side; of English, Scottish and Irish descent and third generation Pākehā on my Mum’s side. My father’s ancestors began arriving into Taranaki from 1841, they settled in Kaitoke, in the remote Rangitikei hills at Pohonui, and in the Whanganui area from the late 1850’s. My maternal grandparents immigrated to Aotearoa New Zealand from Drašnice and Podgora on the Dalmatian coast of Croatia in the early 1900’s. I have trained as a chartered accountant and have an employment background in finance and management. I have worked in a variety of businesses and in the public sector primarily in health and science. I am a member of the Chartered Accountants Institute of Australia New Zealand and have been a Board member for Hospice Whanganui. I appreciate order (although you might not think so if you saw my desk), a good strategic plan and the opportunity to make a difference. I joined the Whakauae team in 2015 and I have appreciated the opportunity to working in a kaupapa Māori organisation with academics and iwi members. This challenges me to think differently, provides experiences that I would not otherwise have and allows me to support the work of others to make a difference.
Phone: 028 255 05015 Mobile: 027 220 5717
Stacey RanginuiAssistant Accountant
E rere kau mai te awa nui mai I te Kāhui Maunga ki Tangaroa Ko au te Awa, ko te Awa ko au
He uri ahau nō Te Āti Haunui-ā-Pāpārangi Ko Ngā Poutama nui Awa me Ngāti Hine o te rā ngā hapū Ko Matahiwi me Rakato ngā marae Ko Ranginui rāua ko Puohotaua ōku ingoa whānau Ko Stacey Ranginui ahau
My journey with Whakauae started in 2009, when I was employed as one of the Office Administrators. Prior to working for Whakauae I had worked in various organisations, health and iwi sectors developing skills in office administration, financial records and contract management. As a mother of 4 who are now all grown, working towards their own studies and careers, this led me to my current role as the Assistant Accountant which has given me the opportunity to return to study. I completed a New Zealand Diploma in Business Studies graduating in 2019 and I am now working towards my Bachelor of Business Studies through the Open Polytechnic. My current role as the Assistant Accountant has given me the opportunity to utilise my academic learning. Learning Te Reo Māori was on the forefront of my heart so I also enrolled on the He Pī Ka Rere Te Reo Māori course with Te Wananga o Aotearoa here in Whanganui doing night classes. Without the love and support of my whānau, Whakauae and my friends there is no way any of this would have been achievable.
Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi engari he toa takitini Success is not the work of one, but the work of many
Phone: 06 347 6773 or 028 255 62850
Mel Potaka-OsbornePA to the Team
E rere kau mai te awa nui mai I te Kāhui Maunga ki Tangaroa Ko au te Awa, ko te Awa ko au
‘Ruapehu te maunga Whanganui te awa Ko Ātihaunui-ā-Pāpārangi te iwi Ko Ngāti Tuera, Ngāti Hinearo, Ngāti Pamoana, Ngāti Pareraukawa aku hapū’ Ko wai au? Ko Mel Potaka-Osborne ahau
I joined Whakauae Research in 2011, after working ten years with a local Whanganui Iwi Health Provider in both front line and team leader roles. Prior to that, I worked as a kaiawhina with the Royal NZ Plunket Society, which was where my journey in Māori Health and wellbeing began. My partner and I are very much whānau driven, so with four adult tamariki, two moko and numerous whangai, Māori health became a natural path for me. My interest in kaupapa Māori research and the work of Whakauae developed while I was working within the Iwi health provider and joining the team felt like the next stepping-stone in my Māori Health journey.
Phone: 028 255 62852
Aarona McGregorFinance AdministratorTe Maru o Ruahine Trust
He pūngāwerewere au, e maha ōku waewae I am like the spider that has many feet.
My pepeha explains that I whakapapa to many people. I was raised amongst my mother’s iwi – she was tūturu Ngā Rauru. My father was raised amongst the Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga. My nana was of Ātihaunui-ā-Pāpārangi. Her father was of Ngāti Matakore and Ngāti Rangatahi which ties me to the Waikato. The McGregor name comes from my ancestor John Jock McGregor - a Scotsman and a trader who was amongst the original settlers of the Whanganui township. He married the daughter of Tūtepourangi - A Paramount chief of the South Island which binds me to all the iwi o Te waka a Maui. I am privileged to be part of the Whakaue Research hapū. I started in 2019 as the Finance Administrator for Te Maru o Ruahine Trust. I saw this as a great opportunity to broker a fruitful relationship with the Ngāti Hauiti people, and to develop my financial skills as I near the completion of full-time study towards my Degree in Business Management and Accounting. This experience has helped me to develop my own financial business. I am passionate about Te Ao Māori and all that it encompasses; Whakapapa, Whenua, Te Reo and Tikanga. I love learning and will press myself to learn new techniques and skills. I also enjoy being a pāpā to my three taiohi. Helping them to achieve their wants and desires as they navigate through the various challenges and opportunities that life may present them.
Phone: 028 255 62853 |
%20website_320px(2).jpg)
