OUR STAFF
Te Paepae Arahi Trust is comprised of full-time and part-time staff, including qualified accredited DAPAANZ Clinicians, Counsellors, Social Workers, Support Workers, and ancillary staff. All of our team are part of the wider whānau of Te Paepae Arahi Trust and are very passionate about our mahi in supporting whānau of Te Awakairangi.
We also acknowledge previous kaimahi who have worked for and with us, as our broader whānau for whom we are very grateful for their contributions to our Trust and our communities. Our connections remain with you all.
Jeremy - Kaiwhakahaere
(General Manager)
"Kotahi te kākano, he nui ngā hua o te rākau" - it only takes one good intention to bear many good things.
Jeremy is of Ngaariki Kaiputahi, Te Aitanga a Mahaaki, Ngati Porou and Ngai Tuhoe decent.
Jeremy has been the General Manager of Te Paepae Arahi Trust since June 2019, and enjoys his role working with a caring and dedicated team supporting whānau. Jeremy has extensive experience working in a range of sectors including roles within the Ministry of Health, GP Practice management, DHB Health management, NGO health and Social services management, Philanthropy, and community and education sectors.
Jeremy is passionate about whānau wellbeing and our collective whakapapa.
The picture here includes Jeremy and John Whaanga (right), one of Te Paepae Arahi's founding members.
Contact:
Kayde - Youth worker
Kaimahi Rangatahi
(Youth Worker)
“He moana pukepuke e ekengia e te waka” Rough seas can be navigated by waka.
Kayde is of Te Āti Awa, Ngāti Tūwharetoa & Ngāti Mutunga decent
Kayde has a Diploma in Māori Health Promotion, Sport & Excercise Sciences. He continues to study Te Reo Māori and has a deep connection with Tangaroa.
Kayde co-facilitates the Ngātahi Takitahi programme in schools and he also offers programmes outside of school including surfing, diving, music and design.
Kayde is passionate about te ao Māori and helping rangatahi re-gain & re-connect to their Māoritanga
Contact
Tim - Kaitautoko (Support worker)
Kaitohutohu
(Clinician & Counselor)
Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD)
Kaitautoko/Support Worker
IDAC Facilitator Upper Hutt
"He aroha whakatō, he aroha puta mai" - If kindness is sown, then kindness you shall receive.
Tim is one of our 'kaimahi toa' and karaoke kings who originally hails from Hawaii, and he has been a resident in Aotearoa for over 20 years. He facilitates the Upper Hutt Impaired Drivers Awareness Course (IDAC), and both Lower Hutt and Upper Hutt Men's Groups. He also provides Addictions and Mental health counselling. When he isn't working hard, Tim enjoys connecting with our Tāiao and native bush.
Contact:
Ashley - Kaitautoko (Support worker)
E tu kahikatea, hei wakapae uroroa
Awhi mai, awhi atu, tatou e
“Kahikatea stand together; their roots intertwine, strengthening each other.
We all help one another and together we will be strong”
Ashley (Tangata Tiriti of Fijian-Indian descent) is a provisionally registered counsellor with NZAC, and part of our rangatahi team.
Ashley uses a creative, anti-oppressive and trauma-informed lens with experience in working with rangatahi, sexual violence & trauma survivors, and empowering women. She is also an Indigenous yoga practitioner, offering yoga and body-based therapy to advocate for (re)indigenising the therapy and wellbeing space.
When she’s not working with our rangatahi, she is delivering yoga in schools to support our tamariki and kaiako.
Contact: ashley@tepaepae.co.nz
Imogen - Kaitautoko
(Support worker)
“Mehemea ke moemoeā ahau,
Ko ahau anake.
Mehemea ka moemoeā tātou,
Ka taea e tātou”.
“If I dream, I dream.
If we all dream together,
We can succeed.”
Nā Te Puea Hērangi
Imogen (Tangata Tiriti of Irish decent) is a qualified social worker, and is part of our AOD counselling team. Imogen’s social work background includes her areas of special interest in whanau/parenting support, maternal and infant mental health, healthy relationships, sexual violence trauma recovery and empowering women. Imogen also has a background in the arts, and particularly enjoys encouraging tangata whaiora in exploring their creativity as a pathway to wellbeing.
Contact: imogen@tepaepae.co.nz
Naphtali - Kaitautoko
(Support worker)
Ko nga manga katoa i roto i ahau e kore e whai hua, e tangohia e ia: ko nga mea katoa hoki e whai hua ana, ka whakapaia e ia, kia maha atu ai ona hua.
Every branch that does not bear fruit he lifts up, every branch that bears fruit, he prunes so that it may bear more fruit. John 15:2
Naph is our Housing Navigator kaimahi, and grew up in Wainuiomata, and is of Samoan descent from the Beautiful villages of Siumu and Faleasiu, The Moana is his favourite place…
He has a background in many support-based roles such as customer service, prison, mental health and housing support. Naph’s heart and passion is to support and give back to our communities who are in need. He is led by his faith and Wairua and believes the impossible can become possible.
Contact: naph@tepaepae.co.nz
Nicole - Kaitautoko
(Support worker)
"He kakano ahau I ruia mai I Rangiatea" - I am a seed born of greatness.
Nicole is a descendant of both Ngati Tuwharetoa and Ngati Raukawa, and a tuturu Wainui local (used to own a Cadillac). She currently leads and co-facilitates the in school Ngatahi Takitahi
programme within Te Awakairangi. She also works actively out in the community as a Kaitautoko.
Contact:
Soraya - Kaiarahi ahurea
(Cultural Lead)
Kaiarahi Ahurea /Cultural Lead Ngatahi Takitahi
"Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, engari kē he toa takitini" - ‘My strength is not that of a single warrior but that of many.’
Soraya is of Rongomaiwahine, Ngai Te Rakato, Ngati Kahungunu decent. Proudly (and loudly) from Te Mahia Peninsula in Hawkes Bay, she has over 10 years of experience working in the Youth Education sector, and is a trained Mataora in Mahi a Atua purākau, and kaitautoko to the Nga Kete Aronui programme.
Contact:
Charlotte - Kaiwhakahaere Tari (Office manager)
"He waka eke noa" We are all in this together!!
Charlotte (aka Harata or "Hudz")is of Ngāti Porou and Ngāti Maniapoto descent, and comes from a line of Holden/Ford whakapapa in Naenae. She is the pou tokomanawa and Office Manager, and lead Kaiawhina of our organisation. Harata is also a passionate dog owner and a caring team member who basically looks after everyone to the best of her abilities, and keeps us in line.
Contact:
Gretchen - Kaitautoko (Support worker)
"Poipoia te kākano kia puawai" - Nurture the seed and it will blossom.
Gretchen is a Registered Comprehensive Nurse and has extensive experience in a wide variety of nursing roles in Aotearoa and Australia. Gretchen also provisional DAPAANZ accreditation.
Gretchen is passionate about working in partnership with tangata whaiora to pursue wellness through improving health literacy and lifestyle habits, strengthening identity and incorporating wairua into everyday life.
Contact:
Greg - Kaituku haumanu a ahurea (Therapeutic Cliical lead)
"Kaua e mate wheke mate ururoa" - "Don't give up no matter how hard the struggle is"
Greg is a tuakana and Programme Lead for Nga Kete Aronui (Kaupapa Māori MH&A Service) who also co-facilitates the mens closed therapy group, and supports individuals, particularly tāne, in achieving recovery and wellness. Greg is passionate about te āo Māori and our environment, and supporting our whānau in connecting and re-connecting in our culture.
Contact:
Tiipene - Tuaurawhiri/Kaitautoko
(Wellington bridge and Support worker)
"Ahakoa he iti he pounamu" - although it is small, it is precious...
Tiipene is a kaitautoko who works across our organisation and also The Bridge AOD Residential service, in supporting our whānau through cultural connection and framing wellbeing and recovery froma te ao Māori perspective.
Tiipene is very much kaupapa focused and also share his passion of music and life with us and his growing whānau.
Contact:
Rohan - Kaitautoko
(Support worker)
Kia ū ki te pai, kia whai hua ai.
Hold on to what is good and good things will follow.
I first engaged with Te Paepae Arahi in may 2020 when I began attending Te Ropu Tane (mens group) then began volunteering for Kaibosh about a year later.
I quickly realized that I wanted to play a more active role in Te Paepae Arahi so when an offer of fulltime employment came up as a Kaitautoko, I jumped at the opportunity.
My life experiences (and mistakes) alongside the help I've received from Te Paepae Arahi have given me the tools to be a better father and help other people struggling in their own parenting journey acquire the tools to be better parents.
I am now helping facilitate the mens group every Thursday and look forward to helping other parents reach their goals.
Contact: rohan@tepaepae.co.nz
Christian - Kaitautoko
(Support worker)
“Mā te pito mata e taea ai” – Where there’s potential, there’s a way.
Christian is of Ngāti Raukawa descent. Raised in Te Whananganui-a-Tara, he has 9 years experience as a volunteer in youth education and leadership.
He currently co-facilitates the Ngatahi Takitahi programme within schools in Te Awakairangi and works within the community as a Kaitautoko.
Contact:
Natasha -
Kaiwhakahaere Te Ropu Wahine
(Women's group Co-Facilitator)
"E ngaki ana a mua, e tōtō mai
ana a muri. - First clear the weeds, then plant."
Natasha is a descendent of Ngati Porou, Kaitahu and Kotirana. Born and raised in Ōtautahi, Natasha has worked as a Community Support in Te Awakairangi for the past seven years, specialising in disability, mental health, wellbeing and in facilitation of mental health and peer support groups. Natasha is Co- facilitator of Te Whāinga whirikoka Women’s group here at Te Pae Pae where she hopes to inspire wāhine to feel empowered by sharing and connecting with others.
Natasha has completed a diploma in Te reo Māori, she is passionate about supporting tangata whānau through Oranga tonutanga (Continued wellbeing) strategies using te ao Māori practices.
"Ka tū tonu koe i roto i te aroha - Stand in the love!!"
(nā Whaea Moe Milne)
Contact: natasha@tepaepae.co.nz
Nicole - Kaitautoko
(Support worker)
I am of Ngaariki Kaiputahi and Te Aitanga a Mahaki, and work in our Access and Choice CSW team.
I come with 12 years of experience as a community support worker advocating and supporting the people of the community to live to their best possible life potential.
I am passionate about incorporating te āo Māori into my everyday mahi.
Mauriora!!
Contact: elaine@tepaepae.co.nz