OUR TEAM

Ngarongo Eaton-Brown

  • Ko Maungahaumia te Maunga

    Ko Mangatu te Awa

    Ko Mangatu te Marae

    Ko Rawari Tamanui te Tangata

    Ko Nga Ariki Kaiputahi te Iwi

    Ko Ngarongo Eaton (Brown) toku ingoa

    Wife and Mama of 6 beautiful tamariki, Nanny to 1 heavenly mokopuna and Mama to Kora our 4-legged human.

    If you had told me at High School that I was gonna be the Kaiwhakahaere/Manager for a Kaupapa Maori Counselling Service, I would have cracked up laughing. I didn’t have the belief at the time that I could be anything other than a caregiver. It wasn’t until a friend encouraged me to come with her to this Counselling place know as Rape Crisis. That visit changed my life and although I took a different path, I came back to what I knew I was called to do.

    Like many other wahine (past and present), I believe that Sexual Violence is a violation of our whakapapa. And the only way whakapapa can be restored is by having those “hard to have” conversations with each other in a safe space. And as a Kaitiaki of these korero it is my commitment to my community to ensure that these are happening, and healing is taking place.

    Mauri Ora

Ihipera Mahuika

  • Ko Hikurangi rāua ko Pukemaire nga Maunga

    Ko Waiapu rāua Reporua ngā Awa

    Ko Te Whānau-a-Tuwhakairiora, ratou ko Te Whanau-a-Hineauta, ko Te Whanau-a-Tinatoka oku hapu, ko Ngati Rangi ngā hapū

    Ko Horouta te waka

    Ko Hinemaurea, ko Rahui ko Tinatoka, ko Iritekura oku marae

    Ko Ngati Porou toku iwi

    Ko Porourangi te Tangata

    Ko Ihipera Mahuika toku ingoa

    Born in Whakatane, residing in Turanganui-A-Kiwa.

    I am a mother of 6 children. A grandmother and a Great Grandmother.

    I believe that we are born to inspire one another, we are born to encourage and love one another.

    And we are born to celebrate each other’s successes. you enjoy the success of others; you increase the likelihood of your own successes. Therefore, cherish your absolute uniqueness and remind yourself of how awesome you are.

Helen Te Puni

  • Ko Hikurangi te maunga

    Ko Waiapu te Awa

    Ko Horouta te Waka

    Ko Te Aitanga a mate te Hapu

    Ko Ngati Porou te iwi

    Ko Helen Te Puni taku ingoa

    I have worked in the wools sheds, fields, pack houses, JNL and went into study 2002. I worked at Turanga Social services for two years and then went to study Counselling at Waikato Institute of Technology. I graduated and went to work at Manukau Institute of Technology for six years mainly supporting youth with there study. Came home to Gisborne and worked for Hospice, Gisborne for a year and then moved to Tolaga Bay and worked for Ngati Porou Hauora in Te Puia for four years before returning to Gisborne to work.

    I am a mother of three children, two lovely moko and a dog whose name is Buggy. My pass times are Waka Ama, swimming and walking Buggy.

Heneriata Campbell

  • Titirangi te Maunga

    Uawanui te Awa

    Te Rawheoro te Marae

    Te Kani a Takirau te tangata

    Te Aitanga a Hauiti te Iwi

    Ko te potiki a taku whanau

    Born in Tolaga Bay, raised in East Auckland but always true to Hauiti & Te Whanau Apanui.

    Lived in Ozzie during the 1980's, became a Trotskyist, sailed on the Rainbow Warrior in the Pacific. Returned to Aotearoa, attended protests for our whenua.

    Supporting whanau who have lived full lives, Lives of struggle, lives of hope...

    Encouraging whanau to be who they want to be,..

    Embracing the richness of everyone i/we meet in our whare or our communities of Te Tairawhiti.

Maggie Gordon

  • Truly live life, but live life truly

    I believe that everyone deserves the best life possible but we must live as truthfully as we can.

    And that’s why I’m passionate about Counselling. we don’t win them all however, the pluses always outweigh the minuses

Sue Poi-Taitoko

  • Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, engari he toa takitini" - Success is not the work of an individual, but the work of many

    Kia Ora

    Ko Susan Poi Taitoko taku ingoa (aka Nanny Sue)

    I have been a Volunteer for Rape Crisis since 1998 and was fortunate enough to have worked under the leadership of Michelle Grant who recently received the Queens Service Order award. I have always been passionate about helping people and there is nothing more satisfying than helping our wahine/tane who have been victims/survivors of abuse.

    I have a wealth of life experience and feel so lucky to be part of such an amazing Kaupapa. For me, I will keep doing what has become a big part of my life te arohina tangata

Papa Beau & Marata Haereroa

Chelle Grant QSO

  • Ko Hikurangi te maunga

    Ko Waiapu te Awa

    Ko Horouta te Waka

    Ko Ngati Porou te iwi

    Ko Michelle Grant (Collier) taku ingoa

    Began as a volunteer and has been Coordinator since 2009. She developed and helped to implement the ‘He Au Raukati’ suicide youth prevention programme. After identifying an emerging need, she developed programmes and counselling for men. She developed and implemented the Te Tiriti O Waitangi workshop into the National Rape Crisis Training Manual. She has helped her local Rape Crisis become a fully Kaupapa Māori organisation and is part of the Kaupapa Māori Sexual Violence steering group. Mrs Grant serves on the governance group and as treasurer of the national collective, and was part of the National Sexual Violence steering group.

Amanda Robinson - Farah

  • Kia Ora, my name is Amanda Robinson Farah. Originally from Trinidad and Tobago, I have earned my Masters degree in Clinical Counselling (MSPC) in the United States and have trained there for the past 10 years. I feel blessed to be able to call Aotearoa home. Where the culture and spirit of the people reflect a lot of my own culture, norms, and values, I feel right at home. It is an honour and a privilege that I get to share my knowledge and experience in trauma and grief, but my heart is in helping women and children heal on their journey to wholeness and embrace a life that is fulfilling.

Alysha Ngaira

  • Kaua e hoki i te waewae tūtuki, ā pā anō hei te upoko pakarū

    ~ Do not turn back because of minor obstacles but press ahead to the desired goal).

    Kia Ora tātou, ko Alysha tenei.

    Ko rua tekau ma toru aku tau (for now).

    Nō Te Tairāwhiti ahau.

    I got my first job bartending at the age of 14 and since that point have gone from one learning opportunity to another. So far I have managed a bar, restaurant, gained my diploma in youth work and community studies, worked with rangatahi in education, music and after school care and have served in the NZDF.

    I think it’s important to seek out new opportunities and experiences but also understand that accessibility varies among people of different walks of life. I would like to help navigate people as they bridge the gap between their dreams and reality. One day at a time.

Cathrine Biddle

  • Ko Maungahaumia te maunga

    Ko Mangatu te awa

    Ko Rawiri Tamanui te tangata

    Ko Mangatu te marae

    Ko Te Ngawari te whare

    Ko Nga Ariki Kaiputahi te iwi

    Ko Cathrine Biddle toku ingoa

    Ever since I was in intermediate I knew I wanted to work with rangatahi supporting them with the struggles they go through. At high school I was given the opportunity, through Whanau Ahuru Mowai, to take part in running a youth program. The youth were able to make new connections and enjoy themselves doing fun activities. Since then I have been working and studying to get the qualifications I need to reach my goal of becoming a counselor.