2023 Te Oranga ki Ōtākou Executive Team

Ko Te Mata me Marotiri ngā maunga
Ko Ngaruroro me Waiapu ngā awa
Ko Takitimu me Horouta ngā waka
Ko Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Kahungunu me Rongomaiwahine ngā iwi
Ko Ngāti Poroporo, Ngāti Rakaipaaka, Ngāti Ira me Te Whānau a Ruataupare ngā hapū
Ko Mangaroa, Kaiuku me Tuatini ngā marae
Ko Māia ahau.

Tēnā koutou katoa! My name’s Māia and I will be working as tumuaki for the 2023 TOKŌ exec. Some of my mahi includes making sure that everything is running smoothly behind the scenes, advocating for the needs of our TOKŌ members, and making sure that we provide the best opportunities for your learning and future careers. I also sit on Te Oranga, the national students exec as Ōtepoti teina. I grew up in the Middle East but am an East Coast girl at heart, I love to spend my spare time with my whānau listening to good music & having the meanest feeds. Come have a kōrero if you see me around 🙂

Ko Mauao te maunga
Ko Mataatua te waka
Ko Tauranga moana te awa
Ko Whareroa te marae
Ko Ngāi te Rangi te iwi
Ko Simone Ngatai toku ingoa

Kia ora e te whānau! I’m Simone, the TOKŌ Tumuaki Tuarua (Vice President) this year. I’m so excited to be part of TOKŌ and supporting our Māori tauira. I whakapapa from Tauranga and I was born and raised on the Gold Coast, Australia. In my role on TOKŌ I will be organising the academic tutorials and study buddies and I also sit on the medical school education committee to advocate the interests of our Māori tauira.
When I’m not studying, I love spending time with my husband and daughters, enjoying great food and being outdoors. I’m always keen to korero, so feel free to reach out!

Ko Te Upoko o Tahumatā tōku mauka
Kō Ōkana tōku awa
Kō Wairewa tōku marae
Kō Kai Tahu me Waitaha ōku iwi
Nō Te Tihi-o-Maru ahau
Kō Boudine Brown tōku ingoa

Kia ora koutou! My name is Boudine and I am the Mātāmua for TOKŌ i tēnei tau! I grew up in Timaru and have been in Dunedin since 2018; I am currently a trainee intern/ALM6 in Ōtepoti. My hope for this year is to continue building strong relationships between tauira in ALM and continue advocating for tauira Māori in the clinical space. I will also be sitting on Te Oranga, the national executive for Māori medical students across Aotearoa, in which I hope to foster good connections with tauira across the motu to help transition our tauira into the workforce confidently. When I am not busy studying I like getting out exploring, cooking, and spending time with friends and whānau. If you have any questions or ideas about ALM, pātai mai!

Kia Ora e te whānau!
Ko Josh toku ingoa
Ko Ngāti Porou me Te Aitanga-a-mahāki te iwi
No tūranganui-a-kiwa ahau
My name is Josh and I am your Kaitiaki putea (treasurer) on the TOKŌ executive this year! I am very excited to be able to get to know all of you especially the Māori tauira! I am from the iwi Ngāti Porou which reside mainly on the east coast of the north island and Te aitanga-a-mahāki which is from the small town of Whatatutu. I grew up mainly in Gisborne and the Tokomaru Bay Area! When I am not studying, I enjoy spending time with friends and the occasional trip to the beach! Please if you have any questions about anything, I am always keen for a chat!
Ngā Mihi

Ko Motatau te Maunga
Ko Hikurangi te Awa
Ko Tau Henare te Marae
Ko Ngāti Hine te Iwi
Te Orewai te Hapū
Ko Piri ahau.

Kia ora e koutou.
My name is Piri and my role is as your Hauora Māori Officer. I come from the small rural community of Pipiwai. My people are Te Orewai, Te Ihutai and Te Kau i Mua. I have a passion for advocating equitable opportunities for all – especially Māori. My goal is to be a common face – a tangata kanohi kitea. Someone who is present, someone who is approachable, someone who most people can become familiar with, and who they and you can spin a yarn to. In the words of my tupuna karani māmā (maternal great-grand mother): “peka mai te katoa” (come in, all are welcome). It is by that same collaborative and hospitable spirit that I too say “peka mai te katoa”. My duty is to promote the idea of cultural appreciation and to encourage the thought that we are all rowing in the same waka towards a common goal. That goal being to provide health services to all of society.

Ko Te Kahurau te mauka teitei
Ko Kākaunui te awa
Ko Hāteatea te hapū
Ko Kāi Tahu te iwi
Ko te pā o Moeraki te tūrakawaewae
Ko Sara tōku ikoa

Kia ora e te whānau. I’m Sara and I am so honoured to be your 2023 Kaitakawaenga (Liaison officer).
I’m from Whakatāne and was born in Bolivia. Coming from a smallish town to Dunners was quite a change but I am where I am because of the amazing support from the Māori centre, Kōhatu, my iwi, my whānau and my fellow Māori tauira. I want to continue creating opportunities for our Māori tauira, supporting them and encouraging them to reach their potential.
Whakawhanaungatanga is key to my role as Kaitakawaenga, I am responsible for facilitating and strengthening the connection between our Māori tauira, and also between other faculties and student groups, so we can work together in future to provide the best quality of care.