Joy Te Wiata

Ngā Kaitiaki Mauri Chair

Co-founder and co-director of Korowai Tumanako, a Kaupapa Māori sexual violence specialist organisation providing a wide range of therapeutic response and prevention services. Joy has co-led clinical teams for over 18 years, providing therapeutic clinical services for tamariki, rangatahi, and pakeke with concerning or harmful sexual behaviour (HSB). Joy has participated in numerous expert design groups across the family and sexual violence sectors. She is a fellow of the Global Leadership School of Indigenous Women, where she developed and presented a Sexual Violence Advocacy Plan for Aotearoa on behalf of the Māori Women’s Welfare League, Te Atatū Branch. Joy has trained NZ Police with their Advanced Sexual Assault team for several years. Joy is the lead paetakawaenga for the development of the Kaupapa Māori Good Practice Guidelines (KMGPG).

Huhana Mason

Secretary

A founding member of Whakatāne Women’s Refuge, Huhana has worked in the field of mahi tūkino for over 30 years, both as a kaupapa Māori counsellor and lecturer at Manukau Institute of Technology. Alongside Hera and Te Ōwai, Huhana is a cultural advisor for NKM and continues to offer counsel and support to whānau members to heal their lived experiences of sexual harm and who then go on to intervene and prevent sexual harm in their own whānau.

Angelo Libeau

Treasurer 

Angelo Libeau is a queer trans-masculine nonbinary person of Filipino (Bisaya), Māori (Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Rangitihi, Whakatōhea) and Pākehā descent. With experience in sexual violence prevention, crisis support and community engagement, Angelo has a strong focus on developing digital capability, accessibility, and intersectional practice across all aspects of efforts addressing experiences of violence. Angelo is the Advocate for LGBTQI+ People Portfolio holder on the Tauiwi Caucus of TOAH-NNEST’s Paetakawaenga. Within the capacity of this role, Angelo collaborates with a range of rainbow organisations and peers through the Rainbow Violence Prevention Network – a collaborative rainbow & takatāpui community network established to work across communities and sectors advocating for sustainable change as well as a twin-track approach to preventing, responding to and healing from sexual violence.
Angelo is based in Tāmaki Makaurau working as Community Liaison and Rainbow Lead for HELP Auckland, also supporting the agency through technological developments and digital strategy. Outside of HELP and TOAH-NNEST, Angelo is an Executive Committee member of PATHA (Professional Association for Transgender Health Aotearoa), a member of the Ethnic Rainbow Alliance and supports the ARC (Anti-Violence Resource Centre) Project – a community-led project specific to violence intervention initiatives focused on trans, non-binary, takatāpui and intersex populations alongside Gender Minorities Aotearoa and Intersex Trust Aotearoa.

Russell Smith

Co-Founder and Co-Director of Korowai Tumanako, Russell has co-led a clinical team for over 18 years. Korowai Tumanako is based in Tāmaki Makaurau and their work extends into Te Tai Tokerau. During the 52nd parliament, Russell sat on Te Rōpū Māori advisory group for the Government’s Joint Venture, which is a new interagency approach across ten key agencies within Government. Russell is part of the NZ Rugby Union Respect & Responsibility Advisory Board. Russell is one of the advanced sexual assault (ASA) trainers to the New Zealand Police senior officers and has been involved in numerous projects over many years related to research, education, training, and supervision within the sexual violence sector. Russell has fostered 34  children over a period of 13 years. Despite being a strong advocate for the prevention of sexual violence, his most important role is being a father to 3 children and grandfather to 9 grandchildren.

Hera Pierce

Hera Pierce is a mother of 8 children, 18 mokopuna and 2 great grand moko. Hera is also a founding member of TOAH-NNEST and has over 40 years’ experience  in Kaupapa Māori mahi tūkino. In our NKM Pae, Hera serves as a cultural advisor and represents NKM TOAH-NNEST in a range of working groups across the sector and Government. From 2007-2009, Hera participated in the Taskforce for Action on Sexual Violence. At NKM wānanga, Hera plays a vital role in engaging with whānau. Hera is a member of the Te Pūkotahitanga.

Stella Gukibau

Tū Wāhine Trust is a Kaupapa Māori organisation that has been in existence since 1987 as a member group of the National Māori women’s organisation Te Kākano o te Whānau Inc. In 1995, after Te Kākano o te Whānau Inc went into recess, Tū Wāhine became a standalone trust under the Charitable Trusts Act. Stella has been with Tū Wāhine for the past 30 years in various roles and is presently the Tumuaki. She is passionate about developing opportunities that empower wāhine Māori and their whānau to live free from violence and abuse.

Dr Jade Le Grice

Jade Sophia Le Grice is from Northern tribes Te Rarawa and Ngāpuhi. She works as a Senior Lecturer at the University of Auckland. Her research explores the sociocultural contexts of Indigenous lives informed by colonial pressures, and the vibrancy of Indigenous ways of knowing and being. Current research projects explore sexual violence prevention, youth wellbeing, reproduction, and sexual health. Jade is inspired by Māori people working collectively and innovatively in community contexts, and their aspirations for future generations. Her work informs academic publications, psychology curriculum, and health policy.

Echo Shortland Tucker

Echo has been a counsellor/therapist, mentor/supervisor and training facilitator and has worked with whānau Māori since 1989. She sits on the National Tri-Partite committee on behalf of Te Ōhaakii ā Hine National Network Ending Sexual Violence Together (TOAH-NNEST).

Te Ōwai Josephine Gemmell

An outspoken and fierce advocate for tangata whenua, Te Ōwai is one of the directors of Kite Rapu i Te Ora (KRITO) Trust operating in the Bay of Plenty, Ōpōtiki and servicing whānau affected by ngā mahi tūkino. Her Vision is the Elimination of ALL forms of violence. Te Ōwai has been actively involved in her community for the past four decades, promoting and enhancing the social advancement of whānau, hapū, iwi and the community through a Kaupapa Māori cultural lens. Kite Rapu I Te Ora Trust Vision – Search for Wellbeing, was initiated in 1990 by Irimana Gemmell and constituted in 1993. Prior to becoming a Director of the Trust, Te Ōwai initiated Te Roopu ō Hinengaro Aroha (TROHA) in 1983 a support group for wahine affected by mahi tūkino, hence becoming one of the 29 affiliated groups of Te Kākanō ō te Whānau Incorporation, a National organisation that actively promoted the elimination of rape, incest, sexual abuse and related violence.
In 1996 this kaupapa became one of the social arms of KRITO Trust.