PĀNUI
NEWS
Changes in the He Waka Tapu Board
(He Waka tapu Board Of Directors)
03 / 06 / 2025
As part of our ongoing commitment to strengthening our organisation and its leadership, we wish to inform our community about recent changes within the He Waka Tapu Board.
Toni Tinirau has stepped into the role of Acting CEO, succeeding Jackie Burrows, who has been a dedicated leader for 14 years. Jackie has made the heartfelt decision to explore new opportunities back on the Chatham Islands, her place of origin. We thank Jackie for her unwavering commitment and leadership over the years and wish her all the best on her future journey.
Additionally, Taane Keepa, our Kaiarahi in the Cultural Capabilities team, continues his vital work in ensuring our kaimahi are equipped with strong skills in tikanga, te reo Māori, and the application of our core values. His leadership supports our organisation’s commitment to culturally grounded practice and whanau-centred care.
We also acknowledge Dr. Zohnia K. McNeill, who has recently stepped down from the board to focus more on her dentistry practice. Her contributions have been greatly valued, and we wish her success in her professional endeavors.
These changes exemplify our organisation’s dynamic nature and our ongoing dedication to serving our community with leadership grounded in our kaupapa Māori principles.
At the heart of our kaupapa Māori organisation lies a strong commitment to improving the health and well-being of our community in Christchurch. Founded by Daryl Gregory in 1995, He Waka Tapu embodies the essence of “Te Waka o te Oranga: He Haerenga e Hoe Ana ki te Hauora me te Whānau,” which translates to “The Canoe of Well-being: A Journey Paddling Towards Health and Family.” This vision illustrates our focus on holistic support for whānau and individuals, aiming to foster healing and resilience within a culturally grounded environment.
Our diverse and dedicated board members bring a wealth of experience from various fields, including mental health, community service, dentistry, and health policy. United by our shared values of Rangatiratanga (leadership), Whānaungatanga (relationship-building), and Manaakitanga (care and respect), we work collaboratively to design and implement innovative services that address pressing issues like mental health, addiction, and family violence.
