"Mā te huruhuru ka rere te manu"

Throughout her interim leadership, Toni guided the organisation through a period of growth and sector change, including the rollout of the Needle Exchange Programme across the South Island through Te Waipounamu Collective. This transition, previously overseen by DISC Trust, required careful relationship-building and a strong commitment to meeting the community where they were at. Under Toni’s guidance, continuity was maintained and trust was upheld through the employment of peer workforce, the establishment of a new exchange in Wainoni, and continued access to sterile injecting equipment and advice for those who rely on the service.

Early uncertainty shifted quickly as consumers responded positively to the new space, noting its warmth, its light, and its welcoming environment. Toni’s leadership made space for lived experience to remain central, and affirmed that harm reduction must always protect dignity and accessibility.

Toni has long been part of our whare, contributing across various roles in service delivery, operations, strategy and senior leadership. She brings a deep understanding of what whānau experience on the ground, and she champions people as the heart of meaningful change amongst a myriad of challenging variables.