Biographies of the community and voluntary members of the Kia Tutahi Standing Together Steering Group

The community and voluntary sector co-chair is:

Mr Hori Awa, Chief Executive of Waahi Whaanui Trust. He has extensive experience spanning 30 years in iwi and community development. In Waikato-Tainui Tribal Governance he has previously been chairman of his marae committee and an elected member to Te Kauhanganui o Waikato Tribal Parliament and Executive. 

For the last 20 years as Chief Executive of Waahi Whaanui Trust, he has been responsible for the development and implementation of health, social, educational and employment services for Mäori and the wider community. His professional roles include financial management and the provision of iwi and community consultancy services to government agencies and corporations.

Mr Awa was an appointed a member of Trust Waikato, 1999–2007 and Chairperson 2004–2007.He is a member of the Community Sector Taskforce.

The community members are Alison Broad, Lani Evans, Tania Kingi, Owen Lloyd, Kevin Moran, Pancha Narayanan and Wayne Poutoa.

Ms Alison Broad is a member of the National Management Group for Inspiring Communities, a network that supports and promotes community-led initiatives that strengthen communities. She is current trustee of the Community Trust of Southland and current Chair of the Trust’s Education Committee and was Board Chair 2004– 2008. Her involvement in philanthropy has also included roles at the national level and she has been involved in several initiatives that bring together the interests of the community sector and the opportunities of the philanthropy sector.

She has a strong background and particular interest in working with women’s issues and with rural communities. She holds positions on a number of other community sector boards, including as national Chair of the Women's Self Defence Network Wähine Toa.  Ms Broad is a consultant on a wide range of community projects working with community providers and government agencies. 

Ms Lani Evans manages Volunteer Otago, a referral, promotion and advocacy agency supporting 120 non-profit organisations and around 900 individuals a year. She was previously the youth co-ordinator at Volunteer Otago, working alongside schools and community organisations to design and implement an in-school volunteer programme, connecting young people with their communities. Ms Evans is a member of the Generosity Hub, a joint government, community and business initiative to promote generosity, a member of the Regeneration youth network and part of the Vodafone Foundation World of Difference Programme. Lani is also an avid volunteer, having previously worked alongside numerous local and international non-profits, including Youthline Otago, Trade Aid and the Port Chalmers Community Gardens.

Ms Tania Kingi (Ngāti Awa, Ngāi Tai, Te Arawa) has a long history of involvement in the health and disability sector. She currently provides management services to Te Roopu Waiora Trust, a whānau haua governed organisation that provides information, advice and support to whānau with disabilities. On a national front, Tania is a member of several boards including the Charities Commission, the NZ Blood Service, Te Taumata Roopu – Public Health Advisory Group to Ministry of Health, Aotearoa Whanau Carers’ Network, and Chair of Te Piringa - National Steering Group of Māori Disability Support Services.

Tania is also involved in regional forums as A member of POU - Maori governance committee to Counties Manukau District Health Board, Co-Chair of Te Ora o Manukau, an intersectoral collective of Maori signatories to Manukau, the Healthy City Charter, Co-Chair of Arau Ora, a collective of kaupapa Maori health and disability services in Counties Manukau.

Mr Owen Lloyd (Nga Ariki Kaiputahi, Ngāti Porou, Te Aitanga a Māhaki, Rongowhakaata, Whakatōhea) is a member and/or chair of a range of organisations including the New Zealand Council of Social Services, Social Services Industry Training Organisation, Gisborne Council of Social Services and Nga Ariki Kaiputahi Iwi. He is part of the negotiation teams for Turanga Treaty claims negotiations and fulfilling a number of governance roles. He has a background in General Management and Maori Health management, funding and planning for health services including for Tairawhiti District Health Board.

His networks within Tairawhiti are: Chair of the Tairawhiti Truancy service, member of Youth Offending Team, member of the Tairawhiti Police Maori Advisory Board, Member of the Aitanga A Mahaki Tribal trust as well as a trustee on Mangatu Marae, The District Arts in Public Places Trust (Chaired by the Mayor), The District Council Navigation project (chaired by the Mayor) and many years of community involvement with both Maori and non Maori.

Dr Kevin Moran has been a volunteer surf lifesaver for 37 years, for which he has received distinguished service awards. He is a principal lecturer in health and physical education at the University of Auckland. He has experience leading forums regionally, nationally and internationally, particularly in relation to water safety. His research into water safety education and drowning prevention interventions is nationally and internationally recognised. Kevin is currently a member of the NZ Drowning Prevention Council and Chairman of Watersafe Auckland Inc (WAI). He swam internationally for 12 years (including three Commonwealth Games), coached and advised masters swimming groups, surf lifesaving teams and many other sports such as kayaking, rugby, cricket, and badminton on training techniques.

Mr Pancha Narayanan comes from a background of having worked as a volunteer with migrant and refugee communities for nearly 20 years. He has recently completed a six year term as the Chairperson of the New Zealand Federation of Multicultural Councils (NZFMC). He has held many volunteer roles in the community and voluntary sector, including as president of the Ethnic Council of Wellington, assisting migrants and refugees to settle in New Zealand. He is currently a member of the Community Sector Taskforce.

His work with migrant and refugees has contributed to growing stronger inter- communal networks and relationships that create synergies, share local resources and  build lasting relationship with local Iwi  His volunteer work also includes establishing Relationship Agreements and Memoranda of Understanding for NZFMC with a number of Government agencies and Research institutions. He manages a small consulting firm based in Wellington that provides business and service transformation consultancy to private and public sector organisations in both New Zealand and Australia.

Fa’amatuainu Wayne Poutoa is the founder of Streets Ahead 237 in Porirua. He manages and directs a programme that is focused on the reduction of gang recruitment and youth offending. This programme was created at the grassroots level and works alongside families entrenched in gang life, in addition to the youth gangs themselves. He is also heavily involved in community projects such as Strong Pacific Families, Creekfest, and is often called upon to deliver keynote presentations around the country regarding youth issues.

Apart from being a community leader Wayne is also a Samoan chief and is an active church member. He has also been on several boards within the Porirua community and has entered the race to become a Porirua city councillor in this year’s local body elections.