The IWC Committee

Committee Member

Hurimoana is currently the Chairperson of Te Puea Memorial Marae Board of Trustees and Kaitiaki Matua of the Te Puea Memorial Marae Indigenous Homeless Service Delivery Model: Manaaki Tangatane Rua (MTeR). In, 2016 the Marae opened its doors to help support and house homeless whanau. Whanau who had no home or place to live and were forced to live in their vehicles, makeshift carports or in extreme overcrowded situations. The Marae’s actions and homeless program highlighted gaps and inefficiencies in the way agencies viewed and responded to what was a homeless crisis. To date 164 whanau (561 heads) Maori, Pacific, Ethnic and Pakeha homeless whanau have come to the marae and been placed into new whare / communities / employment / schools across the wider Tamaki Isthmus, Te Taitokerau and Tainui and while being homeless was the obvious issue, enduring mental health issues and challenges was an ongoing ‘mamae’ and in many cases un-supported and or un-diagnosed. Today, the Marae continues to advocate on behalf of homeless whanau and the need to develop and implement a better way of responding to the needs of homeless whanau and homelessness. Hurimoana also designed, developed and implemented a range of Responsive to Maori (RTM) programs and initiatives to reduce Maori Offending and Victimization and to Build New Zealand Police (NZP) capability and capacity to respond to the needs of Maori. After a 32yr career Hurimoana recently retired from the NZP attaining the rank of Inspector as the National Maori Strategic Advisor for the NZP.

Both work backgrounds and experiences has provided a wealth of knowledge and opportunities to learn more about how to respectfully blend the ‘law and lore’ to service the needs of whaanau Maori and the wider community.