Ko Tainui te tupuna waka
Ko Tainui te iwi
Ko Ngati Hikairo te hapu
Ko Kawhia te moana
Ko Pirongia te maunga
Ko Waipapa te marae

Andy worked alongside The Kindness Institute for a number of years, helping with fundraising campaigns and marketing materials, before stepping into the Directors role. His background is in advertising, PR and production. He’s set on helping grow the presence and product of TKI to deliver our life-changing kaupapa to as many people as possible. It’s already been the most rewarding career move of his life and he’s thrilled to be involved with TKI.

Dominic is the project coordinator at The Kindness Institute. He's been a youth worker since 2013 and helped set up TKI. Dominic is a poet, author, and musician. He has released five critically acclaimed studio albums, two books of poetry, four short films, a one man show and a best-selling novel. In a former life, he was an MC battle- and slam-poetry champion. He’s performed his spoken-word poetry in Australia, Europe, England, Japan, and America. Meditation and yoga are important in Dominic’s life and he is passionate about sharing these tools to support positive mental health.

He uri tēnei o Ngāti Awa, he herenga anō ki Iuropi.

Samantha is a teacher who specialises in offering simple mindfulness tools through a Te āo māori lens. She is passionate about sharing these tools to support wellbeing whilst encouraging a deeper connection to culture, land and people.

Her role within TKI enables her to guide rangatahi to recognise the potential they already have and using it to impact positive change in their lives

Christine experienced the Atawhai programme in 2016 and feels incredibly lucky to still be involved. After graduating, she felt inspired, confident and genuinely happy. Having gained an interest in Mindfulness, Yoga and Te Ao Māori, she knows how beneficial these tools are as well as having a space like this for others. Christine's intention is to continue to learn, share and teach these practices with the Atawhai whānau and community.

Tēnā tātou, ko Wāti Hohua-Kora tōku ingoa. He Tūhoe, he Kuki Airani, he Aitutaki anō hoki.

Wāti is our co facilitator who is fluent in Te Reo Māori and was brought up strongly in the guiding principles of Te Aho Matua. Wāti went through the programme as a Rangatahi herself then fell in love with the tools so much she wanted to guide other Rangatahi Māori in this space. Wāti enjoys sharing these powerful tools with her communities, Rangatahi Māori and Pacifika.

Kia puawai tōna waiora me tōna hauora i roto i te hono tāngaengae o tōna wairua me tōna tinana.

Ko Moehau te maunga
Ko Waihou te awa
Ko Ngāti Tamaterā te iwi
Ko Ngāti Kiriwera te hapu
Ko Brady tōku ingoa

Brady spent nearly two years volunteering for The Kindness Institute, working on fundraisers, marketing and driving rangatahi. After 10 years in advertising in Aotearoa and the UK, he felt compelled to come onboard to continue supporting our mahi in a more official capacity. He’s passionate about mindfulness, meditation and self-inquiry and feels blessed to be part of such an incredible organisation with such amazing people.

From an early career as a massage and wellbeing practitioner, to over a decade fundraising for not for profit children's health & wellbeing organisations and then in the arts, people have intentionally been at the centre of almost every role Emma has held across her career. A tauiwi māmā of two, with a commitment to te ao Māori and a passion for connecting people and causes, Emma was instantly drawn to the kaupapa of The Kindness Institute. She is excited to see her passions converge in this role, and to grow sustainable funding pathways to support TKI's mahi.

Ko Tainui te Waka
Ko Whitireia me Rangituhi ngā maunga
Ko kenepuru te awa
Ko Raukawa te moana
Ko Ngati Toa Rangatira te Iwi
Ko Takapuwahia te MaraeKo Hunia Mackay tōku ingoa

Hunia has been a member of the TKI board since 2020. Hunia has worked in the field of education for most of his career supporting young people and their whānau to realise their dreams and aspirations in education. Hunia now works for a not for profit organisation supporting Tamariki and rangatahi in State care. Hunia brings to TKI a foundation of skills based on Te Ao Māori. He is a fluent speaker of Te reo Māori and a holder of knowledge which is deeply rooted in his tribal identity.

Kristina is the founder of TKI. She is a mindfulness educator and youth work specialist and is currently studying te reo Maori at Takiura. Her background is in education, leadership, not for profit management, public speaking and fundraising. Kristina became a member of the New Zealand order of merit for her services to youth and community.

For more about Kristina, click here.

Nikki has been involved with The Kindness Institute since its inception and acted as its legal advisor before being appointed in the Board in 2022. Nikki has worked as a commercial/corporate lawyer for 23 years and is now also on the board of several kaupapa Māori based social enterprises. She is also a mother, author, yoga teacher and a long time yoga and meditation practitioner. Nikki feels grateful to be able to combine her professional skills and experience with her love of yoga for the benefit of our rangatahi.

Ko Mōkau ki runga
Ko Tāmaki ki raro
Ko Mangatoatoa ki waenganui
Pare Hauraki, Pare Waikato
Te kaokaoroa-o-Pātetere ki te nehenehenui
Tau ana!

Te Aorangi has been a member of TKI for 5 years now. She started as a Rangatahi on the Atawhai programme and eventually graduated when the Tuakana programme was created. She is now a mentor on the Atawhai programme and the youth advisor for our board. She currently studies Psychology at UoW and hopes to use this degree to help Rangatahi Māori around Aotearoa. She grew up with te reo Māori and tikanga Māori as her foundation and she implements these values into everything she does today. Tamaiti akona ki te kura kaupapa Māori, tū ana ki te ao, tau ana.

Dominic Hoey was a founding member of TKI and helped to start the organisation. He is a youth worker with over a decade of experience.He is also the PR and comms advisor for the board.

In his other life Dominic is a poet, author and small dog owner. He’s released two best selling novels and written a million love poems. Through his Learn To Write Good writing course, Dominic has taught thousands of students how to think dyslexic.