Tēna tatou katoa.

Ko Destiny Korewha tōku ingoa, he uri ahau nō Ngāpuhi Nui Tonu, he uri hoki nō Ngāti Awa. He Māori ahau, i tipu Māori mai, i raro tonu i ngā mātāpono o Te Aho matua, i ngā tikanga o runga marae.

Destiny is the Lead Tuakana and Facilitator who is fluent in Te Reo Māori

Destiny joined the Atawhai program in 2018 and has continued to stick through from Rangatahi, graduating to Tuakana, and now as a Kaimahi and Facilitator. She has a strong passion to help Rangatahi and her communities. Destiny thrives off seeing the positive growth this program's tools have provided.

“Tamaiti akona ki te Kura Kaupapa Māori tū ana ki te ao, Tau ana!”

Christine is one of our Senior Facilitators. She 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 one of the facilitators 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.

He uri tēnei nō Ngāti Awa, Ko Samantha tōku ingoa.

Walking alongside young people and their whānau on the journey to living healthy, connected and meaningful lives is at the heart of why I love this organisation.

From facilitator to mentor and now kaimahi over a period of 5 years each role has deepened an understanding that Mauri Tau is for everyone and meeting it through the tools we offer is an invitation to be more present in all parts of life authentically.

Tēnā tātou katoa, Ko Te Aorangi-Kowhai tōku ingoa. He uri tēnei nō ngā whāruarua o Piarere, nō Waikato, Tainui, ka mutu, nō Ngāpuhi nui tonu anō hoki. Kua waimaria ahau ki taku reo Māori me ōku tikanga Māori. Nā Te Kura Kaupapa Māori anō a au i poipoi, ki raro i ngā mātāpono o Te Aho Matua.

During my time in Atawhai I've had the oppurtunity to learn so many life skills along the way, as well as meeting amazing people!

I think its vital to be the bridge between rangatahi, whānau and mentors and to meet in the middle of the two. As well as sharing everything I've learnt over my years on Atawhai and at TKI.

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 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.

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.

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.