Kia ora koutou, ko Adam Brown-Rigg tōku ingoa. I’m the General Manager at The Kindness Institute, bringing 16 years of experience in the youth development sector.

I’m passionate about supporting rangatahi leadership and wellbeing programmes that give young people space to discover their strengths, grow their confidence and shape their own futures.

What I enjoy most about working at TKI is helping rangatahi develop practical tools to manage life’s challenges, strengthen their wellbeing and build resilience. Supporting young people to connect with their culture and feel a stronger sense of identity and belonging is a meaningful part of this mahi for me.

Vanessa brings a big heart for rangatahi, whānau and community, alongside many years of experience leading people and kaupapa across health, workforce development and whānau engagement.

Her mahi has taken her from supporting rangatahi to explore pathways into health careers, to leading teams and strengthening consumer and whānau voice across the health system. Through it all, her focus is creating spaces where people feel seen, valued and supported to grow.

Vanessa has a particular love for growing the confidence and capability of others. As Kaimahi Supervisor, she works alongside our kaimahi to help them thrive in their mahi, while building strong relationships with the schools, whānau and communities we are privileged to work with.

For Vanessa, the magic is in connection: listening first, recognising the strengths people already carry, and creating opportunities for rangatahi and those around them to flourish.

Contacts

Vanessa brings many years of experience in people leadership, health, workforce development and whānau and community engagement. She has a real passion for rangatahi and for creating opportunities that help people recognise their strengths, build confidence and see what might be possible for their future.

Vanessa will be working alongside our kaimahi and building relationships with our schools, whānau and community partners, so you’ll be seeing more of her as she settles into the kaupapa.

From an early career as a massage therapist and wellbeing practitioner to over a decade fundraising for not for profit children's health & wellbeing organisations, people have intentionally been at the centre of almost every role Emma has held across her career.

As tangata tiriti and a 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.

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 TKI’s Lead Facilitator and 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!”

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.

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.

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. 

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.

Jennifer is a doctoral candidate at Te Wāhanga Ture o Tāmaki Makaurau | Auckland Law School. Her thesis research focusses on the response to victim-survivors of abuse in State care. Prior to commencing her doctoral studies, Jennifer worked as a practicing lawyer for over twenty-five years in a variety of areas of law including criminal law, youth justice, child protection, children's rights law, public and administrative law, access to justice and acting for iwi and hapū in relation to te Tiriti o Waitangi claims and settlement negotiations. She has also held several governance roles in the not-for-profit and youth sectors including at YouthLaw Aotearoa, the Children’s Rights Alliance Aotearoa New Zealand, Child Poverty Action Group, Community Law Centres o Aotearoa and Community Research (Tangata Whenua, Community and Voluntary Sector Research Centre) Incorporated.

Jennifer has practiced yoga and mindfulness since she was a teenager. She is passionate ensuring that tamariki and rangatahi have the tools that they need for positive mental health and to fulfil their aspirations.

Carey Urlich brings experience in finance, strategy and governance, alongside a commitment to culture and community. With a background spanning financial planning, business intelligence and digital systems, Carey helps organisations make informed decisions and build financial sustainability.

Carey’s governance experience includes roles across education, digital inclusion and community organisations. Carey holds an MBA focused on Māori engagement and values culturally grounded, community-led approaches that honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

As a māmā, Carey is motivated by nurturing strong communities for future generations. Having returned to Tāmaki Makaurau, Carey is keen to contribute to local kaupapa and connects strongly with The Kindness Institute’s focus on strengthening identity, wellbeing and connection for rangatahi.