Tūtaki ma i a Nicole Arthur, General Manager of Māhutonga

Ngā mihi nui ki a koutou katoa,

We’re all products of our upbringing and I had the good fortune to be born into loving whānau on both sides of my Pākehā and Ngāti Toa whānau. I didn’t then, and still don’t, take that for granted but what I have come to appreciate is the potential that lies within whānau, hapū, hapori and iwi, as agents for change – as determined by them.  

Having worked and travelled through a large part of my twenties, I went back to university later that decade with the idea of being the next Merata Mita, but hei aha, that moemoeā was not to be. Alternatively, I went into public policy and strategy and have now worked in that area for the last 24 years in Aotearoa and overseas.

Apart from an early stint working on changes to the taxation of Māori Authorities (which was actually more interesting than it sounds), most of my working life has been spent in policy, strategy, project management and investment planning in land, property and housing related areas. For the last four years I’ve had the opportunity to work for Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira in the Ōhanga rōpū on various property and housing projects, as well as supporting our marae and kaumātua. It’s been a complete privilege to work in an iwi organisation, to connect with whānau and appreciate the breadth of mahi going on across a range of social, cultural, environmental and economic areas. 

I’m excited to be working in Māhutonga with the team, sitting alongside the 46 Providers and 174 Navigators to champion the mahi going on in communities, as you support whānau and demonstrate the efficacy of the Whānau Ora model. I am really looking forward to connecting with the thirteen new Providers as we head out on our haerenga in July and with the wider Provider whānau in August at the Wharewaka in Te Whanganui-a-Tara.

Kia ora.

Rauawatia tō waka. Ka oti, ka waiho. Kia tāu ana!
When the war canoe is fully prepared, the strategy is set.