Chair

Helmut’s tribal affiliations include Ngāti Toa Rangatira, and he is an experienced director, executive and consultant with specialist skills in implementation change management. Prior to becoming the Chief Executive Officer for Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira in early 2021, Helmut spent 14 years as the chief executive of various commercial enterprises experiencing growth, turnaround, merger, or other strategic change. Helmut is passionate about the health, social and economic development of Māori.

Ora Toa PHO Representative

Ko Ranei Wineera-Parai tōku ingoa, No Ngāti Toa ahau. I was born in Porirua, went away for school and returned to live, work, and raise my tamariki in Porirua.  I have a Bachelor of Laws Degree and a master’s degree of Public Management (LLB, MPM). I have worked in health care for over 20 years and enjoyed much of this time supporting whānau to keep well in Porirua. I have extensive health service design and implementation of services for Māori.  The direction of Te Wāhi Tiaki Tātou, Porirua Localities Prototype provides an opportunity for Porirua to influence our own health direction and to address the barriers to get the right health care in the right way for us.  When I think about this mahi I am passionate about making sure our health services are relevant and useful for us and our whānau within Porirua.

Tū Ora Compass Health Representative

Barbara has lived and worked in Porirua for most of her life. She started her nursing career working in Kenepuru Hospital, then moved to Primary Care working across several practices. She has worked in Outreach, Schools, and After-hours nursing all in the Porirua region. She moved into management and leadership roles while working in Tumai mo te Iwi PHO and progressed into more senior roles in Tu Ora Compass Health. Barbara is currently in the role of Acting Pacific Director alongside her substantive role of Clinical Services Manager. She has been responsible for looking after the Pacific Navigation Service, School Nursing Service, Immunisations, Rheumatic Fever, and Long-term conditions team. She is interested in developing and promoting services for Pacific communities that are responsive, equitable and reflect the needs of our community.

Ora Toa PHO Representative

My name is Michael Rongo, and I am of Kuki Airani and Pakeha descent. I was born and raised in Dunedin and although we had a wonderful upbringing, it was not without the experiences that many of our whānau still have today. At a young age I developed a passion for addressing health and social disparities. Prior to my employment with Ora Toa PHO, I had an extensive 18-year career working within Ara Poutama Aotearoa (Department of Corrections) I am currently the Director of Health Services for the Ora Toa. Due to my upbringing, as well as the many things I have experienced, witnessed, and have come to understand in my time in Corrections and Health, my interest and passion for being part of the Porirua Localities Prototype is to be part of a team that is striving to create access and equitable solutions for our community.

Pacific Representative

My name is Maria Uluilelata and I am the daughter of the Late Tauiliili Uluilelata and Taga’ileono Sera Uluilelata who live in Takapūwāhia. I am a mum, daughter and sister of Porirua, Samoa and come from the villages of Luatuanu’u, Iva, Afega and Nofoali’i. My chief title ‘Magele’ comes from my mother’s village of Iva in Samoa. I have grown up in Porirua and my professional and personal life has been committed to ensuring that the Pacific Peoples voice is at the table.

Pacific Representative

Born and raised in Tonga. Edna had primary and secondary education in Tonga before she was awarded a scholarship to study nursing in New Zealand. Edna is a Registered Nurse and spent most of her career as an academic, as a senior lecturer she taught in undergraduate nursing or 16 years before she moved on to teach Social Policy at Victoria University in the last 2 years. Edna is actively contributing to building Pacific health workforce and is heavily involved with community initiatives. Her special interest is on building systems and policies that are safe and responsive to the wellbeing needs of Pacific people.

Tāngata Whaikaha (Disability) Representative

My name is Francis but I am known as Fran. I grew up on the South Island of Aotearoa and recently moved to Porirua, Cannons Creek where I live with my partner who is a Viard graduate and a Porirua boy through and through. We have two children together, two boys (22 & 21). Our youngest son has a diagnosis of Autism and has no spoken words. I identify as whanau haua (a family member of a person with a lived experience of disability), Māori/British and a cis gender wahine Māori. I have a background in community-based public health (health promotion and health protection) and helped to establish a small disability service in Dunedin called Aspire Kids Tamariki Matanā. I continue to provide input into the operations and governance of our not-for profit charity (as my youngest son still uses their support services).