I always remember a script writing tutor telling me that a brilliant pitch for a movie was this. “It’s called Twins. One actor is Danny De Vito, the other is Arnold Schwarzenegger.” Badaboom – of course nuts, but draws you in. To sum me up using this format in relation to my whakapapa. “I am the eldest child, of the youngest child of 22 Māori kids.”

I was fortunate to have a father who was very traditional, we regularly ate a Māori diet or fried bread, paua, pipi, muttonbirds and boil up. He worked at Te Māori Exhibition, and at 14, I worked there too as a guide.

After University, I was lucky enough to be offered a job at North & South Magazine and PR job, I choose the latter and embarked on a bit of a rough ride initially with a stint in a Devil’s Wear Prada agency, graduating to two wonderful agencies before launching Village PR 15 years ago.

Whare PR is now a full circle for me, a chance for me to connect up my culture with my mahi.

I was lucky enough to complete a management degree at the University of Waikato and work at the same time. I was hired as Kaitakawaenga Māori and tasked to promote and lead a team to attract Māori students to study at the University of Waikato. Many of the rangatahi we spoke to thought a University education was out of their reach. It was extremely rewarding talking to these rangatahi and supporting them to further their educational journey.

Immediately after finishing my degree, I travelled for a bit before starting my communications journey at Hearst Communications London, writing for their CosmoGirl! magazine.

Upon returning to New Zealand in 2005, I worked for various financial, IT and food corporations in national and international marketing/sales/strategy roles. This has given me a huge appreciation for the bigger picture in business and assists with clearly articulating key communication tasks and strategies.

Recently I have had the absolute pleasure of working with some innovative Māori and Not-for-Profit organisations to support their communication objectives. I gain motivation through adding value and helping these customers reach their business goals. I am extremely excited about Whare PR and being part of this whānau.

I studied a conjoint Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts at The University of Auckland before landing a role as a journalist with global media brand VICE. Since then, I have worked with a number of elite companies including Bauer Media, Māori Television, Sky TV, Red Bull, TVNZ, and NZME. I also spent two years living in Rarotonga, where I established my own full-service marketing agency. Aside from being an account manager with Whare PR, I am also a freelance journalist, writing for publications such as the NZ Herald and The Spinoff. I have always been passionate about Māori issues and helping to improve the circumstances of our people.

AIO ki te aorangi,
Ngā mihi ki nga huhua katoa o te atua,
Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa

I have dedicated much of my life to learning te reo and other aspects of the Māori culture. I have been fortunate to learn from my elders and I credit my late Aunt, Dr. Rose Rangimarie Pere, as being a significant influence in my life.

This journey has enabled me over the last two decades to provide cultural advice to many organisations. I also operate Rangi’s Reo, a community te reo programme where I teach tauira how to speak te reo and to connect back to themselves.

I studied graphic design at the Whanganui School of Design and graduated with Honours (high distinction) in 2004. From there, I gained employment at a prominent creative agency based in Mount Maunganui and transfered to their satellite office in Auckland for a few years. I now enjoy the flexibility of freelancing based in Christchurch and I’m excited to be involved with the Whare PR whānau and what they inspire.

I have a vast range of experience in graphic design – from high-profile corporate collateral, such as annual reports to start-up brand identities – Whare PR included, of course! With my creative skill-sets, I aspire to create visual communications that express the individuality of each client and marketing to their best advantages, to ensure success, both visually and purposefully.

After being abroad for 17 years I returned home with the desire to connect my children to their Ngāi te Rangi, Ngāti Porou and Te Whakatōhea whakapapa. I never imagined this would set the trajectory of my own personal journey and desire to create positive outcomes for my whānau, hapū and iwi. On the final stretch of my Masters in Māori & Indigenous Leadership I am inspired about the future for Māori and Aotearoa alike.

An inclusive, empathetic, and pragmatic approach to mahi has supported over twenty years’ experience in effective people and project management, with companies, trusts and not-for-profit organisations.

With a solution focused, proactive, and resilient attitude, my best asset is undoubtedly my ability to connect with people and grow that connection to achieve positive outcomes from all.

Tenā koutou katoa

Te Ao Māori has always been a big part of my life. I am a graduate of Kohanga Reo and Kura and it was in these environments that my Te reo was nurtured. After completing Year 13 at Mount Maunganui College I was lucky to secure a kaiawhina job at my former school Te Kura o Matapihi (a full immersion kura), during that year I also worked part time with Whare PR learning the ins and outs of agency life. In 2018, I completed my Diploma in Marketing and Communications and continued working with Whare PR and excited to be part of the Whare PR whānau.

Ko Ngāti Ranginui (Ngāti Hangarau), Ngāi Te Rangi (Tauwhao Te Ngare) me Ngāti Whakaue (Ngāti Tunohopu) ōku hononga whakapapa.

I have a love of creating beautiful things out of nothing. I can visualise an end point and execute dreams to reality. I predominately have experience in the educational sector, with a degree in Bachelors of Education. For the past several years I have managed networked communities and understand the need to create captivating content to encourage online engagement through a number of social media channels. I am also an accomplished author with a range of digital design skills most suited to marketing and communications. I have completed level 2 certificate in Te Ara Reo Māori at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa and am continuing reo classes with Rangi Ahipene.