Kia ora, we’re Hapū Wānanga ki Taranaki

Our Philosophy

We strive to offer a safe environment in which all wāhine hapū and whānau feel empowered to reclaim their traditional birthing practices.

It is our aim for all Māori babies to be born into loving whānau, connected to Te Ao Māori knowing who they are and where they come from.

Our crew of wāhine Māori

  • Tawera Trinder

    POUWHAKAHAERE - CEO & MĀORI MIDWIFE

    Ko Taranaki te mounga

    Ko Tokomaru te waka

    Ko Te Atiawa, Ngāti Mutunga, Taranaki, Ngā mutunga, Ngāti Ruanui ngā iwi

    Ko Kaipakopako te whenua me te tūrangawaewae

    Ko Tawera Trinder tōku ingoa

    Tawera is our Pouwhakahaere of Hapū Wānanga ki Taranaki, Tawera has nurtured this kaupapa since it's conception in 2018. She also practices as a Kahu Pōkai/midwife sharing hapūtanga journeys alongside whānau. Outside of mahi, Tawera indulges in adventurous travel with her partner and three tamariki. She is always down for a sneaky peak in the local op shops finding treasures. Lastly, Tawera enhances her wairua through traditional Taranaki poi.

  • Sarah Trinder

    KAIHĀPAI ‘AUNTY’

    Ki te taha o tōku pāpā

    Ko Taranaki te maunga

    Ko Waiongana te awa

    Ko Tokomaru te waka

    Ko Te Ātiawa te iwi

    Ko Puketapu, ko Pukerangiora ngā hapū

    Ko Muru Raupatu, ko Kairau ngā marae

    Ki te taha o tōku māmā

    Ko Pukuhika te maunga

    Ko Whanganui te awa

    Ko Aotea te waka

    Ko Te Āti Haunui a Pāpārangi te iwi

    Ko Ngāti Hau te hapū

    Ko Patiarero te marae

    Ko Upokotauaki te whare

    Ko Sarah Trinder ahau

    Sarah’s background is working in the kāuta at her marae. Her heart is being with her whānau, hapū and iwi. Sarah loves working with whānau and tamariki. Where there’s a kaupapa she is there.

  • Aroha Healion

    KAIWHAKAHAERE KAUPAPA - PROGRAMMES MANAGER

    Tū ake au ki raro i te korowai o te maunga titohea

    He mokopuna au nō Taranaki

    Ko Ngāti Mutunga, Te Ātiawa, ko Taranaki, ko Ngāruahine ngā iwi

    Ko Aroha tōku ingoa

    Aroha is our Kaiwhakahaere Kaupapa - Programmes Manager. who leads our whānau engagement kaupapa and initiatives. Aroha is is passionate about supporting māmā as they transition into motherhood and helping whānau revitalise the art of community postpartum care. Aroha embodies her name, her love language is cooking food for others and is always there to offer a hot cuppa and a listening ear.

  • Rose Martin

    KAIĀWHINA - FACILITATOR & MĀORI MIDWIFE

    Ko Tainui, ko Ngāpuhi ōku iwi

    Ko Ngāti Mahuta, ko Te Uri o Hua ōku hapū

    Ko Pukapuka, ko Mangaia ōku whenua ki te motu o Cook Islands.

    Rose is one of our Kaiawhina as well as working for Hauora Maori Health directorate in Te Whatu Ora, within the Kahu Taurima team (Maternity and first 2000 days of pepi) as a Senior Advisor. Rose is passionate about ensuring wāhine are supported and empowered, so they can navigate their new journey into motherhood. When she isn't at mahi, she is busy doing DIYs around the house (which her husband is stoked about!) and making sour dough

  • Lesley-May Paora

    KAIHĀPAI KAUPAPA

    Ko Pihanga te wahine, ai ua ai hau!

    Ko Tongariro te maunga

    Ko Taupō te moana

    Ko Tūwharetoa te iwi

    He uri hoki o Ngāti Rehia

    Ko Maymay ahau

    Maymay’s passion for our kaupapa began when she attended one of our wānanga hapūtanga. She loves working with a group of diverse yet like-minded mana wahine. Her role is varied and includes in-person and behind the scenes support with a lot of our kaupapa.

    She loves being a māmā to her 3 beautiful tamariki, who keep her very busy, a partner, as well as a fur-māmā to her kurī

  • Nicole Hoebergen

    KAITAUTOKO

    Ko Taranaki te maunga

    Ko Waiongana te awa

    Ko Tokomaru te waka

    Ko Te Atiawa Nui Tonu te iwi

    Ko Nicole tōku ingoa

    Nicole enjoys supporting our kaupapa in the background with the occasional in-person experiences with our hapū whānau.

    Nicole is raising her 3 tamariki in rural Taranaki.

    Ko ngā tamariki ngā tino taonga o tēnei ao - Children are the true gifts of this world

  • Candace Toopi

    KAUPAPA KAIHĀPAI

    He mokopuna au nō Taranaki 

    Ko Ngāruahine, ko Te Whānau ā Apanui ōku iwi

    Ko Candace ahau

    Candace is our Kaupapa Kaihāpai, who works in the background of Hapū Wānanga, fine tuning policies, gathering data, identifying funding opportunities and supporting the Trust. You may see her pop up at wā or our events as she loves a good chat and a laugh. She loves making memories with her two tama and husband, cooking delicious kai and spending time with friends and whānau. Candace is currently studying Kai Oranga at Parihaka and is enjoying being in the māra! Mauri ora!

The free, 2-day wānanga prepares whānau for labour, birthing and parenting, delivering antenatal education grounded in tikanga and mātauranga Māori, including Māori birthing practices.

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