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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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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
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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
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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!

