Academic Board

Dr Maria Baker (PhD)

Ngāpuhi, Te Rarawa

Maria is the CEO for Te Hiku Hauora that serves Muriwhenua, she was previously the CEO for Te Rau Ora (2017-2023).   Maria trained as a registered nurse and draws on over 20-years in Hauora Māori with a special interest in  mental health (adult), added to by her doctorate research in Māori experience of mental illness and mental health services. Maria has invested her professional energies in Māori  health workforce development and innovation to bring about change in the wellbeing system.  She has held leadership roles in rural and urban settings. Maria has  experience in tertiary and vocational education development and provision. She has been involved at grassroots community levels with programme co-design, development, implementation, research and evaluation.

Tuari Potiki

Ngāi Tahu, Kāti Mamoe, Waitaha

Tuari affiliates to and is a member of six of the seven papatipu rūnaka in the Otago/Southland region; Ōtākou, Puketeraki, Awarua, Waihopai, Hokonui and Oraka/Aparima.

Tuari has been extensively involved in the Māori health, mental health, education and justice sectors for more than 25 years. He has worked in a number of different roles as a Māori alcohol and drug clinician and tutor before moving into management roles in both the public and non-government sectors.

From 1994 to 1997 Tuari managed the Taha Māori programme at Queen Mary Hospital, Hanmer Springs before moving to the Community AOD Service in Christchurch where he helped establish a Whānau Clinic for Māori clients and a Māori Methadone programme.

Tuari also has extensive governance experience and was recently appointed to the Whānau Ora Independent Reference Group. He has also served terms on the boards of the Southern District Health Board, Canterbury District Health Board, the Canterbury Community Trust and Ngāi Tahu’s Health and Social Service agency He Oranga Pounamu. He was also the Senior Māori Advisor to the National Addiction Centre which sits within the University of Otago. Tuari is currently the Director of Māori Development, at Otago University. Before that, he was based in Wellington as General Manager of Strategic Operations for the Alcohol Advisory Council of New Zealand (ALAC).

Te Puea Winiata

Ngāti Ranginui, Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāi Tamarāwaho, Tūhoe, Tainui

Ko Takitimu te waka
Ko Mauao te Maunga
Ko Ngati Ranginui, Ngaiterangi oku iwi
Ko Ngai Tamarawaho te hapu
No Taurangamoana ahau
Ko Te Puea Winiata ahau

I have been with Te Rau Ora for 20 years. I have a passion for supporting the development of a strong Māori Health workforce across the health sector and many of the disciplines where we need more Māori practitioners. Many of those who have accessed courses and scholarships work across many sectors where they are supporting better outcomes for whānau.

While the decisions the Board makes have a strategic focus we are also able to see some short term gains with the high-quality leadership we have on staff who are able to respond to sector needs and develop programmes. It has also been gratifying to see that the move from a sole focus on Māori Mental Health and Addiction workforce to an expanded Māori Health workforce development focus has meant greater reach into areas where Māori practitioners need support and skills to enhance whānau wellbeing. I value the innovation space we as a Board can contribute to that will continue the legacy of the moemoea from Sir Mason Durie.

The next 20 years will not only see an expansion of the Māori workforce but also the range of skills they will need to work flexibly to meet whānau health needs across communities while also honing in on specialist skills. I would also see further growth of wairua practitioners and to increase access for whānau training in this area to help themselves and their own whānau. Mental health and addiction practitioners and those with lived experience need to become a more significant workforce in primary health care. The provision of more “learning while you work” options will be important in the short term as a way to staircase whānau into higher-level tertiary qualifications in the medium term. Te Rau Ora has the capability to achieve both short and medium-term objectives to achieve the longer-term aspiration over the next 20 years of whānau having the skills to be in charge of their own health and wellbeing, and easy access to a skilled Māori workforce behind whatever door they open.