Mahi Maioro
Professionals
Our People
Dr. Kēpa Morgan
BE, MBA, PhD, DistFEngNZ
Kēpa and his whanau are flourishing on traditional lands, Haumingi 10a2b Papakāinga, on the southern shores of Te Roto I kite ai e Ihenga I ariki ai a Kahumatamomoe. He belongs to Ngāti Pikiao, Ngāti Tarawhai, Te Arawa, Ngāti Kahungunu, Kai Tahu, Kāti Mamoe and Waitaha iwi.
Kēpa created the Mauri Model Decision Making Framework and mauri-0-meter in 2004 while researching Rotorua Lakes water quality for his Doctoral Studies at the University of Auckland.
His current research focuses on ecosystem impact assessment and empowering Iwi in relationships with regional and local government. This includes culturally sustainable roading, water supply, wastewater/stormwater infrastructure, Te Mauri o te Wai, development of frameworks to communicate land use change including geothermal development, rail corridor impacts, mauri monitoring, climate change impacts, assessments for sustainable dairy and forestry, marine spatial planning, and creating new maramataka-based understandings of mauri.
Dr. Oliver McMillan
BE (Hons, 1st), PhD
Olly (Ngāti Porou) is an environmental engineer with expertise in contaminated land investigation and remediation, and the use of Indigenous decision-making tools. He completed a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) at the University of Auckland, where his research involved impacts of Rotoiti water level management on Mauri. He then completed a PhD at the University of Cambridge, which focused on developing biochar as a tool for remediating contaminated soil in a sustainable way. Olly has experience with cultural-based monitoring of land and water in Aotearoa New Zealand and Canada.
Dr. Robyn Manuel
BSc, MSc (Hons, 1st), PhD
PGDipPH, DipTe Reo Māori, GradDipTeaching
Robyn (Te Rarawa, Ngāti Kahu, Ngāti Kurī) is a Chemist, Environmental Scientist and Public Health Professional by training. She has had a varied career mainly spent using her science training to support Māori and Pacific students to succeed in STEM tertiary education. This began in 1991 when she established Tuakana Tutorials in the Department of Chemistry at The University of Auckland. Beyond Chemistry, her passion is improving the health and wellbeing of all, especially vulnerable communities. Those communities are predominantly Māori and Pacific whose health and wellbeing is directly impacted by our taiao.
Ko au te awa, ko te awa ko au.
Robyn utilises her knowledge of health and Aotearoa NZ's health system as the Chair of Pharmac's Consumer Advisory Committee. She also represents Consumers on Pharmac's Pharmacology and Therapeutic Advisory Committee.
Dr. Te-Rina King-Hudson
BSc (Hons, 1st), PhD
Te-Rina (Ngāti Pikiao, Te Whakatōhea; they/them/ia) is a Biochemist with diverse experience and broad passions for Hauora o te taiao me te tangata. They initiated and co-authored a toxicological risk assessment on tuna (eel) in response to a 'forever chemical' spill during their undergraduate degree and completed their Bachelor of Science (with Honours) at the University of Canterbury looking at bacterial proteins. They have recently completed their PhD at the University of Canterbury and University of Otago (Christchurch) on oxidative stress in human ageing, and work part-time as Kaitohutohu ahurea (cultural research advisor) and teach at the University of Otago (Christchurch) in relation to Māori Health Advancement and Māori data sovereignty.
Te Ara Pounamu Pukeroa
BMus, BMus (Hons, 1st), PhD enrolled
Te Ara Pounamu (Ngāti Pikiao, Te Rarawa, Ngāti Tarawhai, Ngāti Kahu, Kai Tahu and Ngāti Kurī) works across our projects. He brings Te Reo Māori, music composition and videography expertise along with a rangatahi lens to all that we do. He can be heard narrating our educational videos.
Te Ara Pounamu is the recent winner (2023) of the Sir Edmund Hillary Arts Medal which is awarded to the top Sir Edmund Hillary scholar in the Arts at the University of Waikato. Te Ara Pounamu has completed his study at the University of Waikato in the Bachelor of Music Honours programme. His majors are Music composition and Te Reo Māori. Recently, Te Ara Pounamu has enrolled in the PhD Engineering programme at the University of Auckland.
Maumahara a Kētia Pukeroa
BA/LLB enrolled
2025 Mahi Maioro Professionals' Scholar
Maumahara a Kētia (Ngāti Pikiao, Te Rarawa, Ngāti Tarawhai, Ngāti Kahu, Kai Tahu and Ngāti Kurī) also works across our projects. She brings te reo Māori, photography, videography and artistic expertise along with a rangatahi lens to all that we do. She can also be heard narrating our educational videos.
Maumahara a Kētia is a Top Achiever Scholar at the University of Auckland where she is studying towards Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws Conjoint degrees.
John Rapana
BSc, Grad.Dip. RM
John is a product of his Te Arawa whakapapa, raised within the Te Arawa rohenga with a firm sense of belonging, and installed with strong principles and values. Paternally affiliated to Te Tua o Hekemaru me Ngā Tokotoru o Manawakotokotoko, and Maternally Te Whare Apa o Te Whanapipi. Currently John is a tauwira o te whare wānanga a Maninihau, and accompanies this matauranga with a BSc in Earth Science, minoring in Environmental Planning, and a Graduate Diploma in Resource Management.
Prior to joining Mahi Maioro Professionals, John led paradigm shift concepts in ecology that implemented Maramataka cycling within ecology and pest control in the role of Environmental Manager for Waitaha a Hei, Ngāti Mākino. Over the last 6 years John has brought considerable value to his mahi through building key relationships among Crown entities, mandated Iwi Authorities, Regional and Territorial councils, marae and hapū, and with Waitaha descendants prioritising exceptional environmental outcomes and advocating meaningful and enduring Treaty relationships.
Rangimiria Ihakara
LLB
Te aroaro ka huri ki te tonga,
Whakaraka atu ki te taha tokerau o te moana,
E pīataata mai ana ko Te Rotoitikitea Ihenga,
Ka huri ki te Hikuwai,
Ko Matawhāura te pōwhatu kōrero a Pikiao e.
He mokopuna ahau nā Manahi rāua ko Rangipo Ihakara.
He tamaiti au nā Muriwai rāua ko Venus Ihakara.
Ko Rangimiria Ihakara tōku ingoa.
He hiahia nāku te whai i te ara manaaki ō te iwi Māori.
Te whakatinana i te kōrero, mahia te mahi hai paingā mō te iwi. Perā ki ōku Tūpuna, me ōku Mātua.
Kāore i tua atu i te whai hua, i runga anō i te aroha, ki ngā tangata.
Kia ū, me ū.
