Meet our new staff member Tāwhaki Simons

Tēnā koutou katoa, Ko Tāwhaki Simons tōku ingoa, it is an honour to be joining Te Kāhui Matepukupuku o Aotearoa ki Whakatū as the Kaiārahi Hōtaka for the wider Tasman region supporting our Māori community through and beyond their cancer journey.

I have been working as a Kaiāko Reo Māori in Kōhanga Reo (Nelson, Stoke, Motueka) for the past twelve years which has been both challenging and extremely rewarding.

My partner Chevelle and I have seven tamariki ranging in age from three to twenty-five and live in Māriri, Upper Moutere.

I am excited about my new role with the Cancer Society based in Motueka as it will allow me to utilise the reo and matauranga Māori I have acquired as well as the connections that have been made to help put a Korowai of support and Āroha around whānau Māori impacted by cancer. Mauriora ki a tātou!