Ms Rangi Pouwhare
Managing Director
Ms Pouwhare comes from a whānau steeped in tikanga and āhuatanga Māori, based on a strong Tūhoe foundation. Those principles and values have influenced every decision and initiative that Ms Pouwhare has had to make throughout her life. Prior to moving to Western Australia to undertake senior roles in Indigenous health with the Health Department and then disability services with My Place, Ms Pouwhare was a member of the Senior Leadership Team in Te Kete Hauora (Māori Health). In her 11 years with Te Kete Hauora Ms Pouwhare led a number of projects that focused on supporting Māori to participate in the health sector as governors, practitioners and providers. She was the architect of groundbreaking governance training based on Te Ao Māori; drove the establishment of one national rongoā organisation; led complex and highly challenging negotiations for the transfer of contracts from Regional Health Authority to District Health Boards; was instrumental in facilitating hui for the development of the Māori Health Strategy and Action Plan; and successfully promoted the importance of Māori leadership and participation at DHB board elections. Ms Pouwhare subsequently accepted the position of Business Manager with Te Roopu Taurima o Manukau to establish it as a kaupapa Māori service which supported Māori with intellectual disabilities in residential care. This involved transferring individuals from a mainstream service to a kaupapa Māori service. She supported Te Korowai Aroha (a group of Māori elders to guide and support the first kaupapa Māori residential service for people with intellectual disability in NZ).