Our people

Tēnā koutou katoa
Moumoukai te maunga, tu mai ra te whakaruruhau, te whare kōrero.  E kore, kore e riro.
Waitirohia, te awa o Nūhaka, e rere ra te Mātāpuna o te ora
E kore e maroke Rakaipaaka te iwi, e noho ra Nga Whare Rau o Te Tāhinga o te ra, e kore e ngaro.
Tihei mauri ora

Kia ora, my name is Aimee and I have worked at Te Ora Hou Whanganui for seven years.  My offical title is Office Manager, but I wear many other hats.  Some of my hats include Funding, Transitional Housing, furniture mover, key finder, insurance claims, baby holder; and much more. I love my job, no two days are ever the same. This year I am training to be a Gallup Strengths Coach - I can't wait!  I love understanding people and how they tick.

I am happliy married (most of the time haha) to Watson and we have six children, two cats and one dog. In my spare time I enjoy watching my kids play sports, talking the dog for a walk, gardening; and watching a good movie.  I am passionate about Te Reo Māori and helping others in their reo journey

Mauri Ora

Kia ora koutou, 

I have been part of Te Ora Hou since 2014 and have loved being a part of the whanau here. I find real meaning and enjoyment through the mahi we do and the relationships that are formed. Working at Te Ora Hou was something I have felt that God was leading me towards even before my first day and I still feel that today.
I started off involved in the Clubs but now co-lead our Tiihokahoka mentoring service and coordinate Nga Toa, which is our faith based program. Basically, this means that I’m usually in meetings during the day trying to get good outcomes for young people, but I still get times where I'm able to hang out and connect too.  

My main hobbies are playing football (and any sport really), board games and ice-cream/milkshakes. I have a wife (Angie) and three young children (Tobiah, Ephraim, and Arielle) and quality time with my family is something I really value. This certainly keeps me busy, but my heart full.  

Kia maiea tō rā 

Talofa Lava

Kia Ora

Ko Va’a Fonoti TE WAKA

Ko Fao TE MAUNGA

Ko Samoa TE MARAE

Ko Fagaloa, Salelesi ma Luatuanu’u TE IWI

Ko Maulu Frank Sumu Fa’I TOKU PAPA

Ko Fonofili Faleilua Asa Fa’i TOKU MAMA

Ko Fai Brown, Ko Asa Leausa, Ko Seiuli Kalolo Luafalealo TE RANGITIRA

Ko Mary Tafilipepe toku ignoa

Born & Bred NZ Born Samoan, from Elsdon Porirua moved to Whanganui 2003, it has been my forever home since! I have a husband, 4 children & 8 grandkids, a crazy dog (Zazu, used as the unofficial Tiihokahoka therapy dog) , and a cat FYI adopted from TOH Whanganui  (Mooch-ie). 

“ E fofo e le alamea le alamea – the solutions lie within our communities”

The above Samoan proverb resonates with me, that underpins my mahi with Tiihokahoka  as I continue with steering the Tiihokahoka waka with my co-lead side kicks. I have been with Te Ora Hou since late half of 2015 much to my surprise (needed placement NGO for my degree in Social Work (Bi-Culturalism). As you can see I am still here! Choohoo  I absolutely ‘love” my work there is satisfaction walking alongside our rangatahi we engage with. The pathway to find who they are, where they belong, their own tulagavae, whakapapa.  It provides me with a sense of purpose that we are on this journey with them. It is finding solutions to support/aid/help our rangatahi by working within our communities, which is extended whanau, agencies. 

Having a awesome bunch of people to work alongside our TOH fanau, makes the challenging moments not so ummmm ‘challenging” God is Good!

Nga Mihi, Faafetai Lava

Ko Whanokao te maunga
Ko Mōtū te awa
Ko Whakaari te puia
Ko Apanui te tangata
Ko Te Whānau-ā-Apanui te iwi
Ko Te Ehutu te Hapū
Ko Te Kaha te marae
Ko Tukaki te wharewhakairo

Ko Tarakeha te maunga
Ko Opepe te awa
Ko Whaktōhea te iwi
Ko Ngai Tamahaua te hapū
Ko Opape te marae
Ko Muriwai te whare tῑpuna
Ko Harmony tōku ingoa

I have been involved with Te Ora Hou on and off for over 20 years, I started as a Rangatahi in Senior Club later returning as a member of our awesome rōpu, here in Whanganui. I have performed a few roles that have led me to my current positions as Admin Support for Tiihokahoka, one-to-one mentoring and Transition support service and Co-Ordinator for our Drivers Licensing Program.

I am a māmā and a partner. My favourite place to go is the beach, I love to learn new things and manage to retain the most random of information.

Ko Ranginui kei runga
Ko Papatūānuku kei raro
Ko ngā tāngata kei waenganui
Tihei mauri ora!

Ko Ruapehu te Maunga
Ko Whanganui te Awa
Nō Whanganui ahau
Ko Ngāti Pākehā te Iwi
Ko Kathy tōku ingoa

Ko au te Awa, Ko te Awa ko au

Ko Ruapehu te Maunga
Ko Tongariro te Mātāpuna
Ko Whanganui te Awa Tupua
Ko Atihaunui ā Pāpārangi te Iwi
Ko Nga Paerangi te Hapū
Ko Kaiwhaiki te Marae

Kia ora koutou, Ko Jordin Haami-Rerekura nee Butters-Simon tōku īngoa. I am Māori, a Jesus follower, a māmā to 3 and wife. My hobbies include fitness, gardening, fun and sober driving. I have grown through Te Ora Hou as a rangatahi and am privileged now the Rangahauraro team leader, Te Pihi Ora Hou girls co-ordinator, senior club support worker and TOHATOHA (Youth development model) champion for Whanganui.

I love my job, my rangatahi I get to spend life with, my fellow team mates and two very special people I am in awe with Judy & Greg.

Throughout my journey this quote speaks to me more than often: "Know yourself in order to grow yourself, know others in order to grow others."

No reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa

Ko Ruapehu te Maunga
Ko Whanganui te Awa
Ko Atene te Marae
Ko Aotea te Waka
Ko Atihaunui-ā-Pāpārangi te Iwi
Ko Baillie Chadfield tāku wahine wera
Ko Daniel Jaye Chadfield tōku ingoa

Kia ora! I'm Dan, I lead the Te Pihi Ora Hou Boys Club program and am part of the Tiihokahoka mentoring team. I have been with Te Ora Hou for 11 years! Starting out as a youth, I eventually became a youth worker.
The reason why I do youth work isn't because of my smelly or funny-looking friends at Te Ora Hou, but is because of the care and hope I experienced as a young person here at Te Ora Hou. This is the back-bone of my work and the hope I have for our rangatahi - that they experience a caring and loving atmosphere that they are positively shaped by it.

Te Pihi Ora Hou Boys Club Co-Ordinator 

Tēnā tātou, ko wai au?
I te taha o tōku pāpā, he uri ahau nō Waikato, he piko he taniwha, he piko he taniwha ai rire rire hau, pai marire.
I te taha o tōku māmā, he uri ahau nō Croatia.
I te taha o tōku whāngai pāpā, he uri ahau nō Te Awa Tupua o Whanganui.
I te taha o tōku whāngai māmā, he uri ahau nō Hamoa.
Engari he uri ahau nō ngā hau e wha.Kei kōnei tōku turangawaewae a Te Awa Tupua o Whanganui.
Na reira ko Zakisha Kemp tōku ingoa

I've been in Te Ora Hou for 9 years now, starting in Te Pihi Ora Hou, then moved foward in Senior Club, then Whakapakiri, and am currently a intern with Senior Club, Te Pihi Ora Hou Boys and Tiihokahoka. I am also studying for my certificate in Youth Development through Praxis. I enjoy sports and anything Te Ao Māori. I attended 3 kura - Gonville School, Whanganui Intermediate School and Cullinane College. I truly believe that my past has been the biggest thing that has shaped me today and for that I take my hat off to my family, especially my mum and siblings.
No reira, ahakoa he iti he pounamu, kia ora.

Ko wai au?
I te taha o tōku Pāpā
Ko Taupiri rāua ko Pureora ngā maunga
Ko Tainui te waka
Ko Waikato te awa
Ko Ngati Maniapoto rāua ko Rereahu ngā iwi
Ko Rereahu te hapū
Ko Mangapehi rāua ko Te Ihinarangi ngā marae
Ko Tepu tōku whānau

I te taha o tōku Māmā
Ko Moumoukai te maunga
Ko Nūhaka me Waitirohia ngā awa
Ko Takaitimu te waka
Ko Ngāti Kahungunu te iwi
Ko Rakaipaaka te hapū
Ko Tamakahu te marae
Ko Watson Matthews rāua ko Aimee ōku mātua
Ko Makaia rātou ko Charis ko Cassady ōku teina
Ko Kalani rāua ko Kainoa ōku tungāne
Nō Whanganui ahau
Ko Jeida tōku ingoa

Wassup Fam, I started Senior Club in year 9, in year 11 I became a Whakapakari leader, now I am a volunteer for Senior Club, Te Pihi Ora Hou Girls and work as a Tiihokahoka Mentor.
I am studying my second year of Youth Work through Praxis, with the support of Te Ora Hou.  I enjoy playing sports and hanging out with my friends and family. 
Peace out 🙂 

Ko Ruapehu te Maunga  

Ko Whanganui te Awa

Ko Aotea te Waka

Ko Atihaunui ā Pāpārangi te Iwi

Ko Kaiwhaiki te Marae 

Ko Kyla Joseph tōku ingoa

Kia Ora!!!

I have officially been involved with Te Ora Hou as a Tiihokahoka mentor since the end of 2021, however, I have been surrounded by Te Ora Hou for the last six years as my lovely husband is one of three amazing children of Judy and Greg. After being around two very passionate people of Te Ora Hou for so long to now being immersed in it, it all makes sense as to how the drive and motivation can be ignited for years and years. I am very grateful to be a part of the Te Ora Hou whānau.

As well as that, I am currently in my second year of study at Massey University working towards my Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology. When I'm not busy I enjoy working out, playing sports, adventuring with my friends and chilling with my animals at home. 

Although I haven't been doing my job for long, I genuinely love it and look forward to going to work each day to spend time with the pretty cool team members and some even cooler young people.

Mouri ora,
ko Jay Rerekura ahau, tētehi o ngā uri mokopuna no te tupuna awa o Whanganui.
Ko Romaine Rāhui te whaiāipo. Tokorua o mātou tamariki, ko Te Ata Hapara rāua ko Rongotai. He honore te noho tahi ki te taha o ngā pākura katoa o Te Ora Hou ki Whanganui.
E kī ana te kōrero, 'Nui ake te kaupapa i te tangata.' This kaupapa is greater than myself.

Ko Kahurānaki te Maunga
Ko Ngaruroro te Awa
Ko Ngāti Pākehā te iwi
Ko Pāharakeke tōku kainga tipu
Ko Whanganui tōku kainga noho
Ko Roz Armstrong tōku ingoa

Ngā mihi nui ki a koutou. 
I moved to Whanganui in 2004 and now work as a teacher at WHS. My role in Te Ora Hou is behind the scenes as a member of the Board, which I joined in 2016 and am currently the Chairperson of. I enjoy reading, making music, baking, and having other people do my gardening. Currently I am kept busy completing Te Aupikitanga ki Te Reo Kairangi through Te Wānanga o Aotearoa.
Noho ora mai!

Bryan has been on the Board since January 2021.

I te taha ō tōku pāpā:
Ko Ngati Pakeha te iwi
Ko Ingarangi, ko France, Ko Ireland, Ko Zimbabwe ngā whenua
Ko Te Whānau-a-Fitzgerald te hapū
Ko Maynooth te marae

I te taha o tōku māmā:
Ko Hikurangi me Tararua ngā maunga
Ko Waiapu me Ohau ngā awa
Ko Horouta rātou ko Nukutaememeha ko Tainui ngā waka
Ko Porourangi me Tukorehe ngā tīpuna
Ko Ngati Porou me Ngāti Raukawa ki te tonga ngā iwi
Ko Te-Whānau-a-Takimoana me Mateawa nga hapū
Ko Ohinewaiapu me Tukorohe ngā marae
Ko Atawhai or Ati tōku ingoa

I have been a youth worker in Manurewa, South Auckland and have pursued the study of Youth and Community Work through Praxis New Zealand and Weltec/ Whitireia. I have recently joined the team at Te Ora Hou Whanganui, at the beginning of 2021. However, my parents Dave and Denise Tims worked alongside others to create Te Ora Hou in Whanganui and in Gisborne.
I am a Tiihokahoka mentor and also work at Praxis 

Greg has been around youthwork for over 30 years and with Te Ora Hou for around 20 years.

He is involved in most aspects of Te Ora Hou Whanganui, and has a bit of a bent for IT (Information Technology). He works part-time at the Whanganui District Council as a "Solutions Designer and Developer"

Kia ora, I’m Dave. I have been working with Te Ora Hou as a Tihokahoka Mentor since April 2021 after moving to Whanganui with my wife and 4 kids.
I have done years of youth and pastoral work, and have a passion for connecting with people and working to make positive change in their lives.
I enjoy spending time with my family and in what little spare time I have, I love a good board game and writing and preforming stand-up comedy. 

Tēnā tātou katoa

Ko Paekowhai me Taiarahia ngā Maunga
Ko Whangaehu me Ōhinemataroa ngā Awa
Ko Kurahaupo me Mātaatua ngā Waka
Ko Ngā Wairiki/Ngāti Apa me Ngāi Tūhoe ngā Iwi
Ko Kauangaroa me Ngāhina ngā Marae
Ko Ngāti Huru Te Ra me Ngati Tāwhaki ngā Hapū
Nō Whanganui ahau

Kia Ora! Ko Baillie Chadfield tōku ingoa. I’ve had the privilege of working in Te Ora Hou Whanganui for 4 years now. I started out as a Tiihokahoka mentor and moved into Te Pihi Ora Hou Wahine in 2018/2019. I am just one part of our awesome team that runs girls club for our Rangatahi each week. I am an enneagram 9, a myers briggs ISFP and an introvert at heart. You can usually catch me getting creative and crafty, spending time at home or getting into the garden on a sunny day!

Oh, did I mention I’m married to the guy that co-ordinates Te Pihi Ora Hou Tane? Woohoo!!

Ko Ruapehu te Maunga
Ko Tongariro te Matapuna
Ko Taranaki ki te Tai Hau -a- Uru
Ko Whanganui te Awa
Ko Opunake te Moana
Ko Matahiwi, Otoko, Parikino, Kaiwhaiki, Putiki me Aotea tai noa kia Otaua ngā Marae
Ko Te Atihaunui-ā-Pāpārangi, Nga Paerangi me Ngapuhi ngā Iwi Ko Aotea rāua ko Mātatua ngā Waka
Ko Turi rāua ko Toroa ngā Tangata
Nō Whanganui tōku Māmā
Nō Otaua ki Taranaki tōku Pāpā
Ko Willz Thompson ahau.
"Ka rere te manu, ka hoe te waka, ki tua, ki tai, ki te maunga i rere te hukapapa. Nau mai ki te Ao, nau mai nga Rangatahi kaimahi." The birds they fly, the canoes they sail, from near and far, to the mountains flowings with snow, welcome to the world, welcome our youth workers.

My name is Willie or Willz, I have a beautiful wahine toa Tahz Herekiuha, together we have one baby boy named Willz Jr. We have a teen named Gina-Lee she is our whāngai kōtiro toa. Aspiration for our Rangatahi and their future, would be to empower who they are, where they come from, and the why they are here in Aotearoa.
To give each and every young person a sense of belonging, happiness, trust, laughter also to be like us at Te Ora Hou Whanganui, one big happy family.
Mauri ora.

E rere kau mai te awa nui nei, mai te kāhui maunga ki Tangaroa
Ko au te awa, Ko te awa ko au.

Kia ora whānau, my name is Mahanga and I am married to my beautiful wife Maia Williams.
I have one son and granddaughter named Maia both living in Perth Australia.
I am blessed and proud to be part of the dynamic team working for Te Ora Hou since 2016. In kotahitanga and manaakitanga,
I support whānau and their young people to develop a plan that identifies their needs and aspirations.
Then we take this plan and in whanaungatanga using my extensive networks make it a reality, connecting them to professional services, so they may thrive and improve their whānau oranga (wellbeing). 

Supporting whānau in transitional housing and within our community is a humbling experience. Te Ora Hou Whanganui is a group of professionals contributing our collective skills to guide and support in the developing of our communities.
We Are Whānau.

Kia ora koutou, I am one of our Tiihokahoka mentors and have been on the team since September 2020 when I began as a volunteer. Te Ora Hou has helped me to grow alongside our rangatahi and I am very thankful to work in such a caring and supportive environment.

I am also currently completing a Master of Arts in Psychology at Massey University. My thesis is focusing on Rongoā Māori and well-being which is something I am passionate about.

My partner Isaac and I have four non-human babies, two cats and two turtles. In my spare time I enjoy gardening, reading, arts and crafts, spending time in te taiao and with family and friends.

Mālō e lelei, my name is Zeana Thomas I’m 25 years old. I have been in and out of Te Ora Hou since I was 12. I have worked with Te Ora Hou for 5 years on and off between having my two beautiful babies Ava-Rose and Marlee-Jay. 
I started off co leading Te Pihi Ora Hou girls a little over 5 years ago while Jordi was on maternity leave then I had a little break and come back and now I’ve been in a single department our youth work team - Tiihokahoka mentor, Te Pihi Boys and now volunteering for the second year in Senior club. 
I am also nearly finished completing my diploma in youth development with Praxis NZ. Absolutely love Praxis, if your ever looking for a liminal experience and you enjoy youth work Praxis is the go to! 
I enjoy chilling with my family and friends, chasing sunsets and sleeping. 

Zee xx 

Kia ora koutou katoa
Ko Pukehapopo te Maunga
Ko Waiomoko te Awa
Ko Horouta te Waka
Ko Ngati Kanohi te Iwi
Ko Te Aitanga O Mahaki te Hapū
Ko Whangara te Marae
Ko Ratana te Whare Karakia
Ko Navaroune rāua ko Noahvanni āku tamariki
Ko Jim rāua ko Nga ōku mātua
Nō Whanganui ahau
Ko Leon tōku ingoa
Nō reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa.

Sweet, now that the official stuff is out of the way, Kia ora! I’m Leon.
I am currently in my first of study through an education provider called Praxis, of which I do practical work through Te Ora Hou. I currently volunteer my time to Senior Club, some small group mentoring and individual mentoring.

I love the mahi I do with Te Ora Hou and the people I work alongside with. My hobbies include baking, reading and writing, I’m a gamer (for life!) and also watch anime during my downtime.