Our Team
"Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, ēngari i te toa takitini"
Management
Kristan MacDonald
Chief Executive Officer
Kris@tekotuku.co.nz. 021 678-929
Kristan MacDonald has had a long career in health, education and Māori development. He has worked in senior management roles in policy, health services, funding and planning, primary and secondary care and Māori health. He spent ten years with the Ministry of Education before taking a role as his iwi's CEO for three years. Kris has also served on the Māori Statutory Board of Auckland Council and is a director of Northland Inc, the Economic Development Agency of Te Tai-Tokerau. He is also a contractor to the University of Auckland's Business School. Kris is of Ngātiwai, Te Rarawa, Rangitāne, Ngāi Tahu and Ngāti Kahungunu and is also chair of his marae, Te Whānau ā Rangiwhakaahu in Matapōuri Bay, Northland.
Natalia Kaihau
Service Manager
Registered Social Worker
Natalia Kaihau is of Ngāti Te Ata and Ngāti Whātua. She is Te Kōtuku's 2IC and manages all the operations of our services, residential sites and inter-relationship will clinical teams. Apart from being a qualified social worker, Natalia has had over a decade of senior management experience with a background in strategic planning, finance, banking and business. She is currently studying for her MBA at Waikato University.
Carla Klink
Project Manager
Registered Social Worker
Carla Klink is of the Ngāti Rehua hapū of Ngātiwai and Te Waiāriki. She has worked as a social worker across different settings and lectured in social work at NorthTec in Whangārei. Carla has also spent a number of years developing and accrediting social programmes for her iwi and hapū and held governance roles in tertiary education. Carla is focusing on strategic projects.
Jordan Jamieson
Programme Co-ordinator
Jordan Moana Jamieson is of Ngāpuhi and Ngāti Maniapoto iwi. She has a background and qualifications in leadership, outdoor recreation, te reo Māori and history. Jordan is in charge of developing and implementing programmes for Tāngata Whaiora in a community setting.
Maria Hunt
Finance Administrator
Maria Hunt has been with Te Kōtuku for 20 years as finance administrator. She holds a wealth of institutional knowledge of the trust. Maria is of Ngāpuhi.
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Hans Lienaw
Senior Administrator
Hans Lienaw has worked in marketing most of his career and was the sales and marketing manager for Mercedes-Benz. As well as being Te Kōtuku's key admin officer, Hans is also in charge of our digital infrastructure and technology. Hans is German, Filipino Chinese.
Cecilia Darling
Support Service Administrator
Cecilia Darling was a qualified baker by trade and worked in the food retail industry before a change of career two years ago to mental health as Te Kōtuku's receptionist, house leader and administrator. Cecilia grew up in Avondale, Auckland and is of Samoan ancestry.
Ngā Parirau - Community Mobile Team
"Pūrerehua rere runga hau, pāpaki parirau rere runga e"
Natalia Kaihau
Ngā Parirau - Manager
Registered Social Worker
Although Natalia is 2IC and head of operations, she is also in charge of Ngā Parirau in terms of leadership, planning, organising and monitoring delivery of outcomes.
Anthony Iwan
Ngā Parirau:
Support Worker - Kaimahi
Anthony "Tony" Iwan has worked with Tāngata Whaiora for many years in the west Auckland area and is responsible for supporting our tāne in the community. Tony is a true westie of Pākēhā Polish heritage.
Sarah Fawcett
Ngā Parirau:
Support Worker - Kaimahi
Sarah Fawcett is passionate about working front-line in the community but also enjoys applied research. She holds a Bachelors of Health Science and PGCert in Mental Health and Addictions. Sarah has other qualifications in Māori, Mahi Ora, elderly and palliative care. Sarah has Irish, English and Greek ancestry.
Darlene Evans
Ngā Parirau:
Support Worker - Kaimahi
Darlene Evans works in the community particularly with Tāngata Whaiora in primary care. She is of Ngāti Kurī and Ngāi Takatō iwi. Darlene is talented musician and leads and supports our kapa haka, waiata, music and other cultural programmes for Tāngata Whaiora.
Navdeep Kumar
Ngā Parirau:
Support Worker - Kaimahi
Navdeep "Navi" Kumar works with Tāngata Whaiora post acute admission to ensure there is integration from secondary services into the community and therefore is based at Moko Services, Waitematā DHB and at our offices. Navi holds a Diploma in Health Services, a Diploma in Computer Science and grew up in India.
Natalie Copestake
Ngā Parirau:
Support Worker - Kaimahi
Natalie Copestake is qualified in the health, disability and aged care sector and works with Tāngata Whaiora in the community and in Adult Respite. Natalie has Pākēhā and Fijian ancestry.
Sonny Valintine Wade
Ngā Parirau:
Support Worker - Kaimahi
Sonny Wade is of Ngāpuhi and is Te Kōtuku's "jack of all trades". Sonny works alongside Tāngata Whaiora in their homes and residences, teaching basic home maintenance, hygiene, gardening, fixing stuff, growing kai and encouraging sustainability and outdoor physical work.
Marangatahi
"Marangatahi tātou e ngā iwi, mā te kōtuku tātou e kawe ki te ōranga"
Kathy Beasley
Marangatahi - Team Leader
Registered Social Worker
Kathy Beasley was brought up in Te Atatū North and is of Ngāpuhi. As a registered social worker Kathy has worked in various fields of practice, children, youth and whānau in the west and central Auckland communities. Kathy currently manages our Marangatahi home.
Patricia Nicholls
Marangatahi - Kaimahi
Registered Social Worker
Patricia Nicholls is of Te Rarawa and Ngāti Tamaterā and has been a registered social worker for over 14 years after a career in the military. She is currently working working at Marangatahi
Tauranga Tahitahi
Marangatahi - Kaimahi
Tauranga Tahitahi is from Te Aupōuri and has worked in mental health and addictions for over 20 years. He is currently working with our tāne in Marangatahi.
Peter Pivac
Marangatahi - Kaimahi
"Matua Pete" Pivac is of Ngāi Takatō iwi and has been working in mental health and addictions for over 10 years. Matua Pete works alongside our tāne in Marangatahi.
Alex John
Marangatahi - Kaimahi
Alex John is a qualified chef and has been working in social services for nearly 5 years. He is of Indian ancestry. Alex is currently studying toward his Bachelor of Social Practice (Bi-cultural Studies). Alex is working at Marangatahi.
Callum Selby
Marangatahi - Kaimahi
Callum Selby is of Ngāti Whātua and is studying toward his Bachelor of Arts: Psychology and Policy. He recently started working at Marangatahi.
Hinepiripiri
"Hinepiripiri kapohia, mā te kōtuku tātou e kawe ki te ōranga"
Donna Apanui-Walsh
Hinepiripiri - Team Leader
Donna Apanui-Walsh was raised in Te Atatū North and knows the west Auckland community well. She manages the Hinepiripiri residence. Donna is Ngāti Porou.
Marjorie Layt
Hinepiripiri - Kaimahi
Whaea Marjorie Layt is one of our longest serving staff members. She has been working in Māori mental health for over 22 years. Currently Whaea Marj works with our wāhine in our Hinepiripiri residence.
Rasela Tima
Hinepiripiri - Kaimahi
Rasela Tima is Samoan and has worked in community mental health for five years. Rasela is studying toward her Bachelor of Social Practice (Bi-cultural studies). She currently supports our wāhine at our Hinepiripiri residence.
Planned Adult Respite
Poipoia te kākano, kia puāwai.
Erana Tupe
Respite - Team Leader
Registered Social Worker
Erana Tupe has been a registered social worker for ten years and has worked in a variety of health settings. She is Ngāti Rangiwewehi of Te Arawa and Ngāpuhi. Erana manages our Adult Respite home at Bodi Place in Te Atatū South.
Shelley Fonua
Respite - Kaimahi
Shelley Fonua has been a kaimahi in social services for the past five years. She currently works at Adult Respite. Shelley is of Tongan ancestry.
Louise Brennan
Respite - Kaimahi
Louise Brennan is of Ngāti Whātua and has worked in social services for nearly five years. She is presently studying for her Bachelor in Counselling in Drug and Alcohol Addictions and works at Adult Respite.
George Abraham
Respite - Kaimahi
George Abraham provides coverage of the weekend and evening shifts at Respite. George has worked in mental health for a number of years and is originally from India.
Molly Tupe-Grimes
Respite - Kaimahi
Molly Tupe-Grimes is of Ngāti Rangiwewehi and Ngāpuhi. She is currently studying towards her Bachelor's degree in Social Work Practice and works part time at Adult Respite.
Amanda Wade
Respite - Kaimahi
Amanda Wade is of Ngāti Porou and is the daughter of Te Kōtuku's founding kaumatua, Hamiora Waiti. She currently works in Adult Respite and also helps with our community programmes and social housing,
Anthony Bien
Respite - Kaimahi
Anthony Bien was a Registered Nurse in his homeland in the Philippines and has worked in mental health for the last five years since immigrating. Anthony is currently working at Adult Respite.
Paula Sakdawekeeisorn
Respite - Kaimahi
Paula hails from Thailand and has studied in New Zealand. She is currently working part time at Adult Respite