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.
Tina Fong
Finance Manager
A Chartered Accountant, Tina is part of the administration's accounting and finance team.
Jordan Jamieson
Programme Co-ordinator
Jordan Moana Jamieson is of Ngāti Maniapoto, Tainui and Ngāpuhi 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.
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
Service Support 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.
Kasey Cash
Receptionist, Service Support Administrator
Kasey is of Te Rarawa iwi. Having previously worked in the manufacturing sector, she brings a lot of energy in her new role with the Trust.
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.
Henri Lyden
Ngā Parirau:
Support Worker - Kaimahi
Registered Social Worker
Henri Lyden is Ngāpuhi and Tuhoe. He works with the community Tangata Whaiora.
Tauranga Tahitahi
Ngā Parirau:
Support Worker - Kaimahi
Tauranga Tahitahi is from Te Aupōuri and has worked in mental health and addictions for over 20 years. He is currently working with the community Tangata Whaiora.
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.
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.
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.
Anita Adams
Ngā Parirau:
Support Worker - Kaimahi
Anita Adams is of Ngāti Maniapoto. She had previously worked in the Healthcare sector in Australia but has moved back to NZ. She holds National Certificates in Community Support (Residential Service) and Community Support Services Care Compliance.
Marangatahi
"Marangatahi tātou e ngā iwi, mā te kōtuku tātou e kawe ki te ōranga"
Erana Tupe
Marangatahi - 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.
Anthony Iwan
Marangatahi - 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.
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 works at Marangatahi.
Callum Selby
Marangatahi - Kaimahi
Callum Selby is of Ngāti Whātua and is studying toward his Bachelor of Arts: Psychology and Policy. He works at Marangatahi.
Caz Oyagawa
Marangatahi - Kaimahi
Caz works out of Marangatahi. She is also a nurse.
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.
Patricia Nicholls
Hinepiripiri - 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 Hinepiripiri
Natalie Copestake
Hinepiripiri - Kaimahi
Natalie Copestake is qualified in the health, disability and aged care sector and works with the ladies at Hinepiripiri. Natalie has Pākēhā and Fijian ancestry.
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.
Shelley Fonua
Hinepiripiri - Kaimahi
Shelley Fonua has been a kaimahi in social services for the past five years. She currently works at Hinepiripiri. Shelley is of Tongan ancestry.
Planned Adult Respite
Poipoia te kākano, kia puāwai.
Kathy Beazley
Planned Adult Respite - 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.
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.
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.
Tracey Knight
Respite - Kaimahi
Tracey is a member of the Planned Adult Respite team.
Chantelle Vaaga
Respite - Kaimahi
Chantelle holds a Level 6 Diploma in Mental Health and Addiction and a Level 4 Certificate in Aged Care. She is of Samoan heritage.
Maddison Coleman
Respite - Kaimahi
Maddison has had previous experience as a support worker. She holds a Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science degree with Psychology, Sociology and Anthropology as her major from the University of Auckland.