Emeritus Professor
Sir Mason Durie
Our Senior Advisor | Pou Whirinaki
Sir Mason Durie KNZM FRSNZ FRANZCP is New Zealand’s most respected Māori Health Leader and Academic. He is globally recognised as the indigenous leader of health in New Zealand. Sir Mason was knighted in 2010 for services to Public and Māori Health.
He qualified as a Doctor and specialised in psychiatry, becoming the second Māori Psychiatrist in New Zealand. Sir Mason has dedicated his career to transformational changes that have improved Māori health outcomes. In 1988 he was appointed Professor and Head of Te Pūtahi-ā-Toi, School of Māori Studies at Massey University and subsequent to that was appointed Chair of Māori Research and Development in 2002.
Mason earned his Doctorate in Literature from Massey University in 2003, and in 2009 Otago University awarded him an Honorary Doctor of Laws. He was also awarded an honorary doctorate in health sciences from Simon Fraser University for his contributions to Indigenous health. He has been a Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand since 1995 and a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit since 2001. He chaired the Taskforce on Whānau-Centred Initiatives that produced the Whānau Ora report for the Government in 2010 and remains involved in a wide range of tertiary, educational, health and social service boards through to the present day.
For over 40 years, Sir Mason has been at the forefront of influencing changes for Māori and has played major roles in building the Māori health workforce. His efforts have been recognised by the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, the Public Health Association of New Zealand, the Māori Medical Practitioners Association, the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand, and the Polynesian Society.
In addition to his lifelong commitment to Māori Health, Sir Mason has championed higher education for Māori. As Deputy Chair of Te Wānanga o Raukawa, Professor of Māori Research and Development, and more recently Deputy Vice-Chancellor at Massey University, he has continued to provide national academic leadership for Māori and indigenous development and regularly assists Iwi and Māori communities to realise their own aspirations for socio-economic advancement.
Sir Mason Durie alongside Dame Tariana Turia were integral to the establishment of Te Rau Ora (then known as Te Rau Matatini) in 2002, with his continual vision, leadership and care for our people, Te Rau Ora is indeed privileged to have Sir Mason Durie guide our work.
Our Directors | Ngā Kaiārahi
Te Rau Ora has a wide-ranging, experienced, expert group of board directors that lead our governance direction and leadership to our executive management team.
The Board of Directors responsibilities include:
- Company vision
- Leadership and stewardship
- Strategy and performance
- Legislative compliance
- Risk management
- Resource procurement
- Chief Executive’s appointment and performance
Te Puea Winiata
John Walters
Donovan Clarke
Eugene Berryman-Kamp
Chris Webber
Our Executive | Ngā Kaiwhakahaere
Te Rau Ora Executive Team, often called the ‘Engine Room’ of the organisation are responsible for managing core business operations.
Maria Baker
Valerie Williams
Sarah Gucake
Dr Kahu McClintock
Cecilia Kim
Our Teams | Ngā Rōpū Mahi
Our teams and an extensive network of specialist facilitators and trainers operationalise the work programmes:
- Rangatahi Ora: Rangatahi leadership and focus
- Te Rau Matatau: Private Training Establishment
- Te Kīwai Rangahau: Kaupapa Māori, Data intelligence, Research and Evaluation unit
- Rōpū Mākohakoha: Workforce innovation, practice development, systems refinement, Māori health, mental health and addiction, primary care, public health expertise, and social investment.
- Te Au: Māori Suicide prevention and postvention: Māori Leadership; Community capacity building, Māori wananga, training and evidence base.
- Rōpū Kaumatua: provide traditional knowledge and support within contemporary contexts
- Ngā Mahi Pakihi: Business support, administration, strategic relationships and design.
Our Reach | Ngā Toronga
As a Non Government Organisation(NGO), we reach communities, organisations and groups from Northland to Southland. Our foundation is built upon a 19 year history in Māori health, mental health and addiction, public health and primary care sectors, with a focus in workforce development, service improvement, training and competency programmes, research and evaluation.
Te Rau Ora has an eclectic team with offices in Wellington, Dunedin, Hamilton and Auckland, in addition to a mobile team of Māori experts from Northland to Dunedin. We have experience in co-design, delivery, evaluation and research of health services and programmes for Māori and non-Māori.
Rōpū Kaumatua

Koromiko Richards

Witi Ashby
Pouherenga Waka

Ronald Baker
Kaiwhakarite
Rōpū Rangatōpū

Cecilia Kim
Kaikaute Kamupene

Liming Ma
Pūkete Kaiāwhina
Te Kīwai Rangahau

Kahu McClintock
Pouwhakarite Rangahau

Pohe Stephens
Kairangahau Kaiāwhina

Neil Rogers
Kairangahau

Keri Te Aho Lawson
Kairangahau Matua

Marata Haereroa
Kairangahau

Rachel McClintock
Kairangahau

Sue Stephens
Kairangahau
Rangatahi Ora

Kim Wi

Fay Rhind
Rōpū Mākohakoha

Terry Huriwai
Kaiwhakahaere: Te Hau Mārire

Terri Cassidy
Kaiwhakaoho Mauri

Tracey Potiki
Kaiwhakahaere AoD Workforce Innovation
Ngā Mahi Pakihi

Alan Tawhi- Amopiu
Kaihoahoa Whakairoiro Matua

Avao Tiatia
Kairuruku Tari

Pat Sisson
Tautoko Pakihi
Te Au

Tio Sewell

Tyler Morris

Koromiko Richards

Regan Balzer

Sharon Elkington

Karina Cootes

Ronald Baker
Te Rau Matatau

Sarah Kinred

Andre McLachlan

Tracey Brown
Te Kete Pounamu


Codey Bell

Cody Black
People & Culture

Sarah Gucake
