Tuhourangi Ngāti Wahiao ; Ngāti Raukawa ki te tonga ; Clan Grant

Dale’s career in Public service started at Hawkes Bay Regional Prison (HBRP) in early 1998. In 2001 Dale became the operational Manager of Te Whare Tirohanga Māori at HBRP. This is where Dale first connected with Mahi Tahi Akoranga Trust, and also became the commencement of his cultural identity journey, which continues today. For the the next 8 years Dale led the whanau of Te Whare Tirohanga Māori in various roles and supported improvements to ngā whare Tirohanga Māori of Ara Poutama Aotearoa. Dale was influential in extending the Kaupapa Māori Pathway of HBRP by way of establishment of Te Ara Māori, a targeted Te Ao Māori unit as a pathway into Te Whare Tirohanga Māori. After 17 plus years in operational roles, Dale traded his uniform in for an Advisory role within the Māori Services Team of Ara Poutama Aotearoa, working across the Lower North Island, where he was part of targeted improvements regarding Te Ao Māori approaches to support better outcomes for Māori, e.g. Paiheretia te muka Tangata (Co-designing of a Kaupapa Māori pathway within the Prison) in the Justice system. After some 22 years in Ara Poutama Aotearoa, Dale has moved into another Public Service entity, Kāinga Ora – Homes and Communities, where he continues to support Public servants “Leading out from a Te Ao Māori perspective”, as well as contributing to better outcomes for Māori tāngata, whānau and hāpori through his role as Manager – Community Engagement and Partnerships, for the East North Island Region. Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, engari he toa takitini. Dale’s passion and commitment to improved outcomes for Māori is the result of the many tāne, whānau, Pakeke, Rangatira, Kuia mā, Koro mā, who have shared their lived experiences with him, and guided him through his own experiences. His realisation of ngā taonga i tuku iho, me ngā uara e toru ngā mea, and his absolute belief that “what works for Māori, works for everyone. Ahakoa nō whea, ahakoa ko wai”.

Dale is working in an operational capacity for Mahi Tahi on a temporary basis to manage a transition.