BOARD OF TRUSTEES

  • Dale Grant - Chair

    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”.

  • Tihema Galvin - Trustee

    Tihema has been working with Mahi Tahi since 2001. Initially supporting men through wānanga in prisons as a kaituarā mentor, he now supports the trust as a program administrator and trustee.

    Alongside his work with the trust, he has also worked to support the education of those in the construction sector. Having completed an adult apprenticeship himself, Tihema worked as a tutor to help others gain the qualifications needed to progress in their careers.

  • Rev Dr Jubilee Turi Hollis - Trustee

    Turi joined our Board of Trustees in December 2022 after several years living and working in Australia, including as Priest in Charge of Anglican Parish of Christ Church St Kilda, and later as Incumbent of the Parish.

    He has been in ordained ministry since 1990 and has spent much of his time serving communities across Aotearoa, as well as overseas in Australia and Indonesia. His involvement in the church extends from leading congregations, to ministry training and clergy pastoral care, to representing the Anglican Church in Aotearoa at the Anglican Consultative Council sessions held in Jamaica in 2009, and Aotearoa in 2012.

    Between 2016 and 2022 Turi was an Examining Chaplain in the Diocese which saw him mentoring candidates for ordination, as well as those recently ordained, to oversee their development and training.

    Turi obtained his PhD in 2014 with his thesis entitled Atuatanga: Holding Karaitianatanga and Māoritanga together going forward which he describes this as a summary of his theology.

    In addition to his own academic development Turi has held a number of education-based roles, including as a tutor and lecturer in Te Aotahi: Māori Studies Department at the University of Canterbury where he delivered courses focused on Māori history and Tikanga Māori.

    In addition to, and as part of his ministry, Turi is a qualified Mental Health First Aider and has trained to support members of the community struggling with the effects of addiction.

  • Dr Armon Tamatea - Trustee

    Armon (Rongowhakāta; Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki) has been a trustee with Mahi Tahi since 2022 and brings a wealth of insight as a registered clinical psychologist with clinical specialism working with the justice-involved. His academic research is expansive and includes topics such as gang violence, violence reduction, and violence in prison.

    Alongside his research and clinical practice, Armon is also a senior lecturer at Waikato University delivering classes including ‘Bicultural Practice’ and ‘Psychology of Criminal Conduct’.

    In addition to his work with Mahi Tahi, Armon has worked with NZ Police in the Bay of Plenty area, and E Tu Whanau/Hard2Reach plus various other charities and support organisations across New Zealand. He was also president of the Australian and New Zealand Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abuse (ANZATSA) from 2018-2021.