Our approach
We are a collaborative of traditional Māori healer’s, teachers and lived experience experts in addictions, suicide prevention and mental health. We are committed to improving indigenous health and wellness, amplifying indigenous lived experience. We work towards solutions to wellness through understanding indigenous models, for people to begin designing and adapting their own.
TOA Training Services
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Whānau
Supports whānau to lead, drive, and measure their own plans.
Empowers them to take control and get the most from services.
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Service Providers
This training equips providers to understand mental health, addiction and suicide prevention.
We provide practical tools for leaders, managers and professionals to look after the mental health of themselves and staff within their organisations.
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Governance
Guides governance to create policies and strategies that enable strong service delivery.
Supports decision-makers to meet the needs of whānau and community.
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Community Partners
Engages community partners to co-create healthy, innovative ways of working. Mobilises local resources to uplift and strengthen the wider ecosystem.
Why our training?
Tangata Ora Ake (TOA) is a powerful conference created for leaders, governors, and workforce champions who are ready to prioritise mental health and wellbeing in their organisations.
Hear from three renowned keynote speakers—leading Indigenous mental health and addictions specialists from across the world—as they speak openly and wisely about the realities of mental distress, addiction in the workplace, and how to respond when staff present with suicidal thoughts or actions.
This is not just another conference. We will hold your attention safely while we speak into the spaces you fear. TOA will grow you, your team, and your organisation into a better, safer, and more high-performing space.
Join us for a transformative day of kōrero, connection, and courageous leadership.
Keynote Speakers
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Matt Kiore - Ngāti Maniapoto
I am a proud advocate, educator, and leader grounded in mātauranga Māori and driven by a deep commitment to whānau and community wellbeing. With over 20 years’ experience across education, governance, mental health, and system transformation,
I’ve spent my career challenging structures and creating space for Indigenous solutions.
My mahi spans leadership roles in health, education and social services. In roles such as strategic engagement, lead principal advisor, board chair and , rongoa practitioner, kaupapa māori educator and governance.
I bring lived experience, cultural clarity, and the ability to translate complex theory into practical systems and approaches.
My strength lies in connection — from policy tables to paddocks, I carry strong relationships across Aotearoa. I’m here to help us move boldly, with tikanga at the centre, toward a future where our whānau thrive.
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Jess Apanui - Ngāti Porou
Passionate About Inspiring Others
Jess is a passionate advocate for transforming the approach to addiction in Aotearoa. With a bold voice and a deliberate mission, she has made it her life's work to reshape the narrative surrounding addiction, using her own experiences as a powerful catalyst for change. Through her openness and authenticity, Jess empowers individuals to thrive, fostering resilience and encouraging cultural reconnection.
As a dedicated leader, Jess is widely recognised for her unwavering commitment to the addiction workforce and recovery community in Aotearoa. Since beginning her career in health in 2021, she has quickly ascended to key roles within central government, where she continues to influence the national health sector.
Jess brings a wealth of expertise to her work, including public speaking, networking, relational engagement, project management, procurement, program design, and facilitation. Her knowledge extends to areas such as methamphetamine education, gambling harm prevention, research and evaluation, governance, and culturally grounded pathways that prioritize the wellbeing of Māori whānau.
Outside of her professional endeavours, Jess cherishes time spent with her whānau, watching the mokopuna in her whanau grow, and enjoying quality moments with her Tamariki. Her commitment to both community and family is at the heart of everything she does.
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Jason Haitana - Ngāti Tūwharetoa
One of the most valuable skills and expertise is my lived experiences, in mental health and in my life course as indigenous.
I am Māori and belong to the mountain people of Ngāti Tūwharetoa, the river people of Te Āti Haunui a Pāpārangi and Ngāti Maruwharanui, on the western coast. I am a child of those who left Taranaki to settle in new lands. That experience runs deep in the scars in the heart of my whānau.
My experiences brought me a lifeline of working in mental health and addiction services, starting as a peer support worker in the mid 2000s before working as a consumer advisor and leader. This has brought with it the mana and the energy I throw into my work, leading and supporting the organisations that I am a part of. Compassion and aroha or love guides me in my mahi, and reaching out to bring hope to the lives of those conflicted with mental distress.
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Angelina Kiore - Ngāti Porou, Tuhoe
I work as a Strategic Advisor Māori in Education, and some of my favourite roles include educator, facilitator, kapa leader, arts trustee, Māmā, Nani, and wife.
I’m Ngāi Tūhoe and Ngāti Porou, born in Ōtorohanga, raised in Ōtepoti — with a splash of Northern Ireland and Guernsey in my whakapapa.
With a background in education and health, TOA has been the perfect space to bring my skills to support whānau who’ve been isolated from their full potential.
I work with whānau to define their own path, using a solution-based model that centres their voice in every decision. As part of He Waka Kōtuia and Te Mana Ahua Ake, I believe creative spaces are vital for wellbeing, especially for our rangatahi.
After 25 years alongside vulnerable families, I’ve learnt that people often have Their own indigenous solutions — sometimes they just need the light switch.
MC and Guest Speakers
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Ngāki Kiore - Tuhoe, Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Porou
Our MC for the conference is Ngāki, she has been raised in a Te Reo Māori (total immersion language school).
As a young wahine (woman) Ngāki will deliver her Nga Manu Kōrero (speech) on her experience of bridging the modern and indigenous world.
Exploring the realities pressure of society and the expectation of upholding traditions.
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Tom Apanui-Drewet - Te Araroa
Kia Ora! ko Tom Apanui-Drewet tōku ingoa. He uri ahau nō Te Araroa. I am 17 years old with plans of becoming a Director and/or Screen Writer when I leave school. My favourite colour is yellow and my hobbies/interests include: Song Writing. Board Games. Creative Writing. Playing Sims 4 and Make-Up
I attend Massey High School and serve my school as a House Prefect. I would describe myself as Funny, Collaborative, Inclusive and Passionate.
Workshop Overview
Learn how to develop mental health policies and lead with cultural safety, compassion, and confidence.
Indigenous Frameworks of Wellbeing
Explore Indigenous approaches to addiction, suicide prevention, and holistic mental health care.
Culturally Grounded Policy & Leadership
Co-design practical, locally driven responses that reflect lived experience and strengthen community wellbeing.
Community-Led Solutions
Workforce Training & Implementation
Access tools and strategies to embed effective, culturally responsive training across your organisation.
What you will learn
This training is designed to equip your team with culturally grounded, future-focused tools that strengthen staff wellbeing, leadership confidence, and community connection — all essential to high-performing workplaces in Australia and Aotearoa / New Zealand.
Modules Overview
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Understanding stress, anxiety, depression, and addiction.
Recognising the signs of distress in the workplace.
Australian and New Zealand statistics and impacts on productivity and retention.
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Mana-enhancing leadership approaches.
Role of managers in early intervention and response.
Cultural humility and building psychological safety.
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Te Whare Tapa Whā and the Meihana Model in the workplace.
Supporting Māori and indigenous staff through kaupapa Māori practice.
Addressing inequities and unconscious bias.
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Designing effective wellbeing policies (leave, EAPs, peer support).
Cultural Lore - How to incorporate traditional ways of being and doing.
Suicide prevention strategies and response protocols.
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Creating a speak-up culture.
Leading kōrero and check-ins that matter.
Building peer-led support networks.
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Creating a 12-month wellbeing action plan.
Establishing success metrics (engagement, retention, satisfaction).
Continuous feedback and co-design with kaimahi.
Delivery Format
Workshops (in-person/online)
Interactive Case Studies and Role Plays
Workplace Coaching for leadership teams
Assessment: Reflective plans, policy review checklists, scenario response
Optional Add-ons
Rongoā Māori wellbeing sessions
Wairuatanga and mindfulness training
Customised audits and implementation support
Rongoā 101 with Matt Kiore - Healing Through Te Ao Māori
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Rongoā 101 with Matt Kiore - Healing Through Te Ao Māori ☆
Rongoā 101 with Matt Kiore - Healing Through Te Ao Māori
Learn the ancient art of Rongoā Māori with a respected cultural leader, healer, and advocate.
Matt Kiore (Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Rora, Ngāti Parekaitini) is a seasoned practitioner of rongoā Māori, drawing on decades of experience supporting Māori communities, whānau, and elite Māori athletes through mirimiri (healing massage), rōmiromi (deep tissue release), and the wisdom of Te Taiao (the natural world).
Raised with a deep respect for whenua, awa, and maunga, Matt’s approach is holistic, drawing on the mauri (life force) of the natural environment to inform his healing practice. His sessions are grounded in the principles of tikanga Māori, using native plants, wairua-based karakia, and bodywork techniques to restore balance, relieve trauma, and reconnect people to their whakapapa.
Rongoā 101 introduces participants to:
> The foundations of rongoā Māori – what it is and how it works
> The healing power of Te Taiao – how environment supports wellness
> Basic mirimiri and rōmiromi techniques for whānau care
> Cultural safety, spritual hygiene and ethical practices in healing
Whether you're Māori reconnecting with your roots or someone wanting to learn with respect, this session will uplift, inspire, and guide you toward deeper understanding.
Nau mai, haere mai – Come and experience Rongoā Māori in Sydney.