12 Sep Our Team is Growing!
Join us in welcoming our new kaimahi to the Toi Tangata whanau! We are excited to be growing our team and expanding our offerings to include the Mātaiao kaupapa which will be available to kura in the Tāmaki Makaurau region.
Mātaiao will be spearheaded by Chrissy Hilton, with a strong team including Maire Sands, Aimee Topia and Taylah Jade McIntyre.
With our wonderful Pianika Ormsby moving into a new role, we also welcome Te Aho Paenga, who will lead the He Pī Ka Rere kaupapa in the Bay of Plenty region.
We are thrilled to be building on our kaupapa and expanding the capacity of Toi Tangata so we can serve our communities and deliver even more kaupapa Māori approaches to kai and kori across the motu. Learn more about our new team members, and once more, nau mai haere mai ki a rātou!
Chrissy Hiraani Hilton
Kaiarahi Mātaiao ki Tāmaki
Mātaiao ki Tāmaki Lead Facilitator
Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Ranginui, Te Arawa
E tū nei ngā tiketike o Kahuranaki, o Mauao, o Ngongotahā. He pinepine tēnei o te waka Taki Timu, mai ngā au o Poukawa ki ngā wai tai o Tauranga Moana e ko koia e ara e!
Born in Hastings and raised alongside her whānau in Maraenui, Chrissy now lives in Tāmaki Makaurau where she dedicates much of her time to Mau Rākau – traditional Māori weaponry. Throughout her time in high school, tertiary studies, and her professional career, she found purpose in embedding the learnings and principles of Mau Rākau to tell and create innovative opportunities of system change for the Māori community.
In October 2022 Chrissy reached the highest level in Te Whare Tū Taua o Aotearoa and is now one of three wāhine who have reached Pou Waru under the korowai of Papa Pita Sharples. She has joined the Toi Tangata team as Lead Facilitator for Mātaiao ki Tāmaki which is embedded in the Atua Matua Model of the observation, study and building of taiao literacy.
(Nā Rawhitiroa Photography ēnei whakaahua)
Maire Sands
Kaiwhakarite Mātaiao ki Tāmaki
Mātaiao ki Tāmaki Programme Coordinator & Logistics
No Kūki Āirani ahau
Ko Rarotonga te moutere
Ko Raemaru te maunga
Ko Vaitoko te awa
Ko Avaiki te moana
Ko Puaikura te waka
Ko Arorangi te oire
Ko Avarua te Marae i vai o kura
Ko Maire Sands ahau
Born in Arorangi, Rarotonga, Maire was raised in Tāmaki Makarau in the small town of Huapai. She has a background in Teaching in Early Childhood Education where she worked for 13 years. When not working alongside tamariki, Maire goes home to a busy whanau of five children ages 17, 16, 11, 9, and 6 who keep her on her toes! Sports is her happy place and you will often find her playing, coaching, managing, or bustling around sports clubs volunteering.
For Maire, it is the physical aspect that drives her. She aims to role model this in her day-to-day lifestyle.
Aimee Topia
Kaitautoko Mātaiao ki Tāmaki
Mātaiao ki Tāmaki Supporting Facilitator
Ko Panguru me Pātangata ngā maunga
Ko Ngātokimatawhaorua me Horouta ngā waka
Ko Whakarapa me Wharekahika ngā awa
Ko Hokianga Whakapaukarakia te moana
Ko Te Puna o te Ao Mārama me Tūwhakairiora ngā marae
Ko Te Waiariki me Whānau a te Aotaki ngā hapū
Ko Te Rarawa me Ngāti Porou ngā Iwi
Ko Aimee Tōpia ahau.
He uri tēnei nō te Whare Tapu o Ngāpuhi, heke iho ki te rāwhiti o te tai, Te Tairāwhiti nō Ngāti Porou anō hoki.
Aimee was born and raised in Tāmaki Makaurau where she was fortunate to grow up within te Ao Māori, attending Kōhanga Reo, Kura Kaupapa and Wharekura. Growing up she was always involved in sports such as rugby league, touch, softball, Kī O Rahi and netball. As a young athlete, Aimee was fortunate to have been given opportunities to be part of high-performance programmes within netball and she hopes to see more Māori pursue their career within sports. When she’s not working or playing sports Aimee enjoys being outdoors and spending time with whānau.
Taylah-Jade McIntyre
Kaitautoko Pūkōrero Mātaiao ki Tāmaki
Mātaiao ki Tāmaki Communications, Story-telling, and Support
Kei aku iti, kei aku rahi, kei aku whakatamarahi ki te rangi, kei aku whakatewhatewha ki te whenua, tēnā koutou katoa.
Tēnei he iti nō Raukawa, nō Ngāti Hauā ki Waikato e whakaroha atu nei i ōku parirau. Kua taiohi tonu nei au e whai ana i te ara nui, i te ara roa i te ara o te reo Māori me ōna tikanga. E manawanui ana au kia awhinatia i te hunga hiahia kia eke ki ona taumata, ki ona taumata. I waimarie rā au ki te noho ki raro i te korowai o Te Aho Matua, ki Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Hoani Waititi marae. Ka tū tauira mai, kia tū tauira atu hei takoha ki te ao.
Ko Taylah-Jade McIntyre ahau.
Born and raised in Tāmaki Makaurau, Taylah-Jade joins us as Kaitautoko Pūkōrero-Communications, Story-telling, and Support for Mātaiao ki Tāmaki. Her time at Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Hoani Waititi taught her both the power of community and the importance of prioritising Māori culture and language. This revealed a pathway where she could contribute to the holistic growth and development of tamariki Māori and communities.
Aligned with her passions, commitment to her cultural heritage, and unwavering dedication to promoting whānau well-being and connection to the environment, she believes Toi Tangata to be a perfect fit. Through her mahi, she aims to make a meaningful impact and is eager to continue her journey of growth, learning, and giving back to the Māori community she holds close to her heart. We look forward to having Taylah-Jade on the team, nō mātou te waimarie!
Te Aho Paenga
Kaiārahi He Pī Ka Rere
He Pī Ka Rere Facilitator
Ko Tuhipa te maunga
Ko Taumaarere te awa
Ko Ngatokimatawhaorua te waka
Ko Te Rito te marae
Ko Te Arani te wharekai
Ko Ngāti Te Ara, ko Ngāti Kopaki ngaa hapu
Ko Ngāti Hine, ko Ngāpuhi ngaa Iwi
Ko Hine-a-Maru te tupuna
Ko Te Aho Tuterangiwhiu Paenga au, he kaiārahi niu nō te noota, a, e noho nei ki te Puku o Te Ika.
Te Aho was schooled at Te Kura Kaupapa Maaori o Puau Te Moananui-a-kiwa and Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Kotuku ki Ranui. During high school, he made the change to Te Aute college. He enjoys indulging in Kapa Haka where he can, but his passion is Waka Ama and the many forms of prosperity it brings to his community. Te Aho likes to keep himself and others entertained by singing or playing the guitar to bless the ears around him.