Kaimahi

Darrio Penetito-Hemara

Ngāti Hauā, Ngāti Tamaterā, Ngāpuhi

Raised in Tāmaki Makaurau, Darrio is a product of the Kōhanga Reo and Kura Kaupapa Māori movement. He thrives in Māori environments and utilises his lived experiences and knowledge of te ao Māori to progress any kōrero. A sucker for any form of korikori (movement), you’re likely to find Darrio playing a volley on a squash court, hip swinging on the tag field, running in the ngāhere, shooting a few baskets or playing handstands with his 4 tamariki in the backyard. Recognising that play and moving is an essential part to survival as Māori, he likes to incorporate these into every aspect of his mahi. With 10+ years experience in the Māori education, sport, recreation and health sectors, Darrio brings an extensive list of pūkenga (skills) to the Toi Tangata Team.

Matire Seath

Ngāti Whātua

Matire is a passionate wahine who finds joy in the simple pleasures of life, especially gathering kai, diving, and exploring the outdoors. She values the strength and connection she gains from staying active, whether through exercise or her adventures through the mahi that Toi Tangata offers the wider community. Whanau is at the heart of what she does; she treasures time spent with her whanau, knowing these moments are essential to well-being and grounding. In her professional role as Business, Finance, and HR Manager, Matire combines her expertise with her commitment to making a difference. She understands the importance of creating a thriving, supportive environment where people feel empowered and connected, aligning her work with her values. Her role allows her to support her team and Toi Tangata’s mission, while ensuring financial stability for the organisation, as well as providing a nurturing workplace culture.

Toni Pivac

Ngāti Whātua, Te Rarawa, Ngāti Pūkenga, Ngāpuhi

Based in Whangārei Te Rerenga Parāoa, Toni is passionate about the power of impactful storytelling and communications to drive meaningful change while honouring and uplifting te ao Māori. In her role as our Communications Manager, she is the driving force behind Toi Tangata’s communication and promotion efforts. With a background in writing, Iwi communications, and consultancy, she brings a wealth of expertise to her role.

As a proud and devoted mum of four, Toni integrates her values of integrity and aroha into not only her mahi but everything she does. Outside of work you will find her spending time with her whanau, playing hockey or feeding her insatiable appetite for learning – often with her nose in a book. Toni’s vision is to continue making a positive impact through diverse and inclusive storytelling that celebrates and uplifts our culture.

Ranginui Rikirangi-Thomas

Ngāti Pikiao, Ngāti Whakaue, Ngāti Ranginui

Te reo Māori and the worldview it provides has been Ranginui’s companion in all walks of life. He aspires to give back to the puna that has made invaluable contributions to who he is today, and feels fortunate to be able to do this with the Toi Tangata whānau. Ranginui has experience in teaching te reo Māori in the secondary and tertiary sectors, as well as Health and Physical Education within kura. You will often find Ranginui in the ocean diving for kaimoana or in the bush doing some sort of mahinga kai. He enjoys the challenge but also the opportunity to practice manaakitanga through sharing kai with his people and the connection you have to have with the taiao to be able to do it well. If not there, you will find him at a gym or spending time with his whānau.

Crystal Pekepo-Ratu

Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Vara

Crystal Pekepo, our Quality Service Manager, is a dedicated individual with a passion for social design and innovation.

As a proud Mama of six tamariki and a kuia to two mokopuna, Crystal moves with the strength of the Pā Harakeke, weaving whānau, community, and whenua into her work. With a wealth of experience in facilitation, social design, and innovation, she brings deep insights from her roots, grounding her in the wisdom of taiao and the call of ancestral lands. Her love for the environment shines through in every space she enters, drawing others to see the world through a lens of connectivity.

Fiona Wilson

Ngāti Tukorehe, Muaūpoko, Ngai Tahu, Ngāti Ana kie Ra Toa, Rangitane ki Wairau

Fiona currently resides in Petone, Lower Hutt and performs various project roles as a contractor of Toi Tangata. She has over 37 years of experience working in Accounting, Audit, Governance, Strategic Planning, Monitoring & Reporting with Māori Business across Aotearoa. Fiona supports the CEO and Management Team to design and implement innovative solutions for Toi Tangata operational and business success, as well as performing the role of Management Accountant to enhance the quality of Toi Tangata financial analysis & performance. Fiona is passionate about ensuring Toi Tangata role models Māori Business, Operational & Financial excellence. Fiona is also an advisory member on the Finance, Audit and Risk Sub Committee of the Board.

Haylee Koroi

Ngāpuhi, Te Rarawa, Ngāti Kahu, Te Popoto

Haylee is Kaiārahi for Kai Māori Kai Ora at Toi Tangata. In recent years her mahi around kai has deepened and expanded and now includes research on local food systems alongside marae, co-led kaupapa kai alongside knowledge holders and grassroots collectives, and celebrating the kai stories of whānau. She is a gardener of many years, following after her aunties, nan, and great-grandmother and is enjoying building her new māra in Whangārei alongside a community of artists, community organisers, growers and land stewards. She loves kai (and especially kina), and is always looking to forge trade networks with nearby divers. Poetry is a passion and a way of processing big things that she is trying to make more time for. Having grown up in a big extended family where kids are always around, she loves hanging out with her little cuzzies who make her feel like a kid again and alongside whom she can be her goofiest and most adventurous self.

Chelsea Laurell Cunningham-McLean

Ngāti Kahungungu, Ngāti Tūwharetoa,
Kai Tahu, Ngā Rauru

He uri tēnei nō Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Kai Tahu, Ngā Rauru hoki – Ko Chelsea Cunningham tēnei!

Raised on the lands of Kahungunu, Chelsea brings a spirited energy for sport, play, and whānau well-being to Toi Tangata. She’s a graduate of Otago University, where her passion for Māori physical activity and health truly took flight. Her rangahau dives into how whānau connect to whakapapa and whenua, exploring the significance of ancestral land and seascapes to uplift well-being. Chelsea leads the Rangahau stream, with her main kaupapa being Growing the Puna, crafting spaces for tauira Māori to flourish and rangahau that centers on Māori values.

When she’s not in the mahi, you’ll find her on a maunga somewhere or out with her whānau. As a former Growing the Puna intern herself, Chelsea is thrilled to be part of the Toi Tangata whānau – supporting others like she was, providing memorable moments in the taiao and always with a laugh along the way.

Pianika Ormsby

Ngāti Ranginui, Ngāti Kahungungu Ki Wairarapa,
Tainui, Te Arawa, Ngāpuhi

Ngāti Ranginui, Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Kahungunu Māmā Pi is a social butterfly who never misses a rep on the CrossFit floor if she’s not chasing her piri pāua, Tangaroa! A CrossFit lover and adventure-seeker, she is the one who will try anything once and take one for the team. Whether she’s lifting weights, making new friends, or tackling something out of her comfort zone, Pianika is here for the memories, laughs and the DMC’s. Always on the move, always smiling, and always up for whatever wild idea comes next! Pianika is a Te Wharekura o Mauao and Pirirākau Kōhanga Reo graduate with a Certificate in Health Science from Otago University. She coordinates the kaupapa Māori movement programme, He Pī Ka Rere, out of Tauranga and Whakatane. Hers is a partnership role between the Bay of Plenty DHB’s Toi Te Ora service and Toi Tangata.

Hinerangi Rhind

Hinerangi grew up in Rotorua and currently lives in Tauranga Moana. Hinerangi has a background in Communications, Advocacy, and Adult Teaching. She has previously worked in Māori Public Health and Māori Zero Waste organisations. She is passionate about mātauranga Māori and its restoration, as well as realigning with our taiao and our ancestral wisdoms to nurture the mauri of whānau and our natural world.  She seeks to embed these tikanga in the work she does within the Kai Ora, Kai Māori space.

Chrissy Hiraani Hilton

Ngāti Kahungungu, Ngāti Ranginui, Te Arawa

Koianake Yates

Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Konohi, Te Rarawa

As a Lead Facilitator within the Mātaiao whānau, Koianake is honoured to have the opportunity to be innovative in his approach to transmitting aspects of the mātauranga he has attained over the years. Koianake is supporting kaiako Kura Kaupapa Māori throughout Tāmaki Makaurau to strengthen their teaching practices by utilising the natural presence of atua Māori. He is confident that his tamariki and the many generations to follow are in good hands when he sees all the mokopuna-driven decisions our people are making. Maybe, back as a kid, the good ol’ hongi from the poutokomanawa gave him the very ‘lightbulb’ moment he needed – Mātai i tōu ao!

Aimee Topia

Te Rarawa me Ngati Porou

Whakarongo ake ai au ki te hīrea waha o Māui e kīia mai kia tōia te waka ka māunu ki te wai ka hoe ki te moana whiua ake tana matua hī ake ai te ika nui nei ko Aotearoa ka rewa ki runga ka eke ki te tihi o Pātangata ka ngātoro taku reo ki te mata o te maunga rere ki te moana hoki mai tau ki Tūwhakairiora, ka ripo taku reo pāoro ki ngā wai o te awatere ka eke whakahoki ki runga ki te tihi auheke ki tōku whenua nei ki te rā whiti o te tai Te Tairāwhiti e!

Born and raised in Tāmaki Makaurau, Aimee is the product of Kōhanga Reo, Kura Kaupapa and her whānau. If she could describe herself in one word, it would be courageous. She lives and breathes everything hauora and growing up her whānau had her in every sport they could think of. Aimee is a high-performance athlete pursuing a career in sport and hoping one day she can create a pathway for Kura Kaupapa students with the same goal. Thriving in Te Ao Māori, Aimee is constantly surrounded by inspiring Māori who see and want nothing but the best for our people.

Taylah-Jade McIntyre

Ngāti Haua, Ngāti Raukawa