CAYAD National Coordinator - Ngaire TE AHU
Ngaire Te Ahu
CAYAD National Coordinator Introduction
Ko Maungaakawa te maunga tapu
Ko Maungatautari te maunga mana
Ko Tainui te waka
Ko Waikato Tainui te iwi
Ko Ngaati Hauaa te hapuu
Ko Rukumoana me Kai-a-te Mata ooku marae
Ko Wiremu Tamihana te tangata
Ko Oscar Dixon raaua ko Mathenna Cassidy ooku maatua
Ko Hira Te Ahu tooku hoa rangatira
Ko Ngaire Te Ahu tooku ingoa.
KO WAI AU?
My mum is Nga Puhi and her hapuu are Te Mahurehure and Hine-aa-Maru. I live and work in Morrinsville. I am a mum of 7: one of them is now an anahera. I married Hira Te Ahu and we have 10 beautiful mokopuna. I’m the eldest of 5 wahine, raised as a young teenager on a Waikato dairy farm with my parents. My parents taught me the value of faith, respecting others and self, working hard and honesty. My own rite of passage as a wahine and young mum was when my dad said to me “Chief! you’ll need to get you a logbook if you’re going to drive the kura bus…” I felt like I officially made it to adulthood!! I have a had a diverse working background ranging from working for Community Probation as an administrator to being a work party supervisor for Periodic Detention, social worker and truck driver/ machine operator. I have a passion for governance which came out of the blue when my aunties at home pushed me into 2 trustee roles starting with one of my marae ‘Rukumoana Marae’ and our Rongoa clinic, ‘Nga Wairere o Te Ora.’ Today, I chair a number of governance boards with the aim of creating positive environments for our whaanau, marae, hapuu, iwi and community. I also have a passion for supporting youth leadership development. I started working as a CAYAD kaimahi in 2005 under Te Ahurei a Rangatahi in Hamilton. I am privileged to work where I live based in Morrinsville. I’m now also a part of the CAYAD National Coordination Team and love my mahi working to support kaimahi and managers across the motu.
MY WHY
My mum, husband, tamariki and my mokopuna is what drives me. Being a mum and a nan is my legacy and greatest achievement in life. I have my own lived experience in mental health and addictions and being CAYAD, has allowed me to advocate for reducing AoD-related harm but also where possible, advocating against social injustice and now inequity for the vulnerable and marginalised populations within our communities.
MY MAHI
My earliest mahi was establishing AoD policies for two of my marae: Rukumoana and Kai-a-te-Mata. Alcohol was allowed to be consumed at the marae however, alcohol is no longer permitted at either marae. Both marae has AoD policies which have also been incorporated into both marae booking ‘Terms and Conditions.’ Both marae has signage supporting the AoD policy. More recently, I have participated in supporting community consultation and written and oral submissions for the Matamata Piako Local Alcohol Policy.
ADVICE FOR NEW PEEPS
Relationships are key! Take time to establish and nurture relationships with key stakeholders in and outside of your community. Suss out who’s who in the zoo and explore your environment and community, to see what resources are available to support your rangatahi and community at large. Enjoy yourself and remember you’re not alone because you a part of this whaanau called CAYAD and you’re not alone on your journey.
Mauri Ora! Ngaire