Interim NCAG Member - Rhi Munro

Rhi Munro

Interim NCAG Member Introduction

Nō Ingarangi, Nō Wēra, Nō Kōtirana ōku tīpuna
Nō Ingarangi au
Ko Edgecumbe te maunga
Ko Tamar te awa
Ko Plymouth te Taone Nui.
I hunukuhia ki Aoteaoroa i te tau 1998.
Kei Tāmaki Makaurau tōku kainga inaianei

Tēnā koutou! Kō Rhi Munro tōku ingoa (he/they). I moved to Aotearoa when I was 11 and my whānau settled in Tāmaki Makaurau where I still live now. I’m a pretty chill dude. I’m creative and active. I play the guitar, love to travel, game, read, go to the gym, dance, garden, be with my whānau and friends. I love people, community, and diversity. I love the outdoors, love to go camping, and spend time with my wahine hoa Rangatira.

My work history has been deeply rooted in Community Led Development. I worked for a number of years within the Libraries sector of Aotearoa, working to improve literacy outcomes in the early years for tamariki. Now my work is centred in systems innovation and systems change. I love to pursue change that achieves tangible, lasting impact for the communities that I am connected to.

I am a member of the Transgender and Non-Binary communities of Aotearoa and live my life openly as a transman. My passion is exploring how movement and exercise can be both a treatment and prevention strategy for alcohol and drug harm amongst transgender youth. I also volunteer and sit on the board for Same Same but Different (Aotearoa’s LGBTIQ Readers and Writers Festival).

I started in CAYAD 2 and a half years ago. I became interested in understanding more about drug and alcohol harm after working within the city centre of Auckland where I saw many whānau deeply affected by harm. I have also struggled through the years with addiction. I wanted to do more and learn more about upstream approaches to these issues, particularly for our Rainbow whānau – when I saw the role it was the perfect blend of my skills as well as my interests. It has been an amazing experience and I am thankful to the CAYAD whānau for deepening my connection to and understanding of Te Ao Māori.