Our kaitiaki -

Our kaitiaki -

  • Witana Petley (Tumuaki | Chair)

    Ko Hikurangi me Mauao ngā maunga

    Ko Horouta me Tākitimu ngā Waka

    Ko Waipahu te awa

    Ko Pirirākau, Te Whanau a Tuwhakairiora, Ngāti Tauaiti ngā Hapu

    He uri ahau nō Ngai Te Rangi, Ngāti Ranginui me Ngāti Porou

    Ōtira, I tipu ake ahau i raro i te tikanga ō Ngāti Maniapoto, Raukawa me Waikato ki Putaruru.

    Ko Witana Petley taku ingoa

    I currently work as a Lecturer in Hauora Māori based at Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka (Otago University). Previously i worked as a physiotherapist at Dunedin Hospital with a specific interest in Stroke Rehabilitation and equitable service provision.

    I remain a registered physiotherapist and continue volunteering my time with Māori Physiotherapy students with developing clinical skills and confidence.

    My personal aspirations as a Kaitiaki in Tae Ora Tinana remains in educating and collaborating with physiotherapists to lead the health system in working with whānau Māori and Māori communities.

  • Dale Wilson Scully (Kaitiaki)

    Ko Dale Wilson tōku ingoa

    Tainui te waka

    Taupiri te maunga

    Te Hoe o Tainui te marae

    Waikato te awa

    Waikato Ngāti Maniapoto Ngāi te rangi Ngāti whatua ngā hapū

    My rock is my lovely husband Michael Scully

    We live in Hamilton

    My daughter is Tiara Wilson currently resides in Wellington.

    I have 5 sisters and our brother lucky him

    I am a Kaitiaki based in Kirikiriroa amongst a strong roopu of Māori physios and students.

    My interests is about mana enhancing our Māori physio hāpori and being able to support our Māori, PI physio students having positive learning experiences

    Ehara tāku tia I te toa takitahi, engari he toa takitini

    Its not myself as an indivdual but my strength as a collective we can make a difference

  • Sheree Tikao-Harkess (Kaitiaki)

    Ko wai au?

    Ko Sheree Tikao Harkess au

    Ko Te Poho o Tamatea Pokai Whenua te māuka

    Ko Whakaraupo te moana

    Ko Kai Tahu ko Kāti Mamoe ko Waitaha kā iwi

    Ko Tikao, ko Subrizky, ko Solomon, ko Ropata, Ko Ellison ōhoku whānau

    E noho ana au ki Ōtautahi

    Ko Hakarangi Tichborne tōhoku hoa rakatira

    Tokowha a māua tamariki

    He Physiotherapist au

Kaitautoko - coming in 2026 -

Kaitautoko - coming in 2026 -

Previous Kaitiaki, Kaitautoko and Kaumātua -

Previous Kaitiaki, Kaitautoko and Kaumātua -

Previous Kaitiaki

The history of Tae Ora Tinana has seen numerous amounts of people providing their time as kaitiaki, kaumātua and/or kaitautoko. The work we continue to do today, could not have been imagined without the work of the people in this list.

  • 1997- 1998 Jill Bell (Bicultural policy working party)

  • 1997 -2000 Laurie Evans-Moore (Bicultural policy working party)

  • 1997-2000 Leigh Keefe (Bicultural policy working party)

  • 1997- 2019 Lynda Kirkman (Bicultural policy working party)

    • Chair 2002- 2015

  • 1997- present Ann McKellar (Tangata tiriti kaitiaki)

  • 2004- 2013 Ailsa Cornell, (national office support in PNZ/NZSP)

  • 2000- 2004  Maria Sorensen

  • 2000 - 2004 Christina Ovenden

  • 2002 - 2019 Kate Haswell

  • 2002-2003 Debra Pye

  • 2002- 2011 Catherine Waetford

  • 2000- 2004 Maui Hudson

  • 2003- 2008 Ngareta Melgren

  • 2003 -2010 Ema Moore 

  • 2003- 2005 Hera Walker 

  • 2003 - 2009  Renee Wood

  • 2004 - 2008 Jarrod Ria

  • 2009 - 2011 Leroy Lawerence

  • 2010 – 2022 Maarama  Davis

  • 2011-2012, 2019-2022 Emma Webb

    • co-Chair 2020-2022

  • 2007-2014 Katrina Bryant

  • 2008 – 2015 Karen Rasmussen

  • 2008- 2013  Andrea Havell

  • 2011 – 2013 Nathan Wharerimu

  • 2011- 2019  Ricky Bell

  • 2014-2021 Vaea Ulima Tofi

    • Co-chair 2020-2021

  • 2014 – 2016 Adam MacDonald

    • Chair 2015

  • 2014 – present Jess Radovanovich

  • 2019 - 2020 - Keisten Woodman

  • 2019 - Present - Witana Petley

    • Chair 2023 - Present

  • 2019 - 2023 - Bridget Watson

  • 2019 - 2025 - Miranda Buhler

  • 2021 - 2025 - Blake Taylor

  • 2021 - Present - Dale Wilson

  • 2022 - Present - Sheree Tikao-Harkess


This list was last updated December 2025.

Previous Kaumātua

The Kaumātua of Tae Ora Tinana were instrumental in the groups development in Te Ao Māori and overall direction over the years.

  • 2006 - 2024 - Matua Wiremu (Bill) Barlow

  • 2006 - 2022 - Whaea Patricia (Pat) Barlow


This list was last updated December 2025.