Meet Our Team
Our amazing team runs several departments at Te Aroha Noa. Read more to learn about the people working in our community.
Leadership and Admin Team
Ko Ben Nevis te Maunga
Ko Clyde te Awa
Ko Donna MacNicol tōku ingoa
No Whanganui ahau
Donna MacNicol
Chief Executive Officer
I lived and worked in Hawkes Bay before moving to Manawatu. I am very pleased to have the privilege of leading our Te Aroha Noa team since 2019 into a future that will see the organisation continue to build relationships and develop collaborative partnerships in areas of innovative community development and practice. Te Aroha Noa will continue to engage in opportunities that will see us embrace and support community wellbeing and build a sustainable future. We will work together with our community and stakeholders to provide services that are relevant and will continue to meet the emotional, spiritual, and physical needs of individuals and whānau within our community.
Ko Tutamoe tōku maunga
Ko Opanake tōku awa
Ko Mahuhukiterangi tōku waka
Ko Ngāti Whatua tōku iwi
Ko Ngāti Kahu tōku hapū
Ko Tama te Uaua tōku marae
Nō Kaihu ahau
Ko Hinemoa Hall tōku ingoa
Hinemoa Hall
Leader of Education & Community Operations
Kia ora e te iwi,
I began my journey at Te Aroha Noa in 2020 as the HIPPY Coordinator, before transitioning into the role of Leader of Education & Operations 7 months later. I am passionate about seeing my people thrive. My people refer to the community I work in, tangata whenua, and my own whānaunga. My background is in education, and before moving into the community, I taught for 10 years in Tamaki Makaurau.
Ko Ruapehu me Tongariro ōku maunga
Ko Wanganui tōku awa
Ko Aotea tōku waka
Ko Te Ati Hāunui a Pāpārangi tōku iwi
Ko Nga Paerangi tōku hapū
Ko Kaiwhaiki tōku marae
Gena Toa
Finance officer/Administrator/Incredible years facilitator
Tēnā Koutou Kātoa,
I began my journey at Te Aroha Noa in 2022 as the senior administrator. My heart is for the whanau to thrive, and I love that I can support our team to be able to do that. Te Aroha Noa has given me great opportunities to move into different areas and roles, such as Finance Officer, and now I will be co-facilitating the Incredible Years Parenting Program. I am grateful for the new experience and also for being a part of our Te Aroha Noa whanau.
“Nā tō rourou, nā taku rourou
ka ora ai te iwi
~With your food basket and my food basket, the people will thrive.”
Tēnā koutou katoa,
Ko Ingarangi te whakapaparanga mai, engari, ko Papaioiea te whenua tupu
Ko Papaioiea te kāinga
He Administrator/Facilitator au i Te Aroha Noa
Ko Laura toko ingoa
Laura-Jayne Tutty
Administrator
My name is Laura, I started off in He Ngakau Rangatahi and have now moved to doing administration and facilitation while I am studying my Bachelor of Social Work.
Ko Te Awapūtahi te maunga
Ko Tekaurikaitai te awa
Ko Takitimu te waka
Ko Te Paerahi te moana
Ko Ngāti Kahungunu te iwi
Ko Ngāti Kere te hapū
Ko Rongomaraeroa te marae
Marion Hales
Office Manager & Kids Can Kai Assistant
Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of working in various roles within Te Aroha Noa Community Services. Currently, I wear two hats: I prepare nutritious Kids can meals for tamariki at the early childhood centre, manage the reception as the office manager, and support community events. I love the work I do and take great pride in contributing to the well-being of our community.
Bill Feasey
Health and Safety/Kaitiaki of the grounds
I have lived in Palmerston North for 40 years and worked at Te Aroha Noa for 25 years.
Community Engagement Team
Laurin Benedict
Community Engagement Coordinator
Rehutai & Leon Tahana
Marakai Kaitiaki/ACC Registered Kai Mirimiri
Kia Ora Koutou,
Ko Rehutai raua ko Leon oku ingoa.
We are Kaitiaki for Te Aroha Noa Community Services Mara Kai & ACC Registered Kai Mirimiri operating from the premises under Body Harmonics. We are passionate about “Wholistic” Hauora Heath & Wellbeing & encourage whanau to start within by setting small goals & growing from there.
Our vision is to create a Self-Sustainable, Abundant Mara Kai that will feed many whanau & a “Free Hauora Hub” that enables hapori & whanau to participate in taking control of their own health and well-being for their future generations. If you see us out there, feel free to come for a chat, pull some weeds, or pop into our Hauora space for a cuppa.
Mauri Aroha.
Counselling Team
Rene Aish
Counselling Team Lead
He hononga āku ki ngā pae maunga o Ruahine me Ruapehu
He hononga āku ki te awa o Pohangina
Ko Cairngorm tōku waka
He hononga āku ki te tūwāhi o Tararua
He hononga āku ki te ngahere o Te Awahou
He hononga āku ki te iwi o Rangitāne
E noho ana au ki Glen Oroua
Ko BatachEl te ingoa whānau
Ko Simon ahau
Simon BatachEl
Counsellor
I shifted to the Manawatu in 1989 and have lived in Palmerston North, Feilding, Pohangina Valley, and now Glen Oroua. My wife and I have 5 children. We homeschool our children, and we have been very fortunate to be part of a supportive homeschooling community for the past 18 years. Our community has also nurtured and supported my passion for nature connection. I believe nature connection is a crucial ingredient of well-being.
I completed my counselling training at the end of 2018. I joined TANCS as a student counsellor and have been employed there since 2019. We are all on a healing journey, and it is an honour for me to partner with tangata whaiora as they reconnect with their deeper selves and their deeper knowing about whaiora.
He Ngākau Mātua Team
Brydie Williams
Young Parent Social Worker
Kia ora,
My name is Brydie. I graduated with my social work degree in 2016 from Massy University, and from there I worked at START Youth Services for two years. I have always had a passion for working with youth, as I believe that this is a critical age in someone’s life. I feel blessed to work at Te Aroha Noa, He Ngākau Mātua, as I have a desire to support young mamas to be the best they can be for themselves and their whānau.
Pou Valu
Young Parent Social Worker
Currently on Maternity Leave
He Ngākau Rangatahi Team
Jeremy Padgett
He Ngakau Rangatahi Programme Manager/ Tu Hapainga Tane Lead
Tena ra tatou,
My name is Jeremy, and I began my journey with Te Aroha Noa through Tu Hapainga, our tane group, alongside the late brother Chris Pohe in 2021. I’ve always been passionate about our tane hauora and creating safe, open spaces for our rangatahi and wanted to get into doing this full time. This then brought me into Te Aroha Noa as the community engagement facilitator in 2023. Not long after that I transitioned into the He Ngakau Rangatahi Programme Manager, so now it’s the best of both worlds.
Ko Taranaki me ko Whanganui ngā rohe o ōku tūpuna Māori. Ko Farquhar tōku iwi Kōtarani, ko O’Reilly tōku iwi Aerihi, ko Roskruge tōku iwi Korinihi.
Kieran Nuku
He Ngakau Rangatahi Education Facilitator
Whai i te mātauranga is the ara, to establish hono in communities and hono mōhio in our minds. I began working as a butcher while studying my BSc in psychology. Then, alternative education for five years. I worked in the Ministry of Justice as a komiti member for the Māori network ‘Te Hono’ – providing advocacy for Māoritanga within our justice system. I also provided mental health support to tamariki, rangatahi, and kaumatua before coming to Te Aroha Noa. We will nourish rangatahi with understanding of themselves and their community. We will nourish rangatahi with skills and hono to establish themselves in their hearts and community. We will nourish our rangatahi with knowledge and pono so they stand strong in the world.
“Ko te manu e kai ana i te miro nōna te ngahere
Ko te manu e kai ana i te mātauranga nōna te ao”
Te Manawa Tamariki – Early Childcare Centre
The Team
At Te Manawa Tamariki we have 7 qualified teachers, 2 support teachers, an office administrator, and a cook. We are a collective team of mums, aunties, and grandparents who bring a wealth of life and teaching experiences. Some of us are born and raised in Highbury and have strong connections with our community. We are passionate kaiako who are dedicated to nurturing and supporting every tamaiti.
We value the unique mana of every individual and ensure that all tamariki are celebrated. Through our teaching, we foster growth, learning, and connection, always placing heart at the core of everything we do. By working closely with whānau, we create a supportive, collaborative environment where everyone can thrive and feel truly at home.
-Becs, Clare, Rach, Helen, Shanelle, Daryl-Anne, Jessie, Wendy, Tracey, Lisa, and Marion.
Ko Takahanga rāua ko Mangāmāunu taku marae
Ko Ngāti Kuri rāua ko Kāti Mamoe taku iwi
Ko Ngāi Tahu tōku hapū
Ko Taki raua Falk tōku whanau
Ko Lisa Buckley tōku ingoa
Nau mai e te whānau
Lisa Buckley
ECC Administrator
While I whakapapa to Te Waipounamu, grew up down the road in Foxton. We moved to Palmerston North 20 years ago to give our daughters more opportunities. I joined Te Aroha Noa Early Childcare Centre whanau in December 2024 as administrator after many years doing a similar role in a primary school. I was looking for a new place to belong and I have found it here at Te Aroha Noa.
While I like the black and white nature of administration, I do have a passion to help people by sharing my skills and experience. I enjoy getting to know our tamariki and their whānau, connecting with people is very important to me. I look forward to supporting our whanau and to help their tamariki in whatever way I can.
Whānau Social Workers
Ko wai au
Ko Tararua te maunga
Ko Manawatu te Awa
Ko Tainui te waka
Ko Ngati Raukawa te Iwi
Ko Kereru te Marae.
Ko Pania Taylor toku ingoa
No reira
Pania Taylor
Senior Practitioner
Ko Manawaru te maunga
Ko Horouta te waka
Ko Te Arai te awa
Ko Rongowhakaata tōku iwi
Ko Ngati Kaipoho tōku hapū
Ko Keri Rapira tōku ingoa.
Keri Rapira
Qualified/Registered Social Worker
Kia Ora, my name is Keri Rapira. My journey at Te Aroha Noa started as a HIPPY tutor approximately ten years ago. If you’d told me then that I would end up a fully qualified social worker, I would have laughed; however, Te Aroha Noa has played a significant role in my desire to pursue things I never dreamt possible. My world had been focused on raising my children; however, I had never considered that being a great mum could also mean pursuing my own greatness.
I studied at Te Wanaga o Aotearoa to continue challenging my perspectives and views of the world and not simply sit where I felt comfortable. My practice as a social worker is deeply embedded in my faith and my belief that every person is born with greatness and purpose and is worthy of being loved. As a practitioner, I look forward to working with whānau who, with their greatness, will continue to grow and inspire mine.
Ko Tahumaata te Maunga
Ko Ōkana te Awa
Ko Ngāi Tahu te Iwi
Ko Ngāti Irakeha te Hapū
Ko Ariel raūa ko Theresa tōku Matua
Ko Robert taku tāne
Ko Kymani taku tama
Ko Karroll Pere-Veale tōku ingoa
Karroll Pere-Veale
Qualified/Registered Social Worker
Tēnā koutou katoa,
Ko Karroll aka Kazz tēnei,
My social services journey started way back in 2010. I graduated with my social work degree in 2017 from Te Wananga O Aoteroa and went on to work in the women’s refuge movement from 2016 to 2021. I found after completing my Diploma in Kaitiakitanga – Professional Supervision in 2021, I wanted a change from crisis intervention and was humbly accepted as a Kaimahi at Te Aroha Noa community services under the Family/Whanau Development team as a Whanau social worker.
I close with my personal whakatauki:
“Hikitia Te Mauri, Puawai Te Auahatanga, Noho Tauana— Uplift the essence, Blossom the creativity, Create a space of peace.”
Jeremiah Fryer
TMMA Mentor
Talofa, my name is Jeremiah. My professional journey at Te Aroha Noa commenced four years ago when I assumed the role of mentor in the Te Mahuri mentoring program, a position I still hold today. Prior to joining Te Aroha Noa, I worked for three years at Oranga Tamariki Youth Justice Residence, Te Au rere a te Tonga, and served as a Teacher’s Aide at Takaro School. I am passionate about working with rangatahi, as I am deeply committed to creating a positive impact in their lives and helping them to reach their full potential.