There are a number of departments for Te Aroha Noa, click on any to meet the team of that department.
Leadership and Admin Community Engagement Family/Whānau Development Early Childhood Centre Counselling He Ngākau Rangatahi He Ngākau Mātua
Leadership and Admin Team
Ko Ruapehu te maunga
Ko Whanganui te awa
Ko Donna MacNicol tōku ingoa
No Whanganui ahau
Donna MacNicol
Chief Executive Officer
I recently returned to the Manawatu to join Te Aroha Noa after working in Government and living in Hawkes Bay for six years. Prior to this I was located in Manawatu for ten years. Over this period I worked closely with the Te Aroha Noa team and together we developed our He Ngākau Rangatahi (young persons) programmes.
I am very pleased to be in a place to lead Te Aroha Noa into a future which 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 which will see us embrace and support community wellbeing and build a sustainable future. We will work together with our stakeholders to provide services that are relevant and will continue to meet the physical, emotional and spiritual 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 Toko raua Hall tōku whānau
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 refers to the community I work in, tangata whenua and my own whānaunga. My background is in education, and before moving into community, I taught for 10 years in Tamaki Makaurau.
Tēnā
Koutou e te whanau
Ko Ruapehu me Tongariro ōku maunga
Ko
Wanganui tōku awa
Ko Aotea
tōku waka
Ko
Kaiwhaiki tōku marae
Ko Te
Ati Haunui a Paparangi tōku iwi
Ko Nga
Paerangi tōku hapu
No
Wanganui ahau
E noho
ana au ki Papaieoa
Ko
Nevelle raua ko Pauline Ratana ōku mātua
Ko Arios
Toa taku hoa rangatira
Ko
Greyce raua ko Anahera-Pono ōku tamahine
Ko Gena
Toa ahau
Gena Toa
Finance Officer
I am Gena Toa, I am born and raised in Palmerston North, I lived in Highbury at 3 Haversham Street till I was 16 years old. When I moved from Highbury Te Aroha Noa was being established.
I am married to my husband Arios and we have 2 beautiful daughters Greyce, 7 and Anahera-Pono, 4. My working life I worked at Sunbeam where I made kettles and Electric Blankets. I studied and worked for the Palmerston North City Council in Finance for 20 years and in the last year I have been working at Legacy Housing supporting the needs of our residents. While I am not working my time is mostly spent with my family doing fun things with them and serving with our Legacy whanau.
I believe in the Mission of Te Aroha Noa “To be a community unleashing the potential of all people” I believe all people regardless of where they are at today have something they need to release, but due to life situations this may have been suppressed.
Administrator
Position to be filled.
Community Engagement Team
Jeremy Padgett
Community Engagement Facilitator
Working on updating current staff profile.
Community Engagement Facilitator
Position to be filled.
Ko Te Awa Putahi te maunga
Ko Te Paerahi te moana
Ko Taurekaitai te awa
Ko Takitimu te waka
Ko Ngāti Kahungunu te iwi
Ko Ngāti Kere te hapū
Ko Rongomaraeroa te marae
Nō Porangahau ahau
Ko Hokianga tōku whānau
Ko Marion Hales tōku ingoa
Marion Hales
Office Manager & Kids Can Kai Assistant
You will find me most of the time being a mum – and a pooch mum too. My mokopuna are highly likely to get away with most things even when their parents are around. I love the outdoors – usually walking with pooches in tow and cycling on my e-bike exploring the tracks in our city. I am very good at getting the whānau together because we all love food and we all enjoy each other.
At work I spend most of my time in reception as the Office Manager using my hospitality skills, answering questions, directing visitors to locations, listening and talking to community members and generously helping others. I enjoy face to face interactions with people and genuinely like to make people feel welcome and valued. My other role includes Community Engagement – this role is a wonderful and exciting addition to my administration work. My greatest joy in community work is providing fun experiences to whānau and sharing in their successes.
Favourite quote: Let kindness lead the way.
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. Small goals & grow 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.
Family/Whānau Development Team
Ko Tararua te maunga
Ko Manawatū te awa
Ko Tainui te waka
Ko Ngāti Raukawa te iwi
Ko Ngāti Ngarongo me Ngāti Takihiku raua
Ko Ngāti Hinemata ōku Hapū
Ko Kereru te marae.
Pania Taylor
Senior Practitioner
My involvement with Te Aroha Noa has been for over 26 years when I became a playgroup mum. I worked hard to find a balance between whānau, study and part-time work and in 2013 I completed my Bi-cultural Degree in Social Work. I have been in the Family/Whānau team for 10 years full time, and what I love is that no two days are the same. I love making connections to events, people, places and by association. My passion is my whānau; I have four adult children and six mokopuna who keep me on my toes. I enjoy combing the rivers for coloured river stones.
No reira kei te mihi, kei te mihi, kei te mihi.
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, purpose and worthy to be loved. As a new practitioner, my journey has only begun and I look forward to working with whānau who with their greatness will continue to grow and inspire mine.
Ko Tararua me Fuji ngā maunga
Ko Manawatū me Shōwa ngā awa
Ko Corinthic the Second te waka
No Te Papaiōea, No Hapani hoki āhau
Ko Maia tōku wāhine
Ko Kent tōku ingoa
No reira, tēnā koutou katoa.
Kent Mcilraith
TMMA Social Worker
Konichiwa and Kia ora! My name is Kent Mcilraith and I have been a part of our Family/Whānau team since early 2019.
My mum is Japanese and my Dad is from Gisborne. I grew up in Asia but have lived in the Manawatū since I was 10 years old. I went to Ross Intermediate and Freyberg High School and finished my social work degree in late 2017. My wife is from Palmy and her whakapapa is Ngāti Kahungungu and Tūhoe.
My happy place is being in the water (scuba diving, swimming,) or playing any sports. A significant approach of my practice is that I try to focus on ‘what matters to a person, not what’s the matter with them’. I endeavour to tautoko and journey with whānau to build on their strengths so they can walk out in their potential.
Tēna Koutou Katoa, Ko Wai Au
Ko Tākitimu rāua ko Horouta ngā waka
Ko Tawhiti rātou ko Hikurangi, ko Maunga Hāruru, ko Ūpoko o Tahumaata ngā Maunga
Ko Waitakeo rātou, ko Waiapu, ko Mōhaka, ko Ōkana ngā awa
Ko Ngāti Porou rātou, ko Ngāti Kahungunu, ko Kai Tahi ngā iwi
Ko Ngāti Ruataupare rātou, ko Te Whānau-a-iri-te-kura, ko Ngāti Pāhauwera Ko Ngāti Irakehu ngā Hapū
Ko Te Ariuru rātou, ko Iri-te-kura, ko Waipapa-a-iwi, ko Wairewa ngā marae
Ko Ariel tōku Papa, Ko Theresa tōku Kōka
Ko Robert tōku hoa rangatira, Ko Kymani tōku tama
Ko Karroll Pere-Veale tōku ingoa.
Nō reira tēna koutou katoa
Karroll Pere-Veale
Qualified/Registered Social Worker
Kia ora, Im Karroll aka Kazz.
I was born and raised in Aussie until I was 10 then moved to New Zealand in 1999 where I began my journey of self-discovery and identity reclamation, as prior to this move I had no knowledge of my Māori heritage. I am happily married to my husband who was my teenage sweetheart, and we have 1 child together.
I have been in the social services sector since 2010 in various roles offering different degrees of support for whanau in our communities in both the Taranaki and Manawatu regions. I graduated with my social work degree in 2017 from Te Wananga O Aoteroa and secured a position with Palmerston North womens refuge in 2016 during my field placement there. I then moved over to Te Roopu Whakaruruhau O Nga Wahine Māori (Māori Womens Refuge) in 2018 where I stayed working as an advocate/ social worker before coming to settle here at TANCS as a social worker in the Family/Whanau Development team in September 2021.
Here I leave a personal whakatauki of mine “Hikitia Te Mauri, Puawai Te Auahatanga, Noho Tauana – Uplift the essence, Blossom the creativity, Create a space of peace”
Early Childhood Centre Team
Working to update staff profiles.
Counselling Team
Renē Aish
Counsellor
Hi, I am a Counsellor and Group Facilitator here at Te Aroha Noa. I love to work with individuals, couples and groups in imaginative and creative ways. My work centres around listening to, and for, the voice of what I call ‘Soul’ – that is our true nature, our unique spark, our inner resources of wholeness that we were born with. I believe that in whatever situation we find ourselves in, our Soul is inviting us into the fullest expression of life that is possible and that we hold within us the knowledge and resources to navigate the journey. Using whatever I can – conversation, nature connection, creative expression and artwork, bodywork, deep imagery, dream work and ceremony – my hope is to support you to listen and follow your unique ‘spark’ so that you more fully come to know who you truly are, and where you belong as a fully alive member of the great community of life.
I am a father to three incredible boys, an avid reader, very amateur painter, lover of making and eating food, and a wanderer of wild places. I hold a Degree in Counselling from Bethlehem Tertiary Institute and am currently training with Animas Valley Institute.
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 Madeline and I have 5 children. We homeschool our children (our oldest two are now in public schooling) and we have been very fortunate to be part of a supportive homeschooling community for the past 14 years. Our community has also nurtured and supported my passion for nature connection. I believe nature connection is a crucial ingredient of wellbeing.
I started training as a counsellor while I was still working as a postie and completed my 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 Rangatahi Team
Fakalofa lahi atu
Koe higoa haaku ko Randy Freddie
Tupu hake au I Hakupu, Niue
Randy Liuvaie
HNR Team Leader / Education Facilitator
What is the most important thing in life?
“He tangata, he tangata, he tangata”
I am a proud father to 3 beautiful daughters. My partner whakapapa’s to Ngati Kuia. I was raised in Niue, attended Niue High School and later moved to Palmerston North to pursue further Education. I attended Freyberg High School and later graduated from Massey University with a Sports Education degree.
I have based my life journey on 3 key values: God, family and education. This has helped shape the person I am today.
I am privileged everyday to wake up and appreciate life through the people I work with.
If you need any help or someone to talk to about anything, I will always make time for you.
Lastly, as my old man taught me, our rent in life is service to people.
Fakaue lahi, moe kia monuina a tautolu oti.
Laura-Jayne Tutty
HNR Facilitator
Kia Ora,
My name is Laura Tutty. I am a currently studying my Bachelor of Social work through Massey University. I have previously been working for a supplier in ACC Sensitive claims. I am very excited to have the opportunity to be a part of He Ngakau Rangatahi, be able to be in a more social work aligned role and to work with our rangatahi in a strength based approach to help them flourish into thriving young adults.
“The more youth begin to recognise that they have a voice, the more change is possible”
He Ngākau Mātua Team
Pou Valu
Young Parent Social Worker
Malo e leilei
My name is Pou and I work in He Ngākau Mātua as the Young Parent Social Worker. Pou Pou means to give strength to and that’s a big part of my practice. I love working with young parents as the journey in finding out who they are, what they want to be and how we can get there can be a beautiful process. As a mama myself, I am passionate about parenting and learning fun ways to share new knowledge either one-on-one or within a group setting because having supportive mum friends is important. I’m so proud of the parents I have worked with that I still see around, and for the new ones … I can’t wait to meet you! I’m always down for a laugh, so bring your memes and biggest dreams.
Brydie Williams
Young Parent Social Worker
Kia ora
My name is Brydie Williams, I am a mother of two amazing children, Charlie- Rose and Tevita. I graduated my Social Work degree in 2016 and from there I worked at START Youth Services. 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.