Ko Te Arawa te waka
Ko Te Arawa te iwi
Ko Tūhourangi-Ngāti Wāhiao, Ko Ngāti Whakaue-Hurungaterangi, Ko Tūwharetoa-Ngati Tutetawha hoki ahau. No te whānau Moke me te whānau Northcroft ahau.

Tēnā koutou kātoa

I am a proud grandmother of nine mokopuna who make my karu (eyes) twinkle, my ngākau (heart) sing and my puku (stomach) smile.  My family and grandchildren are my motivation and inspiration to contribute to influencing a positive future for our whānau and families in Rotorua and Aotearoa. I continually strive to improve and develop my skills and knowledge as I love learning from the experiences, opportunities, and challenges that life brings.

I was a practising Registered Nurse and Midwife for 32 years before becoming a Member of Parliament in 1999. I was an Associate Minister of Health responsible for Maternity and Older Person’s health. In those roles I learned the value of community and primary care relating to birth and death. I retain that passion as I retire from my Mayoral role.
I am the Co-Chair of this wonderful Trust aiming to advance community awareness and comfort facing death and dying. I know how communities work well together and see an emerging place for advocacy on legislation, workforce gaps and community support for our valued health practitioners who work in this area.
We are stronger when we work and learn from each other, Tatau Tatau.

I have lived in Rotorua permanently since 1997.  It is my home.
Connection to community, giving power to communities and people to make their own choices and addressing social injustice and inequity are things that I have cared for all my life.
I have worked in health care with a focus on these issues, but increasingly see empowerment of communities as critical. This is especially so when dealing with health problems, end of life, grief and loss.  
I am excited to be involved with Te Atawhai Aroha with the opportunity to support community ownership of these important issues.

I have lived, worked and raised my family in Rotorua for over 40 years.  

I think of death as the punctuation that gives the story of one’s life meaning.  I support the work of the Trust in empowering individuals, whanau and communities to have some control over and be supported through the processes of dying and grieving.  

I started my career as a community social worker, moving on to a range of corporate management roles.  I bring this experience to my governance role as a trustee, helping to ensure the great team of volunteers and kaimahi have the resources and support they need to advance the Kaupapa and mahi of Te Atawhai Aroha Compassionate Communities Trust.

Cathy has lived in Rotorua for 30 years and is Secretary of Te Atawhai Aroha Trust. Supporting the growth and development of organisations which contribute to the wellbeing of people, their whānau and the community is important to Cathy. 

With a background in nursing, management, and governance she has held leadership roles in the health and vocational education sectors for our region, along with volunteer involvement in her church and other community organisations. 

Cathy is committed to the kaupapa of Te Atawhai Aroha and has personal experience of caring for family members and friends in their final months and weeks of life, along with supporting them as they make their own choices and plans for their farewell/funeral and burial options.

Ko Karioi te maunga
Ko Whaingaroa to moana
Ko Tainui te waka, Ko Tainui te hapū
He uri ahau o Ngāti Tahinga, Ngāti Koata, Ngāti Porou hoki
Ko Lydia Rickard ahau

Lydia has a background in nursing, having trained at Rotorua Hospital in the 1970s.  Palliative care and end of life as well as sharing information about death, the dying process and what happens after death is a passion. Personal whanau experiences highlighted that we don’t all have the same understanding of what happens when someone is dying; what support is available; what are the legal requirements when a person dies, what whānau can do to prepare ahead of time for death of a loved one or their own death.  Sharing this information will assist whānau to retain mana motuhake at a time that can be stressful. Lydia believes that celebrating death is equally as important as celebrating a new life.

Ko Te Arawa te waka
Ko Tarawera te maunga
Ko Tarawera te awa
Ko Tuhourangi te iwi
Ko John Tapiata au.

My uncle Ngamaru Raerino was the Kaumatua for Te Atawhai Aroha until he recently passed away. I attended a couple of hui which resulted in being co-opted to support. I have a finance / commercial background and travelled extensively throughout Europe. I returned to Rotorua and take an active role in supporting my moko, whanau and iwi. Taking care of people in need, especially during tangihanga is a familiar space to me. It is hoped I can extend the same care and support to the wider Rotorua community.

Mauri ora

Originally from Hawkes Bay. I have lived and worked in Rotorua since 1963.

Educated by the Christian Brothers at Edmund Rice College. Married to Gabrielle with three adult sons. I have been actively involved in Health, Education, the Arts, Disability Sector and Local Body politics at both local and regional level. I am a Past National President of CCS Disability Action (formerly New Zealand CCS) A former member of the Midland RHA, National Health Committee and the former Lakes DHB.

A school trustee from inception of ‘Tomorrow’s Schools’ in 1989 and former proprietor’s representative and chairman of John Paul College board of trustees. I am a trustee of the New Zealand Aria Trust and convenor of the Open Section of that prestigious annual event held here in our city.

I am delighted to be a trustee and to lend my support to the kaupapa, compassion and empathy of Te Atawhai Aroha – Compassionate Communities (Rotorua) Trust.

Ria is of Ngāti Whakaue and Ngāti Pikiao descent.

Ria worked in a range of leadership and management roles in the Public Service before becoming CE of Mary Potter Hospice (Wellington) for 11 years.  She is the Chair of the Māori Leadership group, Te Kāhui Piringa, for Te Tāhū Hauora – Health Quality and Safety Commission. Ria also worked in the Pacific (Nauru) as a teacher for 3 years.

Ria moved to Rotorua in 2025 prior to becoming a Board member of Te Atawhai Hauora.

Ria has a BA (Anthropology), MA (Applied Social Work) and MBA from Victoria University.  Ria received ONZM in 2022, and a ‘Welly’ Award (for Public Service) in 2023.