E tūtaki ana ngā kapua o te rangi, kei runga, kei runga te Mangoroa e kōpae pū ana | The clouds in the sky close over, but above them spreads the milky way

PADA

Ngā Kaiārahi | Board of Trustees

Ngā Kaiārahi | Board of Trustees

Te Tiriti Relationship Governance Model

In July 2021, PADA implemented the Te Tiriti Relationship Governance Model, based on a three-whare model. This model reflects a true partnership between tangata whenua and tangata tiriti sharing the leadership and responsibility with co-chairs. Te Whare o Te Tiriti o Waitangi is the decision-making space where all the members come together to discuss, debate, and negotiate their various positions on any given topic. The whare of Tangata Whenua comprises whānau, hapū and iwi plus their descendants. The whare of Tangata Tiriti comprises all other people of Aotearoa and their descendants. Our Board of Trustees represents the length and breadth of Aotearoa New Zealand and we are committed to becoming a truly Te Tiriti honouring organisation.

Representation that is based on the structures of a partnership, rather than the number of people, is a fundamental point of difference from conventional decision-making. We believe that the three-whare model is helpful for enabling Tangata Whenua views to be heard. The Board also agreed to commit to equal representation of Tangata Whenua and Tangata Tiriti on the PADA Board by the end of 2023.

PADA Te Tiriti Relationship Governance Model

Huia Hanlen (Tapuika), PADA Co-Chair Tangata Whenua

Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland

After 30 years’ experience in the tertiary education sector, beginning as an educator and culminating in executive roles that sought to create system change and improve equitable outcomes. Huia was excited to take up the position as Kaihautū / Chief Executive of Brainwave Trust Aotearoa in mid-2019 and is equally humbled to join the Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Aotearoa Board (PADA). Many of the roles Huia has held in education have been focussed on developing authentic relationships with both individuals and communities. Huia’s commitment to education is driven from the impact that knowledge and skill development can have on an individual and their whanau, hapu and iwi.

Poipoia te kākano, he puāwai; nuture the seed and it will blossom

Leigh Bredenkamp, PADA Co-Chair Tangata Tiriti

Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington

As a communications professional, I welcome the opportunity to further promote the mental health of women and men during the time when a family welcomes a new baby into their lives. Through PADA, I will continue to work to strengthen awareness of mental health issues which can affect families.

I believe the health and wellbeing of whānau of all cultures, ethnicities, religions and compositions is crucial for society to thrive. And for families to thrive, communities need to be educated, supportive and well resourced.

Te Whare Tangata Whenua

comprises whānau, hapū and iwi plus their descendants

Patsy Kainuku

Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington

Ko Mātaatua te waka
Ko Ōhinemataroa te awa
Ko Nāti Tāwhaki te hapu
Ko Tūhoe te iwi
Ko Te Aare te ingoa whānau
Ko Patsy Kainuku ahau

Kia Ora, my name is Patsy, I am māmā to 5 and have experienced maternal distress with all my children. These experiences led me to pursue a career in the mental health and addiction field where I have spent most of my career working as a mental health and addictions clinician, then onto supervision and social policy. Most recently I have been working in Māori advisory roles specialising in Te Tiriti o Waitangi best practice and strategic engagement.

I am very passionate about enhancing the wellbeing of whānau and feel honoured to be part of the PADA board.

Ajay Nielsen (Waikato-Tainui, Ngāti Maru)

Kirikiriroa Hamilton

Perinatal Mental Health became a passion for me soon after my son was born in 2016. Although the birth of a child is such a special time, it can also be a difficult one especially without appropriate support. The birth of my son also became a catalyst to a career change, and during my maternity leave I left my job as an Intelligence Analyst at Inland Revenue to start clinical psychology training at Waikato University.

I now work for Te Whatu Ora (Health NZ) as a Clinical Psychologist in the Adult Mental Health and Addictions service. Within this role, I quite often work with pregnant people and new parents who have experienced significant trauma. I am on Parental Leave until September 2023 as I recently welcomed twin girls.

Bianca Taute (Te Arawa, Tainui)

Rotorua

Kia ora koutou katoa
Ko Te Arawa me Tainui ngā iwi
No Rotorua toku ūkaipō

I am Bianca Te Aroha Taute (PGCertHealSc-Otago) (MEdLeadership- Waikato), a proud single mama working in the privileged space of helping māmā adjust to the enormous role of being a mama. It it not an easy journey, but one that PADA assists by helping in normalise – that Perinatal Mental health does not discriminate between age, ethnicity, education or status.

It affects many mana wāhine in Aotearoa and PADA also provide amazing resources to assist in our mahi, but also builds our kete to learn more about these feelings and behaviours.

I am excited to be a voice on our board that represents the Māmā of Te Arawa I’m blessed to know. Ngā mihi.

Bianca Taupe PADA Board Tangata Whenua

Leon Hohepa (Ngāti Tahu, Ngati Whaoa, Ngāpuhi)

Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington

Ko Paeroa te māhunga
Ko Waikato te awa
Ko Manunui-a-rangi te waka
Ko Waimahana raua ko Maatarae te ūkaipō
Ko Tahu matua te tupuna
Ko Leon Hohepa ahau

Kia ora my name is Leon, I am a father to 2 beautiful humans and a Visual Artist specialising in Māori art and design.

Through my personal journey with mental/general health I now know how important being healthy is to raising a family. That is why I am so passionate about PADA and am honoured to have the opportunity to bring my skills and perspective to help other families in any way I can.

Te Whare Tangata Tiriti

comprises all other people of Aotearoa and their descendants

Carrie Cornsweet Barber, Ph.D., PADA Deputy Co-Chair Tangata Tiriti

Kirikiriroa Hamilton

I was working as a child clinical psychologist when, after two miscarriages, I was 26 weeks into my third pregnancy and finally feeling comfortable, like this one might be ok… then I started having contractions, and ended up in the hospital, and then on bed rest at home (out in the country, alone) for two months.

It all turned out ok. My son decided to stay in there as long as possible, and eventually had to be extracted by caesarean, but it was the first step on my path toward an interest in helping other women coping with stress and distress during pregnancy and in early parenting.

I am now a Senior Lecturer at the University of Waikato, training aspiring psychologists, and working on developing and researching tools and strategies to help new parents cope with the changes and challenges they face.

Elizabeth Tinkler, BSC, BCA, CA, PADA Treasurer

Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington

I am a chartered accountant currently working in the insurance industry with previous experience in professional services, construction as well as not for profits.

I have recently become a parent and when the opportunity to join the PADA board presented itself I could not think of a better way to use my skills to give back to the community. It wasn’t until I decided to start my own family that I realised how common miscarriage was and how little it is still talked about. Starting a family for some people can be a longer journey than others and even once you are successful, the anxiety, stress and even depression can continue. I believe it is important that parents have access to appropriate information and support for mental health and wellbeing which is why I am pleased to be involved with PADA to help fulfil the organisation’s purpose.

Brendon Smith

Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland

As a new Dad, working full time, Brendon was struggling while trying to help his wife and two young babies.  He sank into depression soon after taking over as ‘at-home dad’ and reached out for help.

There wasn’t much. Having been to antenatal classes, he’d heard the term postnatal depression, but didn’t understand it. He didn’t like going to work and didn’t want to see friends.

Brendon began recovering when he found a Father and Child magazine and soon become a support worker for other dads. He has previously been CEO of Kidz Need Dadz NZ, runs a DadzKare support group in Auckland and helped develop the Why Dads? resource for new or expecting couples. 

Dr Mathanki  Vivekananda

Tauranga

I graduated from Auckland Medical school in 2013 and worked my junior doctor years in beautiful Rotorua. I then took three months off clinical medicine and spent time in Kenya teaching English at a rural primary school. Following this, I moved to Wellington and completed further training in psychiatry for a few years, then changed over to General Practice. My family then relocated to Tauranga which is now home for us! I work in General Practice and love my job. I enjoy working with people from different cultural backgrounds.

I am a mum to two young boys and motherhood has given me an invaluable amount of knowledge and understanding when it comes to maternal health as well as babies and toddlers in general. I have a strong passion for mental health and I am thrilled to be on the PADA Board.

PADA

Pūrongo Ā-Tau | Annual Reports