PADA
Ngā Kaimahi | Our Team
About us
Ngā Kaimahi | Our Team
KAIWHAKAHAERE MATUA | GENERAL MANAGER
Amy Castle
With 20 years of professional experience in business management and operations and a passion for growth, I am hoping to bring a fresh perspective and valuable skills to the PADA table. Throughout my career, I have worked in a variety of companies and gained valuable experience honing my skills. I have worked with not-for-profits and have been running my own company for the last few years. With a keen eye for detail, a collaborative approach, and a drive to achieve results, I hope to be a valuable asset to the PADA team.
Outside of work, you will find me hitting the gym or hanging out with my three kids. Fitness and healthy living are key to success in life.
POU-Ā-TARI | Office Administrator
Julia Kilby
I am so pleased to join PADA as the Office Administrator. With a background in sales and administrative work, I can use my skills to help support our wonderful office team and team of educators and speakers. Through my own personal journey with postnatal depression and anxiety, I feel particularly passionate about the important work PADA does to raise awareness, reduce stigma and increase knowledge in this area of care.
Originally from the UK, I arrived in Wellington in July 2022 with my husband and two young children. We are absolutely loving life here in beautiful New Zealand and are enjoying exploring everything Aotearoa has to offer. In my spare time I enjoy going for walks, a day at the beach, listening to podcasts and attending ballet classes. I also volunteer as facilitator for the charity Mothers Network, which is how I originally came across PADA.
Kaiwhakahaere Kohi Moni | Fundraising Manager
Amanda Knight
PADA’s work is fully funded by grants and fundraising and my role is to ensure that funding continues, so PADA can continue our important mahi. Having been involved with Playcentre Aotearoa for 10 years with my children, I am excited to continue in a role supporting whānau, especially in the early days of parenting. I have a passion for diversity and inclusion, particularly ensuring every person has what they need to access to, and fully participate in, their communities and places of learning.
Originally from Christchurch I have lived in Wellington for 10 years with my husband and two primary aged boys. In my spare time I love adding to my growing board game collection. I also love to make and create things, from experimenting with new donut flavours, to knitting and crafting for friends and family.
Kaiwhakahaere Pūtea | Finance Manager
Liz Granger
Kaiwhakahaere Whakapā | COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER
Kirstie Beleski
Being a part of this team, helping to fulfill PADA’s vision feels like the perfect fit, especially with my background in early childhood education and becoming a mum in 2022. My eyes were opened to how integral PADA is and other organisations out there in advocating for perinatal mental health.
My spare time mostly consists of keeping up with my busy toddler, playing hockey, watching sport, and exploring the outdoors.
About us
Ngā Kaiako | Our Educators
PADA Kaumātua and Kāiarahi Māori
Joanne Teina
Ko Joanne Teina taku ingoa
Ko Pirongia me Taupiri aku Maunga
Ko Waipapa me Waikato aku awa
Ko Kahotea taku marae
Ko Ngāti Apakura taku iwi
Ko Ngāti Hinetu taku hapu
Ngā mihi mahana ki a koutou
I am the partner of John, a mother to 11 grown adults, Nanny Jo to 17 mokopuna, 1 great mokopuna and expecting a new great mokopuna in 2025. I am a daughter, sister, aunty, and cousin to many.
I graduated as a registered nurse in 1990, and as a midwife in 1992. I was one of the first LMC Māori Midwives to practice in South Auckland and spent 18 years providing care for Māori whānau, during this time I was a founding member of Putea o Pua trust that created what is now know as Turuki Health Care in Mangere. I was Hapūtanga Kaiārahi for Ngāti Whātua ki Ōrākei 2014-2020 and I also helped establish Ngā Maia which is the National Māori midwives organisation.
My passion was and still is to restore traditional Māori birth knowledge and wisdom to whānau. My other passion is Maternal Mental Health. I have lived experience with perinatal depression as do my daughters and nieces.
I am the Kaumātua and Kaiārahi Māori for PADA. I have been facilitating Wānanga Hapūtanga in Tāmaki Makaurau for 30 years and I am currently growing the next generation of facilitators through our Hine Ora Hine Tū programme. I am also co-creating a Wānanga Hapūtanga for whānau with both AOD and perinatal mental health challenges, that will be rolled out across the motu in 2025.
Kaiako Pasifika | PADA Educator Pasifika
Jasmine Davis
Ko Waiapu te Awa
Ko Ngati Porou me Siufaga, Savaii Samoa te Iwi
Ko Jasmine Davis toku Ingoa
Talofa lava, I am a New Zealand born and raised Samoan, Māori and European Teine/Wahine who has grown up in the vibrant and cultural South Auckland. This upbringing of rich culture sparked my passion to work alongside, understand and support our Pasifika brothers and sisters navigate the many obstacles they face adjusting to life in New Zealand. I am a mother to two daughters, Amani born 2015 and newest addition born in July 2022.
I completed a diploma in Youth Work and more recently, a Bachelor’s degree in Youth Development. I enjoy empowering young people with the tools, resources and support around exploring and acknowledging their roots, identity and potential.
I work for a Pacific organization, Fonua Ola, as their Youth Worker, working alongside social work team, counsellors and the Hala Ora Wellbeing team who work specifically around mental health. We are intertwined and use a wraparound approach.
Being part of PADA provides a great platform to share, educate and be able to allow genuine exposure and real experiences to be shared around perinatal and postpartum depression, realizing that myself and many of my own family, friends and clients had lived through it without knowing what it was or how to get help.
I am privileged to be part of the PADA team and being able to contribute towards this movement of shedding more light around maternal mental health.
