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Family violence doesn’t just hurt one person – it leaves a lasting impact on the health and wellbeing of everyone within a whānau or family. Yet, too often, the voices of whānau and families are left out when designing how we respond to family violence. To ensure our services truly help rather than harm, it’s crucial that we listen to what really matters to whānau and families seeking care.
By sharing your experience, you can help create the changes that truly matter. Throughout the study, we’ll provide healing spaces, support, and a platform for education and advocacy—together, we can drive real, meaningful change for our communities.
Get to know us, the people behind What Matters to Whānau.
Kia ora, I am Director of the Centre for Interdisciplinary Trauma Research based within the Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences at Auckland University of Technology (AUT). With Polish heritage, I relocated to New Zealand from the United States with my partner and three children over two decades ago. My role at AUT is influenced by my nursing practice, teaching and research. I am dedicated to fostering a health system culture that prioritises sensitive, nonjudgemental care promoting safety and healing from both past and current traumas.
Atawhai role: Co-investigator
Expertise: Strengthening the health response to family violence, health research
Kia ora, I’m a Senior Research Fellow at AUT, and have the privilege of leading this research team of great minds and big hearts. I have a strong passion for social justice and human rights. My mahi aims to disrupt systems of inequality and inequity by raising community voices. I whakapapa to Tauranga Moana through my two sons and am a proud Collective member of Tauranga Women’s Refuge.
Atawhai roles: Co-Investigator and Project Lead; Facilitator, General Population Health caucus
Expertise: Health system responses to family violence, complexity theory, social network analysis, primary care
Kia ora, I am Managing Director at Manawaora The Centre for Health, based in Tauranga. A big part of what we do is bridging the gap between science and mataruanga Māori in both research and in health services. I am of Tauranga Moana descent and am passionate about helping to shape a health system that works with and for people.
Atawhai roles: Co-Investigator, and Rapporteur for Māori health rōpū.
Expertise: Māori health, kaupapa Māori health research, community engagement, Māori governance
Kia ora, I work for Te Whakaruruhau o Tauranga Moana (Tauranga Womens Refuge), in the Bay of Plenty. I whakapapa to Ngati Pukenga, Ngaiterangi and Te Arawa through my mother and Far North, Ngati Kahu through my parents. I am passionate about holding space for women and children and supporting whanau impacted by family violence. I am currently studying at Te Wananga o Aotearoa on the Master’s Indigenous Practice.
Atawhai roles: Co-Investigator, and Rapporteur for Māori health rōpū.
Expertise: Specialist family violence services, community service provision
Kia ora e te whānau, my intention is to always bring presence, compassion, care perspective, respect, deep listening and reflection in spaces where trauma informed care and integration are key. If there is a place where people need additional resources and professional support, I follow ethical guidelines and am on the What Matters to Whānau team to support in this way. I have a Sāmoan and Tokelau Peoples lineage (villages of Falealili, Togafu'afu'a and Vaisiagno) on my Mother’s side carrying into my contexts Pasifika wisdom and healing and am a Mama of three.
Atawhai role: Project Support and Communications
Kia ora, I am a General Practitioner at Ngãti Kahu Hauora and Clinical Director at Western Bay of Plenty PHO.
I am committed to providing compassionate and culturally responsive care and supporting individuals and their whãnau to access critical services and support systems, fostering safety and well-being for all.
In my role as Clinical Director, I work closely with healthcare teams and community organizations to ensure providers receive the necessary support and resources, particularly when navigating the complex challenges of family violence.
I am a passionate advocate for person and whãnau-centered care, and strive to create an environment where all people feel seen, heard, and supported.
Atawhai roles: Co-Investigator, Bay of Plenty Primary Care Advisor, Hauora
Expertise: Sexual violence specialist, general practice, local clinical service delivery and general practice networks
I am drawn to understanding how to solve complex problems like ending family violence and whauau are key to this. A fourth generation Australian I identify myself as tangata Tiriti. I came to Aotearoa on a working holiday some decades ago. Now with kiwi whanau of my own that ‘holiday’ has extended for much of my working life which has been lived in Otepoti and Poneke working in secondary schools, government and now researching in public policy. Nobody can fully understand complex problems but everyone knows a bit of the puzzle and can contribute something to solving it.
Atawhai roles: Co-Investigator and Project Lead; Facilitator, General Population Health caucus
Expertise: Complexity theory, social network analysis, policy and public management
Kia ora, I whakapapa to Kai Tahu and Ngati Kahungunu. The Tipa whānau are from Moeraki on the East Coast of Te Waipounamu. I work as the Chief Nurse for Whānau Āwhina Plunket. I am committed to increasing the accessibility and cultural safety of health services for whānau Māori. My research is in the field of well child/ tamariki ora (WCTO) nursing and asked whānau “what matters to you” when accessing these services. Working alongside whānau, I developed a framework for cultural responsiveness outlining the key elements that promote engagement with WCTO services. I am passionate about translating research into practice and seeing real change in the systems and process that drive the way organisations engage with whānau.
Atawhai roles: Knowledge Translation Strategist
Kia Ora, I am a GP based in tamaki Makarau where I live with my 3 daughters, I whakapapa to the Far North, ngati kahu is my iwi. I am passionate about providing whānau/families with a healthcare model focused on compassion and respect and enjoy working with a team that shares my values to deliver the best healthcare service prossible. I have a special interest in family violence prevention. Iwi afficiliations: Ngati Kahu, Te Rarawa and Ngati Whatua.
Tēnā koutou katoa, I am a kaitiaki of our Atawhai team and whakapapa to both Te Arawa and Mataatua waka. I enjoy working with and for our team of professionals in the research and family violence space. Where I will be using some of our kōrero, experiences and findings in my current PhD studies. Ngā mihi o te wā, Hori.
As the kōrero goes, ‘it takes a village to raise a child’. I am a child of my small Māori village in Rotorua, called Whakarewarewa. Tangata Whenua was not a word that I was familiar with until I got a bit older, but I now understand it through my experience of growing up in the steam, the river, our geothermal springs, my marae and as a host to many cultures of the world. My professional practice has been based on the responsibility my Village has on behalf of Māoridom, in Manaakitanga and Kaitiakitanga of people and culture.
Kia ora! I am an experienced professional specializing in administrative support and financial management, currently serving in our research center environment. My background relates to valuable roles in business administration and financial services, with a strong foundation built through hands-on experience in customer-oriented management services involving multiple stakeholders. My work is focused on delivering high-quality support, and I am dedicated to developing in-demand skills in a fast-growing environment while prioritizing exceptional customer service and professional growth.
Atawhai roles: Administrative support and financial services
Claire Gear. Kia ora, I’m a Senior Research Fellow at AUT, and have the privilege of leading this research team of great minds and big hearts. I have a strong passion for social justice and human rights. My mahi aims to disrupt systems of inequality and inequity by raising community voices. I whakapapa to Tauranga Moana through my two sons and am a proud Collective member of Tauranga Women’s Refuge.
Hazel Hape. Kia ora, I work for Te Whakaruruhau o Tauranga Moana (Tauranga Womens Refuge), in the Bay of Plenty. I whakapapa to Ngati Pukenga, Ngaiterangi and Te Arawa through my mother and Far North, Ngati Kahu through my parents. I am passionate about holding space for women and children and supporting whanau impacted by family violence. I am currently studying at Te Wananga o Aotearoa on the Master’s Indigenous Practice programme.
Anna Rolleston. Kia ora, I am Managing Director at Manawaora The Centre for Health, based in Tauranga. A big part of what we do is bridging the gap between science and mataruanga Māori in both research and in health services. I am of Tauranga Moana descent and am passionate about helping to shape a health system that works with and for people.
Matetu Mihinui – Te Arawa. As the korero goes, ‘it takes a village to raise a child’. I am a child of my small Maori village in Rotorua, called Whakarewarewa.
Tangata Whenua was not a word that I was familiar with until I got a bit older, but I now understand it through my experience of growing up in the steam, the river, our geothermal springs, my marae and as a host to many cultures of the world.
My professional practice has been based on the responsibility my Village has on behalf of Maoridom, in Manaakitanga and Kaitiakitanga of people and culture.
Zoe Tipa. Kia ora, I whakapapa to Kai Tahu and Ngati Kahungunu. The Tipa whānau are from Moeraki on the East Coast of Te Waipounamu. I work as the Chief Nurse for Whānau Āwhina Plunket. I am committed to increasing the accessibility and cultural safety of health services for whānau Māori. My research is in the field of well child/ tamariki ora (WCTO) nursing and asked whānau “what matters to you” when accessing these services. Working alongside whānau, I developed a framework for cultural responsiveness outlining the key elements that promote engagement with WCTO services. I am passionate about translating research into practice and seeing real change in the systems and process that drive the way organisations engage with whānau.
Dr Gabrielle Moss. Kia ora, I am a GP based in tamaki Makarau where I live with my 3 daughters, I whakapapa to the Far North , ngati kahu is my iwi. I am passionate about providing whānau/families with a healthcare model focused on compassion and respect and enjoy working within a team that shares my values to deliver the best healthcare service possible. I have a special interest in family violence prevention. Iwi affiliations: Ngati Kahu, Te Rarawa and Ngati Whatua
Elizabeth Eppel: I am drawn to understanding how to solve complex problems like ending family violence and whauau are key to this. A fourth generation Australian I identify myself as tangata Tiriti. I came to Aotearoa on a working holiday some decades ago. Now with kiwi whanau of my own that ‘holiday’ has extended for much of my working life which has been lived in Otepoti and Poneke working in secondary schools, government and now researching in public policy. Nobody can fully understand complex problems but everyone knows a bit of the puzzle and can contribute something to solving it
Hori Ahomiro. Tēnā koutou katoa, I am a kaitiaki of our Atawhai team and whakapapa to both Te Arawa and Mataatua waka. I enjoy working with and for our team of professionals in the research and family violence space. Where I will be using some of our kōrero, experiences and findings in my current PhD studies.
Ngā mihi o te wā, Hori.
Lisa Mullions. Kia ora e te whānau, my intention is to always bring presence, compassion, care perspective, respect, deep listening and reflection in spaces where trauma informed care and integration are key. If there is a place where people need additional resources and professional support, I follow ethical guidelines and am on the What Matters to Whānau team to support in this way. I have a Sāmoan and Tokelau Peoples lineage (villages of Falealili, Togafu’afu’a and Vaisiagno) on my Mother’s side carrying into my contexts Pasifika wisdom and healing and am a Mama of three.
