Working for over 25 years in the nonprofit sector, Carol has a wealth of community experience at local and national level.

Working in Adult Literacy and Adult Education, Carol brings to Rānui her unique experience in building relationships across tertiary, community and corporate sectors, and managing the development and implementation of projects.

Carol enjoys being part of the RAP team working in our amazing community.

Kia ora. Ko Te Arawa, Te Rarawa me Ngati Maru ngā Iwi. I am Māori, Samoan and also have Irish and English whakapapa (geneology).

I have had the privilege of working with Rānui Action Project for the last six years. The whakataukī of Rānui Action Project “Me puāwai tātou katoa i roto i te kotahitanga o Rānui” gifted by Matua Dennis Hansen advises us to progress together in unity.

My name is Jolene Mareko and I am a Rānui resident. I am the House co-ordinator and Administrator.

Before joining RAP I worked at Café Kōrero across the road for 4 and half years. I enjoy working in Rānui and helping our team support the Rānui community.

Tēnā koutou. Ko Deane-Rose Ngatai-Tua tōku ingoa. Ko Ngāti Porou, ko Waikato-Tainui ngā iwi.

I grew up in Rānui and live in Kelston with my husband and our two tamāhine (daughters).

Kapa haka is a big part of our lives.

I have a tertiary background in design and have worked in community and government organisations for 10 years.

Whakapapa, identity, community, tikanga, education, agency and equity are important to me and my mahi.

I have the privilege of supporting the Rānui Action Project on kaupapa that uplift whānau and community voices and grow community leadership.

Fakaalofa kia tautolu oti. My name is Jordan Tapatau Polima and I am a contractor for Rānui Action Project.

I help a lot in the activation spaces so if you ever see us out and about in Rānui say Wassup on your way past.

Kia ora, Fakalofa Lahi Atu, Mālō e lelei. My government name is Chontel Rangi Elia-Peter (lol) but more often than not I go by Chonnie Peters.

I am of Māori, Niuean and Tongan descent. In Aotearoa, my iwi are Ngāti Porou rāua ko Ngāti Kahungunu. In Niue my village is Hakupu, and in Tonga my village is Tokomololo.

I was lucky enough to be born and raised right here in the 135! I am a full time māmā to 4 tamariki (3 girls and 1 boy) who attend/will be attending Rānui Primary School just as I did! In my free time I have the privilege of working in the role of the Rānui Action Project House Coordinator.

I am grateful to have the opportunity to be able to give back to the community that gave to me as I was growing up. I look forward to being apart of an organisation that is consistently creating change within our amazing community.

Ko Ngāti Kahungunu te iwi, ko Ngāti Rakaipaaka te hapu, nō Nuhaka ahau.

For the last 16 years I have worked in the not-for-profit section of Adult Literacy and Adult Education. The greatest part of my journey is being the proud whaea and nanamā to my Māori-Niuean whānau.

My introduction to Rānui Action Project came via the Women of Hope project, where I had the privilege of working with one of the participants. I look forward to working with the team of RAP and the community of Rānui.

Ko tāu rourou, ko tāku rourou, ka ora e te iwi e.

Ko Moana van Leeuwen tōku ingoa, nō Waikato Tainui ahau, nō Ngāti Tamaoho. Ko Mangatangi tōku marae.

Tāmaki ki te Uru - West Auckland is my home and where I was raised. I love to spend my time walking the west coast beaches and in the ngahere.

I have worked in adult education for many years developing resources, courses, teaching and working in communications roles. My role at RAP is to develop Communications and deliver the Learner Driver Licence programme.

Ngā mihi ki a koutou, ngā whānau whānui o Rānui, it is awesome to be welcomed into the RAP whānau and the community of Rānui.

Mauri ora.

My whānau has been proud to call Rānui home since 2008, and I consider it a real privilege to live in such a diverse and vibrant community. While I'm not blind to the challenges that our people face, I believe that Rānui has a unique identity and a huge potential, and I'm grateful and excited for the opportunity to give back and contribute through RAP.

My mahi is based in the Labour electorate office in Henderson where I look after community engagement and comms for our local Member of Parliament, and on weekends you'll often find me pushing my son on the swings at Starling Park.

Having been involved with RAP during its formative years and seeing the advancements made that has had a positive impact on our community it is a real pleasure to be able to contribute once more to advancing the aspirations of our community to achieve positive health and wellbeing outcomes.

I’m excited at the prospect of working with such a dynamic team who share the same beliefs and commitment of Rānui being a great place for everyone.

There are still pockets of our community who are calling for better living conditions that I hope to support. We need to hear their voices and concerns to identify approaches to bring about change. The RAP board has the ability to do this and I’m on board to help.

Ko Te Whakatohea ratou ko Ngāti Porou, Ko Ngai Tuhoe ōku iwi.

I'm a professional engineer by trade, having spent most of my career overseas. I now live in Rānui, and very much appreciate what we have here, with our rich and diverse cultures, with our kind and caring community and with our width of local services on our doorstep.

I'm proud for the opportunity to be on the Rānui Action Project board, to serve the Rānui community.

Malo Lava le Soifua maua ma le Manuia!

Ko Atuolo te mauga,
Ko Vaisigano te awa,
Ko Takitimu te waka,
Ko Samoa te Iwi,
Ko Iva te hapu,
Ko Christina tōku ingoa.

My name is Christina Epati, I gafa (whakapapa) to Iva, Savai’i – Fagaloa, Upolu.

I am first-generation Samoan, born and bred in New Zealand, I am a widowed mother of four young adults. My family have lived in Rānui since 1998, I have raised my children in Rānui and as a Mum with four children under the age of 5, I utilised every service available to me at that time in Rānui to support my Wellbeing and Personal Development.

I am an Indigenous Practitioner and as a child of Pacific migrants I have first-hand experience of the challenges faced with living in NZ society, the tasks of trying to navigate the processes, and systems.

The proverb ‘E fofo e le alamea le alamea’, refers to a tropical fish - alamea that carries the antidote to the poison in its body. The proverb reflects the Samoan beliefs in the strength and capacity of communities to find their own solutions to challenges, especially in relation to their community and when the challenges rise within.

I am looking forward to being part of Rānui Action Project and their story “Me puāwai tātou katoa i roto i te kotahitanga o Rānui.”

I am a retired business person with a real interest in social justice and political reform. My family and I have lived in the Bethells valley for more than thirty years and over that time have watched Rānui develop into a thriving community.

I have been a volunteer advocate with Auckland Action Against Poverty (AAAP) for the last five years and for the past two years have operated out of the RAP offices. My work is largely focussed around ensuring that all those who rely on a benefit get their full entitlement and are treated with respect by MSD officials.

Outside of this work, my hobbies include cooking, growing vegetables and restoring old cars.

Ko Te Tarai o Rahiri te maunga
Ko Mangakahia te awa
Ko Ngāpuhi te iwi
Ko Tirihia Taniora Whareumu Kuha rāua ko Bert Maney ōku tūpuna
Ka heke ki a ahau, ko Susan Rose e mihi atu nei ki a koutou.

Nō reira, me mahi tahi tātou i roto i te aroha, i te rangimārie me te manawanui, i raro i te korowai manaakitanga o Ranginui me Papatūānuku.

Kia ora, I moved to Rānui from a small town down country and have enjoyed the past 25+ years in Auckland.

Having held various roles within government organisations and contracting to the government my focus has and will always be 'people', empower, motivating and encouraging people to achieve their goals. On a personal level I have been involved with Waitākere Māori Touch as a player, manager, secretary and now as a trustee. I have also been secretary for Māori Touch NZ.

Most recently I am blessed to be the Rānui Community Garden Coordinator for the Rānui Community Centre and am excited about the future prospects of getting the community more involved.

Being a ‘can-do’ person with a mature healthy sense of humour; I am passionate about ensuring the Rānui Community receives the ultimate connection and manaakitanga.

I resonate and work alongside the visions, values and goals of Rānui Action Project.

"Mahia i runga i te rangimārie me te ngākau māhaki - with a peaceful mind and a respectful heart, we will always get the best results."

Ko wai au? – Who am I?
Ko Whangatautia tōku maunga
Ko Karirikura tōku moana
Ko Waiora tōku awa
Ko Tinana tōku waka
Ko Te Rarawa tōku iwi
Ko Ngāti Wairoa tōku hapu
Ko Roma tōku marae
Ko Te Ohaki te whare tupuna
Ko McPherson rāua ko Ihaka ōku whānau
Nō Ahipara to Rohe mē Hokianga ō ngā whenua
Ko Tāmaki Makaurau tōku kainga
Ko Tania McPherson tōku ingoa

Whakakapi taku kōrero, he whakataukī nō Ahipara

Kia u ki te whakapono, me aroha tētahi ki tētahi - Have unwavering faith and love one another.

Nō reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa.

Kia ora.
I am the proud mother of four boys and a girl. My bones hail from Ahipara in the Far North. I was born and raised in Massey, West Auckland. I attended Don Buck Primary School and Massey High School.

I am a community support worker with Te Kōtuku ki te Rangi working with Māori of West Auckland in the mental health sector. Guiding and supporting tāngata whaiora to live their best lives. Promoting the enhancement mana to empower their individuality by embracing mātauranga Māori and abiding tikanga o Te Ao Māori.

My whaakaro and passion are to support the community of Rānui strengthening the authentic selves of the people with unwavering manaaki and aroha promoting partnership, protection, and participation.

Whāia te iti kahurangi ki te tūohu koe me he maunga tei tei - Seek the treasure you value most dearly. If you bow your head, let it be to a lofty mountain.

This whakatauākī is about aiming high for what is truly valuable, but its real message is to be persistent to not let any obstacle stop you from reaching your goals.

Ngā mihi nui.