My name is Jolene Mareko and I am a Rānui resident. I am the manager of Rānui Action Project.

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.

Ko Ngāti Kahungunu te iwi, ko Ngāti Rakaipaaka te hapu, nō Ngā Nuhaka ahau. Außerdem bin ich preußischer und deutscher Abstammung. I am also of Prussian and German descent.

He kaimahi o mua ahau mo te Ministry of Social Development, University of Auckland, Auckland City Council, Adult Literacy and Adult Education. Ko au koe matua fifine moe matua tupuna matalahi he haaku a tau fanau moe tau pulapulaola Mauli-Niue. I am the devoted mother and taua of my Māori-Niuean family.
And I am proud to be part the multicultural, multilingual, multi-skilled, community-focused team of Rānui Action Project.

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,

Mauri ora.

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 Denis Hansen advises us to progress together in unity.

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.

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.”

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.

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 Wai Au?

I hail from the centre of the world, Ahipara, and I belong to Te Rarawa iwi.

I am a born and bred Westie – once living in Rānui and now residing in Massey, basically still neighbours.

Both of my tamariki attended Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o te Kōtuku, a place close to our hearts.

I work in the community as a Kai Manaaki with the Kahu Taurima team at Te Puna Manawa, supporting our Māmā, Pāpā and Pēpi from conception through to five years old.

I became a member of the Rānui Action Project board as a way of giving back, because I love our people and this community.

Ngā mihi nui ki a koutou katoa.