Our takiwātanga resources and workshops have been shaped by the voices, experiences, and mātauranga of tāngata takiwātanga, whānau, hapori, and kaupapa Māori professionals across Aotearoa. Our approach is in a te ao Māori worldview, guided by whanaungatanga, whakapapa, kotahitanga, and aroha. The resources were co-created through wānanga, hui, kōrero and lived experiences.
This project and its resources were supported by Te Pou funding, through Your Way | Kia Roha, Altogether Autism and Kanorau Takiwātanga Consultants.
This project was co-led by:
Jessica Hita, Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Kahu
Jessica, on behalf of Kanorau Takiwātanga Consultants is a Māmā to ataonga takiwātanga, a te Titiri lawyer and a strong advocate for tāngatawhaikaha Māori in the disability space. Jessica is a Director of Kanorau, a kaupapa that provides Māori Autism support, information and programs to enable taonga takiwātanga and their whānau to lead good lives and to educate professionals who support taonga takiwātanga to grow their knowledge and understanding of takiwātanga from a Te Ao Māori perspective.
Jamie-Leigh Timoti, Ngai Tai
Jamie-Leigh on behalf of Altogether Autism is an experienced community facilitator with over five years’ experience in autism information and education. She is a māmā to neurodivergent children and has lived experience of disability at a professional, personal, whānau and community level. Jamie-Leigh worked on the release of He Karu, He Taringa and is experienced in delivering reflective practice sessions based on content and context.
Project Advisors:
Nikora Heke, Ngāpuhi, Te Rarawa, Waikato, Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Toa, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Kahungungu, Ngāti Tūhourangi, Ngāti Porou
Nikora is married to Zania, and together they raise their seven children in Waikato. He is passionate about using his experiences in the health and disability sectors to inform and empower Māori self-determination. He is a deep thinker, and a strategist who draws on the logical strengths that come from being autistic.
Dr Pouroto Ngaropo, Mataatua, Te Arawa, Tainui, Takitimu, Ngātokimatawhaorua
Dr Pouroto Ngaropo is a skilled tohunga, senior cultural expert and historian of mātauranga Māori. He is connected to many iwi and hapū throughout Aotearoa.
He is a champion of the Māori language and continues to work towards the preservation and sustainability of Māori cultural narratives. He is a dedicated Chairman and leader of Te Tawera Hapū and Iramoko Marae.
In 2019, he received a MNZM for service to Māori and governance. In 2022, he was awarded an honorary doctorate from the Auckland University of Technology (AUT).
Dr Pouroto has a mokopuna living with takiwātanga and is a senior advisor for disability organisation Your Way | Kia Roha.
Tahuaroa Ohia, Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāti Pukenga, Te Arawa, Ngāti te Roro o te Rangi, Ngāti Hine, Ngāpuhi
Ko Tahuaroa Matatu Cherrington Ohia toku ingoa. He uri ahau nō Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāti Pukenga, Te Arawa, Ngāti te Roro o te Rangi, Ngāti Hine me Ngāpuhi hoki.
I am currently working at Māoriland doing filmmaker, concept arts and voice acting.
I was diagnosed with Autism and Global Developmental Delay when I was six years old.
I stopped speaking when I was four years old, and the only way I could communicate with others was by quoting lines from movies and TV shows. As I got older and my verbal communication grew, I continued to use these quotes as a way to express myself.
I learned how to walk on all fours from learning how to be a lion. When I went to Pekerau Primary School, I fell in love with both acting & kapa haka. I wanted to do acting because I was inspired by animals, dinosaurs & movies.
Stevie Warren, Ngāpuhi
Ko Stevie Warren ahau
He uri tēnei no te maara o Taiamai.
Ko Ngatirangi me Ngaitāwake ki te tuawhenua oku hapu.
I have been a teacher for the past 15 years but my greatest achievement is raising 5 beautiful tamariki alongside my husband Raniera. Our eldest child has been diagnosed with Takiwātanga and as a whānau we work hard to always be strengths based and support him to be confident and proud of who he is.
