Kate (Ngāti Airihi, Ngāti Kōtarani) is a Tangata Tiriti and a graduate of Te Tohu Paetahi ki Tauranga Moana. Kate has a background in science and research, but since having children of Māori heritage has turned her attention to supporting the cultivation of a fairer and more equitable Aotearoa. She believes for this to come to fruition, then we must strive to learn and understand tā te Māori titiro | the Māori world view. For only then can we truly walk in each others shoes and only then can we have the understanding to create an environment in which all lives are enriched.  Following the adage "kia Māori te reo" (make the reo Māori) she is passionate about teaching both te reo with cultural competency and safety as they are so intrinsically linked. Her particular talent is teaching to all tangata | people in an inclusive, warm and welcoming environment.

Matt (Kāi Tahu, Kāti Mamoe, Waitaha) is a Māori doctor with a passion for Te Reo. Using this as a window into Te Ao Māori | The Māori world he believes this is the essence to turning a doctor who has whakapapa Māori into a Māori doctor and to creating well rounded, culturally safe clinicians. Having done his te reo learning under the auspices of Te Ataarangi (a total immersion way of learning originating from Hawaii) he is a firm believer in "Ko te reo kia rere ka tika, Ko te reo kia mū tē tika" (the spoken language can be corrected, the language that is silent, cannot). As part of medical training Matt has had frequent exposure to teaching and training and is no stranger to a crowd.  After witnessing first hand the discrepancies in healthcare for Māori vs non Māori, Matt has resolved to create change by empowering those around him with knowledge and skills to provide a culturally safe environment for all.

Matt, in his day job is the Clinical Equity Lead for Tauranga Hospital and volunteers as the Chair of the Māori Health Committee for the Royal Australasian College of Physisicans, as a member of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, Māori Health and Workforce Steering Committee for the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia, and a member of Te Whiri Kaha (National Māori Clinical Senate). He is a frequent speaker at Grand Rounds and international conferences on Cultural Competency and Safety.

Mā te huruhuru ka rere te manu

Only with feathers can a bird fly