Ko wai māua?
Who are we?
Ngā kaihāpai o te kaupapa Takiwātanga
Autism support - NZ
Jessica Hita
Kaiwhakahaere
Ngāti Ueoneone - Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Tara - Ngāti Kahu
Jessica works as a Treaty of Waitangi Lawyer promoting and protecting clients' rights and interests and is passionate about Māori Legal interests. Given her legal background working predominantly in the Waitangi Tribunal jurisdiction, Jessica is also passionate about ensuring Crown agencies and organisations are committed to their Treaty obligations to Māori.
Outside of her full-time mahi, Jessica is a member of Te Whakamanatia Te Oranga o Waikato (Enabling Good Lives Waikato) Leadership board and is extremely passionate about transforming the disability system to ensure tāngata whaikaha are thriving in accessible and inclusive communities where they can exercise their tino rangatiratanga.
Jessica started ‘Living with takiwātanga’ after her son Te Aurere was diagnosed with the aim of raising awareness around being Māori living with a ‘disability’, to educate and empower whānau to lead confident lives, have access to reliable and relatable knowledge around what services and support are available to them and ensuring whānau are supported when navigating the disability sector.
It is Te Aurere that gives her the passion to work in this space and to advocate for change in the hope other whānau Māori will not have to face the same challenges as hers.
Tuhoro Paki
Kaiwhakahaere
Ngaati Whaawhaakia - Waikato
Tuhoro graduated in 2017 with a Bachelor of Social Sciences majoring in Social and Public Policy and Maaori and Indigenous Studies from the University of Waikato. He is currently a Senior Policy Advisor in the Strategy and Relationships team at an Iwi Organisation based in Waikato.
Born and raised in the Waikato, Tuhoro has been fortunate to have grown up under the mantle and values of the Kiingitanga movement. Involved in his iwi both as a Kaimahi and as one of the many Kaitiaki of Taupiri Maunga, Tuhoro has a strong passion in supporting and realising the aspirations of whaanau, marae, hapuu and iwi.
Delivering workshops and waananga alongside whaanau has been the single most rewarding experience for Tuhoro along this journey, enabling whaanau to realise their potential and empowering them to lead their lives exactly as they wish.
Ensuring that no other whaanau or tangata whaitakiwaatanga have to face the challenges that he, Jessica and Te Aurere have had to endure, motivates Tuhoro to continue to clear the pathway of all obstacles for whaanau and advocate for greater change to a system that is mana enhancing and inclusive.
From our whānau to yours.
Nau mai.
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With a legal background and a deep connection with their Māori culture, community and realities of the challenges associated with takiwātanga - Jessica and Tuhoro are specially positioned as people who can offer sound, practical advice to whānau living with takiwātanga (autism). Their deep-rooted sense of community and experiences allow them to support and guide others living with takiwātanga (autism). It is their goal to give taonga the opportunity to take up space in the world that they are entitled to and give their whānau the support they need to help them get there.
It is a unique blend of circumstantial factors, empathy, cultural and legal awareness that makes Jessica and Tuhoro, unlike any other takiwātanga (autism) support in NZ.
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To begin with, the team at Kanorau give you the space to simply be and experience the emotions you are facing while trying to navigate takiwātanga at home, at school, and out in the community. They remove any stigma you may feel, as there is absolutely nothing wrong with being unique. Kanorau gives you practical advice, learning opportunities, resources and information to help you and your family understand how to live with takiwātanga with absolute confidence and acceptance, knowing where to seek help, and how to apply the things you are learning and stick to them. If you are feeling overwhelmed about how to handle certain situations or navigate different support services, Jessica and Tuhoro can help your whānau get through the difficulties to find a sustainable, enjoyable way of life for all that doesn’t prohibit you or your tamariki from living your life to the fullest with a support network to lean on when you need them.
