About us
Ko wai mātou
Te Kāhui Hauora o Te Tauihu | The Wellness Alliance
Our name is not just a label; it is a beacon of unity and shared purpose. It captures the very essence of our eight tangata whenua iwi coming together, weaving the strength and wisdom of whānau, hapū and iwi into a collective effort to nurture the health and well-being of all whānau Māori in Te Tauihu.
Te Kāhui Hauora is a testament to our collaboration and a reminder that when we come together, we can achieve remarkable things.
Our journey, our whakapapa
Across generations, eight iwi proudly uphold the mantle of tangata whenua in Te Tauihu, each of which is indelibly linked to the history, whenua and future of this rohe.
Kurahaupō waka
Tainui waka
Tokomaru waka
In contemporary times, thousands of mātāwaka from across the motu have also come to call Te Tauihu home. We are bound together by whakapapa, intermarriage, co-residence and shared and overlapping customary rights and by our shared acknowledgment that whānau wellbeing across all our communities in Te Tauihu is paramount.
Our eight iwi partner on many key issues, and have for many years, united by a shared vision to support positive outcomes for all whānau, hapū, iwi and hapori in the Te Tauihu rohe across all domains, including health.
On July 1, 2022, when the Nelson Marlborough District Health Board was disestablished and became part of Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand, the former iwi Māori advisory committees were disbanded and Iwi-Māori Partnership Boards (IMPBs) were established as a mechanism for the Crown to give effect to the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi in the health sector.
Iwi Māori Partnership Boards
Te Kāhui Hauora is one of 15 Iwi Māori Partnership Boards (IMPBs) nationwide. IMPBs were established with iwi partners under the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Act (2022) to ensure the voices of whānau Māori are heard in healthcare decision making and to improve hauora outcomes for Māori.
Rohe
Te Tauihu o te Waka-a-Māui takes in the Marlborough and Tasman districts as well as Nelson city, including Mohua, Motueka, Waimeha, the Sounds, Waitohi, Waikawa and Wairau.
Combined, there is a population of around 165,000 people living in Te Tauihu. Almost 20,000 of us are Māori.
While the geographic boundary for Te Kāhui Hauora is defined for the purposes of enabling Te Kāhui Hauora to undertake its duties under the Pae Ora (Health Futures) Act 2022, it is not reflective of traditional and contemporary tribal boundaries. Our associations and connections with this whenua cannot be defined by lines on a map – it is our history, whakapapa and connections that determine our connection to whenua and moana.
Governance
Mana whakahaere
Our board is made up of experienced and dedicated representatives who guide our organisation with integrity on behalf of the eight iwi and mātāwaka in Te Tauihu and in the interests of all whānau Māori in the Te Tauihu rohe.
Our staff
Ngā kaimahi
Kim Ngawhika
POUWHAKAHAERE | CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Kim (Kāi Tahu, Kāti Māmoe, Ngāti Whakaue, Ngāti Whakahemo) joined Te Kāhui Hauora in July 2025 as Pouwhakahaere. Kim brings extensive experience in the Māori health and social services sector. Kim currently serves as deputy chair of Nelson Bays Primary Health, is a trustee of Midwifery and Maternity Providers Organisation (MMPO) and formerly served as chair of Nelson College for Girls. Kim was also an inaugural trustee of Te Kāhui Hauora. Kim holds a Bachelor of Education, a Master’s in Management (Health Services), and is currently awaiting examiner feedback on her Professional Doctorate (PhD) with Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi.
Naomi Solomon
ADVISOR
Naomi brings strong leadership in policy, kaupapa Māori, and community development. Raised in Porirua with a deep grounding in iwi life, Naomi is passionate about advancing Māori rights and wellbeing. Naomi has held executive roles at Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira and currently serves on the Cawthron Institute Trust Board and Te Āhuru Mōwai. She lives in Wairau and is committed to whānau-led solutions in hauora.
Our values
Ngā mātāpono
Te Kāhui Hauora o Te Tauihu will be guided by tikanga Māori (method or protocol) to ensure we are consistently relevant to our people. We are guided by the concepts of tika (right, fair and accurate) and pono (honest, genuine and sincere) to ensure positive change for whānau Māori.
Our tohu
Our logo is inspired by the koru of a fern and its deep connection to new life and growth. This aligns with our vision of fostering health and vitality within the communities we serve.
At the heart of our logo, the koru, ever-unfolding, represents the pathway towards renewal and wairua, or energy. It is a constant reminder that growth is continuous, and needs consistent effort and care. The colours symbolise the many waterways, oceans and tides that ebb and flow in Te Tauihu. These waters are more than a visual element, they embody the essence of life itself.
Together, the koru and the flowing waters tell a story of strength, hope, resilience, and interconnectedness, symbolising the people connected to the land and the land to them.