Whakaoranga Whanau Recovery Hub Purpose
Providing tikanga-based, clinical, bespoke education to enhance the mana and connection of whaiora
E hara taku toa i te toa takitahi,engari he toa takitini
"My strength is not that of a single warrior, but that of many"
NGA WHAKATAUKI
Rahiri Monument, Whiria Pa, Hokianga
In the Heart of Ngapuhi
SERENITY PRAYER
NGA KAIMAHI
Tatou tima he hui mai!
Meet our team!
JANE BEAMSLEY
Founder/Peer Support
Jane is the founder of Whakaoranga Whanau Recovery Hub. Although she has no immediate ties to Kaikohe, she was brought up by her Te Arawa whakapapa, but her grandfathers' roots are with Te Roroa and Ngāti Kahungunu.
She shares personal lived experience; where her recovery journey had brought her to Kaikohe and she wanted to give back and share the gifts of recovery with others who may be struggling. She couldn’t do this journey alone. He waka eke noa!
RHONDA ZIELINSKI-TOKI
Manager, Co-Founder, Trustee, Influence Gym Owner, Registered Nurse
In 2020, Rhonda helped establish Whakaoranga Whanau Recovery Hub alongside Jane Beamsley. She's like a mother to the Whakaoranga Whanau too. Born & bred in Rotorua, Rhonda moved North with her parents at the age of 13 and has lived in Kaikohe ever since.
Rhonda also helps with Freedom Whare as a director of Whakamanamai Whanau Charitable Trust; Freedom Whare helps whanau with housing solutions.
SHANNYN WAEREA
Admin, Front of House
Shannyn is the unsung hero of the Whakaoranga Whanau whose taken on the demanding role of being front and center handling administration for the Whakaoranga Whanau.
She was born in Rotorua and raised in Kaikohe - her roots lie with Ngapuhi and Te Arawa. She's a whangae to Rhonda Zielinski and Dave Winder, has lived in Kaikohe for most of her life, and loves working at the Hub.
You'll be hard pressed to find a more meticulous character than Shan.
BESSINA PEHI
AOD Clinician, Client Case Lead, PSW Supervisory, AOD Programme Development, Social Services Advocate and Facilitator.
Hails from Atihau-nui-Apaparangi, Uenuku toku hapu.
Born n bred in Raetihi. Hark Ngapuhi, Te Rarawa me Te Aupouri.
Love researching stuff & figuring how things work. I bring lived experience to the hub..
STEWARD JAMES EIAO
AOD Counsellor, Peer Support Supervisor
Experience in Cultural Supervision and Anger Management Facilitator. (DAPAANZ Reg, Dip BS.)
Matua Stu has a background in Biculturalism alongside Te Tiriti O Waitangi. Matua has 15 years experience in Community Supportive Accommodation, Drugs & Alcohol, Case management, Group Facilitation, Counselling and Prison Ministries.
Matua Stu developed He Waka Eke Noa (Recovery) on 15 September 2015, while working for Te Ha Otanga O Ngati Whatua. Since then Matua Stu has helped develop He Waka Taiora, AOD, Whare in Tamaki, HWENTTT, HWEN AOTEAROA and Whakaoranga Whanau Recovery Hub, Kaikohe.
DEEANN HERKT
Peer Support, Kaimanaaki
Ka Kaimanāki ia Deeann Herkt; Dee is a peer support worker. She got clean and sober after being addicted to methamphetamine for many years. Dee checked herself into treatment, completed her programme in 2015 and is now very passionate about helping the next addict in their recovery.
Another strong wāhine, she is always there to rescue her whanau and support and teach Māoritanga via waiata & karakia.
BUCK KOREWHA
KAIAKO REO MAORI
He tohunga reo tenei, ko Matua Buck. Matua Buck delivers is own program of Te Reo Maori based on a Rote System which ultimately gets the reo in our minds, mouths and tongues. He is a vibrant teacher that helps our staff and whaiora learn and use Te Reo maori in a way that is easy and doable.
HINARERA LAMBERT
KAIAKO MAHI TOI
HAVENING PRACTITIONER
A practicing artist, Hinarera delivers her own Creative Arts program to ensure the therapeutic intervention of creativity is a significant part of WOW HUB where the whaiora are given space to express themselves and move in a flow of a creative practice to enhance their recovery.
