Porirua Comunity Leaders’ Forum Kaitiaki Rōpū

Helmut’s tribal affiliations include Ngāti Toa Rangatira, and he is an experienced director, executive and consultant with specialist skills in implementation change management. Prior to becoming the Chief Executive Officer for Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira in early 2021, Helmut spent 14 years as the chief executive of various commercial enterprises experiencing growth, turnaround, merger, or other strategic change. Helmut is passionate about the health, social and economic development of Māori.

James Pratt is based in Porirua and was born in Wellington, where he has lived for most of his life. He is Māori, Samoan and English, Deaf and disabled, and works across digital, strategy, governance, accessibility and practical implementation.

James builds bridges across Māori and Pacific spaces, disability and accessibility, local business and entrepreneurship, digital inclusion, community kaupapa and values-led organisations. His connection across Porirua is active and intentional, strengthened through local business, Pacific, Māori, accessibility, digital inclusion and governance spaces. His lived disability and accessibility experience shapes a clear commitment: participation cannot be assumed; it has to be designed. That includes how people are invited in, how information is shared, how meetings are run, and whether people have more than one way to contribute.

 As a member of the Kaitiaki Rōpū, James brings a focus on connecting community voice with systems thinking, practical design, stewardship and follow-through. He does not see himself as representing every community he is connected to. Instead, he sees the role as listening carefully, noticing patterns, asking who may be missing, and helping strengthen the two-way flow between community voice and collective leadership.

Aditi Tiwari is a first-generation migrant wahine, youth advocate, public speaker, community organiser, and governance practitioner based in Porirua. She is passionate about strengthening communities by creating spaces where rangatahi and diverse voices are meaningfully represented in decision-making. 

Aditi works in the community and not-for-profit sector as a Youth Engagement and Project Coordinator, where she leads initiatives that empower young people from diverse ethnic, migrant, and refugee backgrounds. She serves in a number of governance and advisory roles, including as Vice Curator of Global Shapers Wellington Hub, an initiative of the World Economic Forum; Central Area Councillor for New Zealand Red Cross; a member of Greater Wellington's Public Transport Advisory Group; and Regional Liaison for the Oceania-Caribbean Climate Alliance, covering Polynesia and Micronesia. In 2025, Aditi also stood as a candidate in the Porirua City Council elections, driven by her commitment to ensuring young and diverse voices are represented in local decision-making. 

As a young person living in Paremata, Aditi sees the beauty and strength of the Porirua community every day. She is committed to giving back through meaningful leadership and collaboration and is passionate about contributing towards the shared vision of making Porirua the best place to raise a whānau.

My name is Maria Uluilelata and I am the daughter of the Late Tauiliili Uluilelata and Taga’ileono Sera Uluilelata who live in Takapūwāhia. I am a mum, daughter and sister of Porirua, Samoa and come from the villages of Luatuanu’u, Iva, Afega and Nofoali’i. My chief title ‘Magele’ comes from my mother’s village of Iva in Samoa. I have grown up in Porirua and my professional and personal life has been committed to ensuring that the Pacific Peoples voice is at the table.

Kylie Wihapi is serving her second term as deputy mayor of Porirua City Council and her fourth term as a councillor.  She chairs the Porirua District Licensing Committee and is a member of the Local Government New Zealand Te Maruata Roopu Whakahaere representing the metro sector for Māori elected members nationwide.   

Over the past three years, Kylie has been instrumental in shaping and driving community engagement for the Maungaroa Māori Strategy. She also supported the establishment of Te Kupenga Marae, a collaborative effort between four marae and all Māori communities in Porirua.  
 

Kylie has been a strong advocate for local issues, including harbour health, job growth, rangatahi outcomes, infrastructure maintenance and community resilience.  Her whānau regularly volunteers for various organisations by planting native plants in our community.  

Outside council, Kylie is the netball convener at Aotea College, coaches junior and senior netball teams and umpires for Kapi Mana Netball.