Te Wāhi Tiaki Tātou means
“a supportive and caring place”

It describes the vision and drive to make
Porirua the best place to raise a whānau.

Our Whakapapa

Te Wāhi Tiaki Tātou was one of 12 prototype localities originally set up following the health reforms under the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Act 2022. As previously laid out in section 54 of the Act, “Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora and Te Aka Whai Ora – Māori Health Authority must jointly determine geographically defined areas (localities) for the purpose of arranging services”. Te Wāhi Tiaki Tātou was the name gifted to the Porirua locality by mana whenua Ngāti Toa Rangatira. We operate under Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira.

Although the concept of localities has now been disestablished, Te Wāhi Tiaki Tātou continues to operate as an entity, championing place-based approaches to improving well-being in Porirua. Since our inception, there has been a strong focus on community engagement to inform the planning and implementation of community-identified priorities.

The carvings on the wharenui at Takapūwāhia Marae

Our Team

Jodi Watene

Ko Mangaia makatea te maunga

Ko Ngāti Tane te iwi

Ko Tamarua te oire

Ko Tiriara te vai

Ko Mangaia te motu

I tipu ake au ki Porirua, e noho tonu ana

Ko Jodi Watene tōku ingoa

I bring both expertise and passion in community-led systems design, relationship building, and collective leadership. I am particularly experienced in working at the interface between government and community, where I focus on translating priorities, building trust, and supporting locally led solutions that create meaningful, long-term change. I am deeply committed to working together to create new opportunities for the wellbeing and prosperity of our people and communities.

Systems Change Lead

Dr. Anne Lian

Public Health Medicine Registrar

Ko Aerana me Marēhia te whakapaparanga mai

Ko Te Whanganui-a-tara te whenua tipu

Kei Te Whanganui-a-tara au e noho ana

Ko Anne Lian tōku ingoa.

I am a tauiwi Public Health Medicine Registrar working with Te Wāhi Tiaki Tātou on a one-year placement while I complete advanced training in Public Health Medicine. My mahi is grounded in Te Tiriti o Waitangi, equity, and community voice. I am interested in bringing together research, lived experience, and community knowledge to improve the health and wellbeing of diverse communities. I take a broad, connected view of health and wellbeing, with a focus on the wider social, economic, and structural determinants that shape people’s lives.

Dr. Nethmi Kearns

Ko Hīraka te whakapaparanga mai

Ko Tāmaki Makaurau te whenua tipu

Kei Te Whanganui-a-tara au e noho ana

Ko Nethmi Kearns tōku ingoa.

I am tauiwi Public Health Physician with a background in clinical medicine and clinical research. I am currently working in a split role between the National Public Health Service | Te Whatu Ora and Te Wāhi Tiaki Tātou. I bring expertise in community engagement and designing and delivering health programmes. I am a certified Future Search facilitator, skilled in collaborative planning and systems thinking. My work reflects a commitment to hauora, Te Tiriti o Waitangi and advancing health equity across population groups, ensuring that all communities have access to the care and resources they need. I am passionate about integrating evidence-based practice, fostering partnerships, and driving sustainable change.

Public Health Medicine Specialist

Dr. Juliet Kane

Public Health Medicine Registrar

No Ingarangi ōku tīpuna

He tangata Tiriti ahau

I whānau mai au ki Te Whanganui-a-Tara, ā, e noho tonu ana au ki reira

He māmā ahau

Ko Juliet Kane tōku ingoa.

I am a tauiwi Public Health Registrar with a background in clinical medicine and research. I am currently working with
Te Rūnanga O Toa Rangatira for one year across Ora Toa and Te Wāhi Tiaki Tātou, where I facilitate the Housing, Climate and Energy Kaupapa Rōpū.

I have worked across a range of public health, research, and policy initiatives in Aotearoa and internationally. These experiences have fostered a strong interest in the social and environmental determinants of health, particularly the intersecting impacts of housing, climate resilience, and community wellbeing.

Grounded in Te Tiriti o Waitangi and health equity, I am passionate about bringing together lived experience, community knowledge, and other forms of evidence to support collective action and meaningful change for whānau and communities.

Organisational Advisor

Nadia Flowers

Ko Tararua ngā pae maunga

Ko Manawatū te awa

Ko Tainui te waka

Ko Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga, me Muāupoko, me Rangaitaane ngā iwi

Ko Motuiti te marae

I tipu ake au ki Porirua, e noho tonu ana au

Ko Nadia Flowers tōku ingoa.

With a background in business development and project management, I bring extensive experience across the healthcare, education and Government sectors. I am a former registered nurse with a deep belief in social justice and equity. I have a strong commitment to working together to create new opportunities for the well-being and prosperity of the people and organisations in our community.

Dr. Isaac Smith

Senior Population Health Advisor

Ko Taiwana me Ingarangi te whakapaparanga mai

Ko Kirikiriroa te whenua tupu

Ko Pōneke te kāinga

Ko Isaac Smith tōku ingoa.

I am an Aotearoa New Zealand-trained Public Health Physician with a background in clinical medicine and population health. As Tauiwi with Taiwanese and Pākehā heritage, I am committed to upholding Te Tiriti o Waitangi by advancing health equity in Aotearoa. I employ systems thinking and a critical public health lens to translate complex evidence into meaningful action. As a relational leader with experience in multi-disciplinary work environments, I focus on fostering strong partnerships and delivering equitable outcomes for whānau and communities.

Stewardship and Direction

Established in 2021, the Porirua Community Leaders’ Forum (PCLF) sits at the heart of how direction and priorities are set. It provides a trusted space for collective leadership, grounded in local relationships and shared accountability to Porirua.

Through the Forum, leaders from iwi, community, Pacific, migrant, business, education, and social sectors come together to identify shared priorities, guide strategic focus, and align action toward collective impact.