Speakers

Walter Franks - MC

Michel (Mike) Mene Tapu Tapu - MC

Laura Tongalea

Jess Apanui

Walter Franks - MC

Ko au te whenua, Ko Au te wairua

Iam the land, Iam the spirit

Beneath Te kamako’s steadful brow, And Te kuaha o te ata now

Two Maunga stand through light and rain.

They speak of strength they speak my name.

Te kamako whispers in the stone

Te kuaha greets the breaking dawn.

Together they are gate and guide.

The tuapapa where I reside.

Waikato, ever wide and bold

Mangatakawero weaving gold.

Two rivers run through heart and bone,

Their currents sing you’re not alone.

They carry dreams they carry lore.

Each drop a step, each wave a door.

In every bend and every tide

My tupuna walk close beside.

Tainui glides through ocean foam,

Te mamaru brings our people home.

Waka of fire, of starlit skies

Their journeys live behind my eyes.

They hold the breath of scared seas.

The chants of ancient genealogies

From island womb to whenua here

They carved our story crystal clear.

Kareponia , bold an true

Te kotahitanga woven through.

Two marae with beating hearts where tipuna left their living marks

And there from te kotahitanga’s flame

Stands Tipa proud revered name his presence even now I forever feel.

And kahu brother of great Kahungunu

Whose Legacy grew as an eagles flight a noble path a guiding light.

Through every line and every breath, they rise in life, they speak in death.

In carvings red and stories told,

Their Mana Fierce my stronghold.

Ko au te Maunga ko au te awa

Ko au nga waka, ko au nga marae

Ko tipa raua ko Kahu oku tupuna

Their strength, their fire, I carry inside.

He uri tenei no te whenua tapu

I stand as one, yet many too.

I am the land. I am the river too

E Rere ana ki te Ao marama

Michel (Mike) Mene Tapu Tapu - MC

Laura Tongalea

Jess is a passionate advocate for transforming the approach to addiction in Aotearoa. With a bold voice and a deliberate mission, she has made it her life's work to reshape the narrative surrounding addiction, using her own experiences as a powerful catalyst for change. Through her openness and authenticity, Jess empowers individuals to thrive, fostering resilience and encouraging cultural reconnection.

As a dedicated leader, Jess is widely recognised for her unwavering commitment to the addiction workforce and recovery community in Aotearoa. Since beginning her career in health in 2021, she has quickly ascended to key roles within central government, where she continues to influence the national health sector.

Jess brings a wealth of expertise to her work, including public speaking, networking, relational engagement, project management, procurement, program design, and facilitation. Her knowledge extends to areas such as methamphetamine education, gambling harm prevention, research and evaluation, governance, and culturally grounded pathways that prioritize the wellbeing of Māori whānau.

Outside of her professional endeavours, Jess cherishes time spent with her whānau, watching the mokopuna in her whanau grow, and enjoying quality moments with her Tamariki. Her commitment to both community and family is at the heart of everything she does.

Jess Apanui

Jess is a passionate advocate for transforming the approach to addiction in Aotearoa. With a bold voice and a deliberate mission, she has made it her life's work to reshape the narrative surrounding addiction, using her own experiences as a powerful catalyst for change. Through her openness and authenticity, Jess empowers individuals to thrive, fostering resilience and encouraging cultural reconnection.

As a dedicated leader, Jess is widely recognised for her unwavering commitment to the addiction workforce and recovery community in Aotearoa. Since beginning her career in health in 2021, she has quickly ascended to key roles within central government, where she continues to influence the national health sector.

Jess brings a wealth of expertise to her work, including public speaking, networking, relational engagement, project management, procurement, program design, and facilitation. Her knowledge extends to areas such as methamphetamine education, gambling harm prevention, research and evaluation, governance, and culturally grounded pathways that prioritize the wellbeing of Māori whānau.

Outside of her professional endeavours, Jess cherishes time spent with her whānau, watching the mokopuna in her whanau grow, and enjoying quality moments with her Tamariki. Her commitment to both community and family is at the heart of everything she does.

Tupu Pacific AOD

Fa’avae Simamao, Posala Taotua, Ane Enosi, Ingrid Tinai, Kafo’atu Ma’afu, Leonia Kunalaqa, Talanoa Manu, Ray Liufau

Tupu Services is a regional Pacific AOD specialist team, part of Takanga a Fohe, Unison of Oars, Te Whatu Ora Health NZ. Established in 1999, Tupu Services holds clinical and cultural expertise in providing screening assessment and intervention for Pacific peoples and their families affected by alcohol and drug harm. Tupu has developed its very own clinical cultural assessment tool – known as the Matalafi Matrix, founded on Karl Pulotu Endermanns’ Fonofale model.

Members of Tupu will showcase effective engagement with Pacific peoples for Alcohol and other Drug harm minimisation.

Te Atea Marino

Ella Uerata Kaitohutohu Haumanu (Clinical Supervisor)

Walter Franks Mataora/Amokaiora (Specialist AOD Clinician)

Patricia Matthews Amokaiora (AOD Clinician)

Te Atea Marino is a small standalone regional service committed to the kaupapa of “reducing the burden of addiction and related harm “on the Maori people of Tamaki Makaurau. We do this by weaving together Tikanga Maori (Maori Cultural Values) and western clinical practices. All of our interactions with whaiora honour, Te Reo, Karakia, Powhiri, Mihimihi, waiata,whanaungatanga and purakau which all, form part of our engagement utilised at a level whaiora are comfortable with.

The team will showcase a Live Group Video Demonstration to highlight how clinical and cultural interventions are weaved together, to support whai I te ora recovery goals.

“A live example of what we do and how we do it”

Vanessa Fonua Uta'i

Mālō e lelei, I was born in Tonga and raised in Tāmaki Makaurau. My father is from Kolomotu‘a and my mother from Fatai, Tongatapu. I care for my 84-year-old mother, guided by the Tongan values of ʻofa (love), fakaʻapaʻapa (respect), and talangofua (obedience). My husband is from Si’umu and Satui-malufilufi in Samoa; we have two beautiful children.

My journey into mental health and addiction began in 2003, supporting my husband, who lives with bipolar disorder. In 2014, I transitioned from an 18-year finance career to mental health and addiction. I hold a Bachelor’s in Psychology and Health Promotion and a Master’s in Addiction Studies.

For over five years, I have worked as a DAPAANZ-registered AOD clinician. My time at the Phoenix Centre (Ka Puta Ka Ora – Emerge Aotearoa), alongside peer support workers, inspired my Master’s research into a Pacific AOD peer support framework. I work at CADS South (Te Whatu Ora NZ) as a duty counsellor. My lived and professional experience continue to shape my interest and commitment in Māori and Pacific wellbeing.

Terry Huriwai

Terry has been involved in the addiction treatment sector in a number of roles for a long time. Currently, he is in the Addiction Services team at Ara Poutama. The team is mainly responsible for the AOD programmes in prison.

Ben Birks Ang

Ben Birks Ang is the Deputy Executive Director, Programmes for Te Puna Whakaiti Pāmamae Kai Whakapiri - the New Zealand Drug Foundation. Ben and his team lead projects that bring different sectors together to improve wellbeing and reduce harm from alcohol and other drugs. He has extensive experience establishing and managing school-based, community, peer-led, online, and residential drug and alcohol programmes.