05/06/2026
Proudly Local | Proudly Te Hiku
Ko wai au?
Ko Maunga Taniwha te Maunga
Ko Tokarau te Moana
Ko Ngāti Kahu te Iwi
Ko Ngāti Tara me Te Whānau Moana ngā hapū
Ko Callie girl ahau.
I am the hoa rangatira to Kaiaua and māmā to our tamariki Kahurangi, Ihaia, our twinnies who have passed Tipuānuku and Tipuārangi, and our pōtiki Toka Whakaaio.
How long have you lived in Te Hiku?
My Nana Ngaromatai left Te Hiku sometime in the 1940s, and my Mum Robyn was born and lived in Hamilton. We moved back home when I was 9–10 years old — I just remember Standard 4 at Taipa Area School. Since then we’ve shifted between here and Waikato, the place my tāne Kaiaua is from.
Where’s your go-to place for a good hīkoi? (most rewarding)
Ohh man, such a hard choice — I love adventuring through all our taiao spaces and the hononga to the āhua and whakapapa. But lately I’ve loved reconnecting alongside whānau with Pararake, one of the tūpuna pā of Ngāti Tara.
Who does the best fish & chips?
Pai kare, ummm… well, I’d say Fresh and Tasty. But then Kahurangi and I snuck away to the Mangōnui Fish Shop last week — first time in years. And while I’ve got no pocket money left for the week… it was pretty yum. Actually need to add my older brother Patrick makes great fish and chips too.
What drives your passion for community involvement?
Ahh, Hauora for Life. I’m driven by kaupapa that get our whānau active, healthy and connected, and where people grow, learn and achieve. And by kaupapa that connect us back home — to our taiao and our whakapapa.
One word to describe our beaches:
Mmm sorry, can’t choose one word 🤣. But three that come to me are Tūpuna — Rongoā — Home.
