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  • 'Avalu Tupou Tausala | Ara Taiohi

    < Back 'Avalu Tupou Tausala Malō e lelei, my name is Avalu Tausala from Tonga and currently reside in Hamilton. I have been living in Aotearoa for over 10 years. Kahoa Kakala model of cultural supervision has been created from my living experience of being raised by my grandparents in Tonga and my living experience here in Aotearoa. My Approach My approach is collaborative and holistic, focusing on three key areas of development: Reflective Practice: Facilitating deep inquiry into "the self" to prevent burnout and foster long-term professional resilience. Cultural Safety: Shifting the focus from simply understanding a culture to ensuring the practice is defined as safe by those receiving the care. Sustainable Growth: Developing practical strategies for boundary-setting and self-care to ensure a sustainable and impactful career. "Supervision is the sacred space where we reconnect with our purpose, ensuring that our practice remains transformative for both the practitioner and the community." Qualifications I have graduated with BBSW (Bachelor in Bi-Cultural Social Worker Level 7) and currently registered with SWRB since 2019. I also graduated with Kaitiakitanga (Postgraduate Diploma In Bicultural Professional Supervision Level 8). Profesional Association Social Work Registration Board Connect with the Supervisor Directly avalutausala9@gmail.com Previous Next

  • Youth Week Your Way | Ara Taiohi

    Youth Week is a time to celebrate the value, awesomeness, and impact of rangatahi and to champion a society that genuinely supports young people to thrive Your Week Your Way Youth Week is a time to celebrate the value, awesomeness, and impact of rangatahi and to champion a society that genuinely supports young people to thrive. It's a moment for communities, whānau, and organisations to recognise what young people bring to the table: your creativity, your energy, your courage to imagine things differently, and the very real ways you shape the world around you every single day. More than a calendar event, Youth Week is a collective commitment to a society that supports young people to thrive. Hyping Each Other Up For rangatahi, Youth Week is something a little different. It's not about being handed a trophy for being young - it's an invitation to take up space, make noise, and celebrate the world you and your friends are already creating. It's a chance to amplify the things you care about, showcase what you're building, and connect with others who are doing the same. This week belongs to you - own it! Youth Week is your moment to use your voice to celebrate where you and your crew are at, and everything it took to get here. Look around at the people beside you and think about what they've achieved, what they've built, and the ways they show up every day. This is a week to hype your friends, acknowledge your peers, and shout out the people in your world who deserve to be seen. The friendships, the growth, the moments where you all showed up for each other, that's the stuff worth making noise about. And while you're at it, let yourself be celebrated too because every win you've claimed, every skill you've picked up, every time you backed yourself and it paid off, is worth recognising. So this week, celebrate each other loudly and proudly. Our Voice Matters - Ways to Celebrate Go support your mates - turn up to their game, comp, or training and cheer them on Try something new together - whether it's a random sport, a walk, a swim or just moving your body in a fun way Share your sporting story - you never know if might inspire someone else to start their Sport Shout out to your people - the friends who hype you up, the communities that welcomed you or the creators who inspire you! Create a highlight reel - dig out photos and clips that capture you and your mates' journey so far. Host a Youth Week gaming tournament - whatever the game and whatever the skill level. Online Celebrate your creative friends - ask about their work. go to their exhibitions and show them some aroha Plan a creative hangout - paint, draw, design, or make something together Share your mates' work (with permission) to help their voice and creativity reach more people Art Tell your story in public - write a post, record a video or speak at an event about something you've experienced or believe in. Submit your work somewhere new - send your ideas to a publication, a competition or a platform you've never tried before. Speak at something - volunteer to present, perform, or MC Spoken Word Go to your local Youth Week event and join in the performances and open mic nights Back your talented mates - stream their music, attend their shows and hype them up online Create something together - dance, freestyle or jam, Express yourself! Music & Dance Cook & share a meal - gather your friends and whānau for some kai Document the week - appoint yourself the unofficial archivist of your Youth Week and capture everything through photos, journalling or sketching Do something for your community - organise a clean up, create a mural or plant something! Other Resources for Celebrating Youth Week Logo Download Youth Week Image 2026 Download Download Youth Week Posters Download Download Customisable Youth Week Posters - Add your own details Edit Edit Edit Edit Customisable Email Signature Edit Customisable Social Media Tiles Edit Edit Edit Edit

  • PROFESSIONALISATION CONSULTATION | Ara Taiohi

    Professionalisation Consultation Youth Work is currently a voluntary, self-regulated profession. The voice of youth workers must inform any changes to the registration system, Background While youth workers remain accountable to their organisations, membership with Korowai Tupu provides professional accountability, a community of practice, and a way to champion high-quality Youth Work. Korowai Tupu is committed to the holistic safety of rangatahi across Aotearoa, and to setting strong, consistent standards for Youth Work across the motu. Our members’ practice is guided by our Code of Ethics, which provides guidance to ensure Youth Work is carried out in a safe, skilled, and ethical manner. Korowai Tupu is underpinned by 10 core competencies, reflecting the Mana Taiohi principles, commitment to te Tiriti o Waitangi and how a youth development approach can whakamana rangatahi in Aotearoa. Korowai Tupu is engaging with youth workers across the country to build awareness and engagement on professional Youth Work, how our existing structures are working for youth workers and for young people. Current realities to navigate Prioritisation: Less than 10% of youth workers are members of Korowai Tupu. Dire funding environment: Managers and organisations identify limited resources as the key reason they are unable to cover professional costs, including membership of a professional association, training and supervision. Stretched and stressed sector: While youth workers are working with increasingly complex needs, the highest stressors for youth workers relate to funding and resource limitations (renumeration, time etc.). Pay: The majority of youth workers are paid below the NZ median wage. Our goal is to see every young person in Aotearoa have access to safe, caring Youth Work practice to support their positive youth development. Under the guidance of the Korowai Tupu advisers, the sector has started to review our position on professional accountability, including exploring the option of more formal registration. Recent Developments The Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith Care contains recommendations relating to staff and care workers, including youth workers. This includes a recommendation that the government should consult on the scope and nature of the professional ‘registration’ system. This works sits with the Crown Response Unit and will be informed in part by the recommendations of Korowai Tupu. The CRU will prioritise this work throughout 2026. Next Steps Survey Tāhano Roadshow Professionalisation Policy Directive The purpose of this multifaceted consultation is to build on our existing understanding of professionalisation to inform policy direction leading into the next election that clearly articulates the best system and structure to ensure young people’s safety within youth work relationships A survey seeking members' views on the potential changes to the regulation of youth workers will be shared with members' shortly In the coming months, members of the Ara Taiohi team will travel the country meeting with members to discuss their views on registration and what Korowai Tupu should include in the Professionalisation Policy Directive that we will publish in advance of this year's election. More info coming soon. In the lead-up to the 2026 Election we will release a Professionalisation Policy Directive that articulates what is need to create a system that ensures young people's safety within Youth Work relationships.

  • Mauri tu Mauri Ora | Ara Taiohi

    < Back Mauri tu Mauri Ora Health & Sport Hauora Waka Uplift Target Age: 12-18 Address: Pilot Bay Beach, Mount Maunganui 3116, New Zealand When: 18 May 2026 4:00 am m.d.zandstra@gmail.com Waka ama for rangatahi down at Pilot bay, hoe aroha whanau O mauao club! Come have a go. Previous Next

  • REAL CIVICS 101 | Ara Taiohi

    < Back REAL CIVICS 101 Youth Voice Let Me Speak Target Age: 14-24 Address: 2 Freyberg Place, Auckland CBD, Auckland 1000, New Zealand When: 24 May 2026 1:00 am https://tally.so/r/5BEKBb aayushshama12@gmail.com Real Civics 101 is a high-energy civic production lab designed to prove that young people can move from understanding to action in a single session. This is not a speaker series or a seminar; it is a practical workshop where every participant leaves having completed a real-world civic output. Previous Next

  • Skill Building Workshop on Leadership | Ara Taiohi

    < Back Skill Building Workshop on Leadership Educational Hawkes Bay Baitul Mokarram Masjid Islamic Centre Trust Target Age: 12-24 Address: 718 Heretaunga Street East, Parkvale, Hastings 4122, New Zealand When: 24 May 2026 10:00 pm mharun412@gmail.com PRIVATE EVENT We will have speakers from NZ Police, NZ Health, and the Education Department to speak to the youth. We will also have some outdoor games followed by kai. Previous Next

  • Kristina Cavit | Ara Taiohi

    < Back Kristina Cavit He whangai ahau, kāore au i te mohio i tōku whakapapa. Tōku pepeha e hono ana kī tōku whānau me ngā wahi e rongo ana au nō hea ahau. Nō ngā hou e whā Te wāhi mō te hononga ā wairua ki Hokianga Te motu mō te hononga ā wairua ki Te whenua Tominika Ngā tāngata mō te hononga ā wairua, ko te whānau Atawhai. My Approach With 15+ years of experience supporting rangatahi and whānau, I bring expertise in youth work, trauma-informed practices, mindfulness, program development, and mentoring. As founder of The Kindness Institute, I’m passionate about empowering people to feel heard, resilient, and confident in their mahi. My kaitiakitanga (supervision) is mana-enhancing and grounded in Te Whare Tapa Whā. I was honoured to become a Member of the NZ Order of Merit for my youth mahi and I’m dedicated to empowering others to approach rangatahi & mahi challenges with the right tools and skills. I love supporting people to build resilience & to strengthen their ability to navigate the complexities of mahi. My hope is for you to feel heard, confident and competent. To me, this mahi is centered around lifting your mana and wairua. Qualifications Qualified supervisor (NZQA, Level 5 Supervision). Supervising since 2013. Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit. Finalist for Young New Zealander of the Year (2018) & recipient of a Local Hero Award (2014) Founder of The Kindness Institute and NPH NZ. Co-Founder of Fat Yoga NZ & Co-founder of TAIORA, Mental health trainings for youth workers, educators & health professionals Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (Mind body medicine, University of Massachusetts) & The Work of Byron Katie (200+ hours facilitation) Mindfulness and yoga training for marginalized youth with the Holistic Life Foundation (Baltimore, USA). Certified yoga teacher. Te reo Māori Level 5 Diploma graduate (Te Wānanga Takiura) & Bachelor of Arts (University of Hawaii, University of Salamanca, University of Auckland). “Kristina is skilled at ‘holding space’ for a broad range of people. Her passion for The Work and desire to share this with people is the real deal. I can’t think of a single person who wouldn’t benefit from working with Kristina. If you would like to have a little more freedom in your life and thoughts, I would highly recommend having a session.” — Emma, HR Consultant “Kristina has helped me to relax and gain peace of mind. It’s not hyperbole to say that the time spent with Kristina has changed the way I live my life for the better. Kristina has an amazing energy and ability to put anyone at ease. At first, I was very sceptical at first but once we’d done a few sessions I saw that it was an amazing tool. It’s helped me to relax and be less judgemental in my day-to-day to life.” — Dominic, Youth worker Profesional Association Korowai Tupu Connect with the Supervisor Directly Kristinacavit@gmail.com Previous Next

  • Wyatt Butcher | Ara Taiohi

    < Back Wyatt Butcher Having lived a life with many ups and downs, successes and failures, and a wide range of work experience, I have come to appreciate the value of good supervision. A family tragedy in 1999 resulted my learning both empathy and compassion and ultimately led me into being a specialist mental health chaplain. A role enjoyed for twenty-two years. Married to Janice for forty-five years we have three children (one of whom is deceased) and four grandchildren. My Approach In supervision I focus on growth and development of the supervisee through a strength’s based reflective process. Qualifications Post Graduate Certificate in Professional Supervision, Master of Health Science (Mental Health), Bachelor of Ministry, Diploma of Teaching, Bachelor of Commerce (Valuation and Property management) Profesional Association NZ Healthcare Chaplain's Association Connect with the Supervisor Directly wyatt@pst.org.nz Previous Next

  • Naveed Ahmed | Ara Taiohi

    < Back Naveed Ahmed I am a registered social worker with experience working with Ministry for Children Oranga Tamariki and the NGO sector, focusing on care and protection, senior citizens, and family harm. I began as a front-line social worker in intake and investigation, where I developed skills in risk assessment and building trust with tamariki, rangatahi, and families/whanau in crisis. I offer external supervision services to social workers, university students at my work place, and to other professionals, providing culturally sensitive, strengths-based guidance. My focus is on helping supervisees develop self-awareness, critical thinking, and emotional resilience. I support professionals in growing their practice, ensuring they deliver culturally competent services, particularly with Islamic/Muslim and Indian cultures. I emphasize work/life balance, self-care, and culturally safe practice. My Approach I am a registered social worker who values supervision for reflection and self-care. My experience includes working with the Ministry for Children Oranga Tamariki and NGOs, focusing on care and protection, senior citizens, and family harm. I am also equipped to support ethical dilemmas and cultural competencies, particularly within Islamic/Muslim and Indian cultures Qualifications Bachelor of Bicultural Social Work (BSW), Kaitiakitanga - Postgraduate Diploma in Bicultural Professional Supervision http://www.linkedin.com/in/m-naveed-ahmed-5628161b Profesional Association Social Work Registration Board Connect with the Supervisor Directly extsupervision@gmail.com Previous Next

  • Danae Bernard | Ara Taiohi

    < Back Danae Bernard Hi :) I'm currently the manager of a youth mental health and addiction service in the South Waikato. I have a background in education having been a high school teacher for 13 years, and I have a hobby business cleaning bones and skulls for display and education. I'm a bit different, and I have a lifetime of experience navigating professional environments and the demands that come with them, while being the sort of person who doesn't fit the mold. I am part of a number of minority demographics, and have experienced the many small but compounding disadvantages that this brings with it as well as the resultant health difficulties. As a result I identify quite strongly with our CPSLE workforce. I'm a neurodiverse member of the Rainbow Community, and have fostered kittens for the last 9 years. My Approach I ask a lot of questions! I believe that most of the answers to the questions or dilemmas we struggle with at work already exist within us, we might just need some help to draw them out. I'm especially passionate about sharing my understanding of leadership and professionalism, while maintaining one's authentic self as a person who is 'not your usual'. This might mean you're part of one or more minorities, or you have Lived Experience to contribute to your mahi. I believe there are likely to be a fair few people out there who don't feel they fit in with the expectations of others from time to time, and those people should have every opportunity to reach their potential. There is strength in diversity and it should be nurtured. Qualifications Bachelor of Science (Biology) Diploma of Teaching Profesional Association Connect with the Supervisor Directly danae.spyda@gmail.com Previous Next

  • Alan Tāne Solomon | Ara Taiohi

    < Back Alan Tāne Solomon Kia ora, I’m driven by people, progress, and the energy that comes from building something meaningful. Over more than 20 years, I’ve worked across sales, coaching, facilitation, relationship development, youthwork and leadership in environments where adaptability, confidence, and connection matter. My experience spans property, fintech, hospitality, health and wellness, business development consultancy, youth and education, including community-based work, all of which have shaped a practical, people-first approach to how I operate. My foundation was built as a Physical Training Instructor in the Royal New Zealand Air Force, where high personal standards, discipline, and accountability were non-negotiable. That environment developed my confidence under pressure and my ability to lead, motivate, and bring structure to fast-moving situations. Since then, my path through journalism, media, and higher education has strengthened my communication skills, curiosity, and ability to tell clear, compelling stories that resonate with different audiences. I’m naturally sociable and thrive where relationships are central. As a facilitator, tutor, and coach across health, business, and life contexts, I’ve led workshops, events, and programs that require reading the room, adjusting on the fly, and keeping people engaged. I enjoy creating momentum, finding practical solutions, and bringing ideas to life, whether that’s through sales conversations, events, or collaborative projects. I also bring experience in governance and community leadership, having helped establish and guide charitable trusts, mentored community members, and served as a Justice of the Peace. This has reinforced the importance of integrity, cultural awareness, and doing things properly while still staying flexible and forward-thinking. I value people, their story, ideas, creativity, and genuine connection. I’m motivated by opportunities where innovation, collaboration, and energy combine to create impact, and I bring a confident, adaptable mindset to whatever I take on. If there’s room to build, connect, and move things forward, that’s where I’m at my best. My Approach As a supervisor, I take a structured, practical, and people focused approach. I create a safe and supportive environment where individuals can reflect, develop insight, and take clear action. My focus is on building accountability, strengthening decision making, and supporting professional growth through honest, constructive conversations. Drawing on my background in coaching and leadership, I help individuals identify challenges, unpack real issues, and develop practical strategies that improve both personal effectiveness and workplace performance. Qualifications - Australia New Zealand Coaching Alliance - Professional Coaching Certification (2020) - Australia New Zealand Coaching Alliance - Associate Coaching Certification (2019) - NZ ITO Skills Assessor – Unit Standard 4908 (2017) - CareerForce Youth Certificates Level 3 & 4 (2015-2016) - Waiariki Institute of Technology – 3 x Diplomas in Communications, Bi-Cultural Journalism & National Journalism (2012–2013) - Royal NZ Air Force/Massey University – BA Sport & Exercise Science (2005–2006, extramural) - NZ ITO SFRITO - Group Fitness Instruction (2005) - Royal NZ Air Force - PTI Qualification & Leadership Training (2004–2007) Profesional Association Korowai Tupu Australia New Zealand Coaching Alliance Connect with the Supervisor Directly alan@atscoach.com Previous Next

  • Belinda Urquhart | Ara Taiohi

    < Back Belinda Urquhart As an experienced coach, supervisor and project lead, I work with professionals across a range of sectors. I enjoy supporting new graduates, emerging leaders and experienced professionals alike, and value the depth and diversity that a variety of roles bring to Supervision. My Approach I have a strong interest in helping people consolidate their practice, build confidence in evolving roles, and navigate the pressures of modern society. My background spans clinical nursing, practice management, coaching, quality and risk management, service redesign, and strategic project leadership – giving me a grounded understanding of both frontline realities and organisational complexity. Across all my work, my focus is on strengthening capability, supporting wellbeing, and helping individuals and teams thrive in sustainable, meaningful ways. Qualifications Certified Health Coach Bachelor of Nursing PGDipHSc (Leadership & Management) PGCertHSc Profesional Association HCANZA - Health Coaches Australia and New Zealand Connect with the Supervisor Directly Belle@essentialchoices.co.nz Previous Next

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