Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngā Puhi, Te Atihaunui-a-Paparangi, Ngāti Whakaue

Maia is a Health Clinician with extensive experience across both clinical and community settings. She began her career as a Registered Nurse in one of Rotorua Hospital’s wards before moving into a specialisation in community mental health, where she further strengthened her practice in hauora hinengaro. Maia later transitioned into a Tamariki Ora nursing role at Manaaki Ora, one of Rotorua’s foremost Māori health providers, further expanding her clinical, cultural and whānau-centred expertise.

Grounded in her identity as Māori and guided by the principles of manaakitanga and whanaungatanga, Maia is deeply committed to uplifting the wellbeing of her people. Her mahi is driven by a vision of equitable, culturally grounded care that reflects the values, realities, and aspirations of Māori whānau. With a strong focus on whakawhanaungatanga and wairuatanga in practice, she works to decolonise systems and advocate for transformative change across the healthcare landscape.

Beyond her clinical work, Maia is a proud mother and a creative thinker who approaches both her professional and governance roles with a holistic, whānau-centred lens. She is deeply committed to empowering whānau and rangatahi through initiatives that uplift Māori health and wellbeing, grounded in te ao Māori values.

An effective communicator, Maia recognises the power of connection, whether through kanohi ki te kanohi interactions or digital platforms. She is particularly passionate about the potential of social media as a tool for education, outreach, and community engagement. Through every aspect of her work, Maia champions accessibility, inclusion, and the transformative power of informed, culturally rooted care.

Areas of expertise: health, equitable service design and delivery, communication and digital engagement, community relations, mental-wellbeing