Ann works within Korowai Aroha’s Kaupapa Māori Early Intervention team. She has a background in healthcare having previously worked for Rotorua PHO as a Smoking Cessation Specialist and before that coordinating kaumātua programmes with Te Whare Hauora o Ngongotahā.

What attracted Ann to Korowai Aroha was the ability to work within multi-generational whānau groups in the areas of immunisation, ASH conditions, smoking cessation while supporting families to grow stronger and become more aware of ending the negative cycles they find themselves in.

Through her work supporting whānau she has found that the simple act of putting dreams and goals to paper helps whānau “connect the dots” assisting them to make a working plan to achieve goals that benefit all generations of the whānau.

This process also allows whānau to work together to realise the capacity and skills the greater whānui have, helping to build stronger connections between families. This process has lead in many cases to whānau overcoming decades of unspoken raru amongst one another and working collectively towards their goals.

One particular whānau Ann has worked with have been particularly inspiring. As a result of a highly motivated group, the whānau was able to move to the implementation stage of their PATH plan within 14 days, having successfully organised 3 hui in that time. The family are certain that it was their paearāhi that made their journey possible, with Ann reminding them that it was them all along, that they just needed to “sit down and have the kōrero”.