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This week we introduce Selah Hart, our new Chief Executive Officer. Selah grew up in Blenheim and has whakapapa links to Ngāti Kuia, Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Toa Rangatira, Ngāti Apa Ki Te Ra To and Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa.

Selah is a well-known face in Māori public health, having worked for Hāpai for nearly ten years in a variety of roles. This depth and breadth of experience at Hāpai has positioned Selah to take the organisation, which has a proud twenty year history of delivering public health services, into the future.

Aramoana is a passionate smokefree advocate. She recently shared her life journey in becoming smokefree to members of parliament at the Beehive last month. Her mantra is RESEARCH your info, to INFORM yourself, to EDUCATE others, and ADVOCATE truthfully. This perspective is one she shares on the internet on her Youtube show, ‘The Ohm Kiwis’, which has helped to support whānau make informed choices on vaping to quit tobacco. 

Aramoana is a passionate smokefree advocate. She recently shared her life journey in becoming smokefree to members of parliament at the Beehive last month. Her mantra is RESEARCH your info, to INFORM yourself, to EDUCATE others, and ADVOCATE truthfully. This perspective is one she shares on the internet on her Youtube show, ‘The Ohm Kiwis’, which has helped to support whānau make informed choices on vaping to quit tobacco. 
E ngā mana, e ngā reo,
E ngā karanga maha e huihui nei,  tēnā tātou katoa.
Ko Taranaki, ko Parapara, ko Maungatapu oku maunga. 

In a recent hui with the Counties Manukau smokefree team, we were struck by their enthusiasm and passion for our kaupapa. With this, we wanted to interview one of their ‘newcomers’, Saini Semisi, for whakawhanaungatanga, and her team mate, Gloria Onelino, who brings with her a wealth of knowledge and experience to her role. It’s always really exciting to welcome new colleagues to our smokefree whanau, full of passion and ideas, working alongside those who have the experience and insight.

Walter "The Wiz" Walsh is from Ngāti Porou and Te Aitanga a Māhaki and will be awarded a Queen's Service Medal for services to community and broadcasting. A smoking cessation coach at Turanga Health for 6 years, Walsh also volunteers to support charitable initiatives throughout Te Tairāwhiti. Walsh is a voice for the people, and is now is his 29th year as an announcer at Turanga FM.

My motivation for this mahi comes from the people I support and the people I have worked with who share the same passion and dedication. After a 20-year investment, I remain committed to a Smokefree Aotearoa.

My main motivator is providing a tobacco free Aotearoa for our mokopuna and essentially the world, as the moko will travel.  
The connection I have with my moko feels so strong and is unique and special.

Marilyn McKay is a passionate, dedicated Matanga Auahi Mutunga in the new service, Te Ohu Auahi Mutunga (TOAM). When I spoke to Marilyn, I asked her “as well as your mahi, what matters to you?”, to which she replied “I am a mum to five sons and a grandmother to 18”. Whānau is clearly very important to Mariyln. 

He Kairangahau ahau mō Te Whare Wānanga o Tāmaki Makaurau mō NIHI (National Institute for Health Innovation) I roto te wāhī mahi nei tokorua hoki tāua anake (Māori) - Ka aroha kia tātou te hunga Māori.  Kia kaha koutou ki te whai ake i ngā mātauranga kia uru ai te katoa ō koutou ki tēnei mahi.

This week, Natalie Walker shares her whakaaro with us. Natalie is a clinical trialist, epidemiologist, and Associate Director of the Centre for Addiction Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at Auckland University.