Our team

David is an elected Community Board member of the Far North District Council.  He lives in Kaitaia with his wife.

David has been involved in the disability sector since the early 1990’s and has had many roles including governance based trusts or incorporated societies e.g. Parent to Parent, Tiaho Trust, Far North Disability Resource Centre.

David has been totally blind since the age of 13 years old. He believes strongly in disabled leaders being actively involved in the wider community.

I have been working in and around the disability sector for 35 years both here in NZ and in the U.K. I arrived in Whangarei in 1983, working with the community arts council, then the first Women’s Refuge and Rape Crisis Centre in Whangarei. Following this I enjoyed running and owning my own business.

In 1997 I was hit by a cattle truck while riding my horse. This accident left me 40% Impaired on one side of my body. After 3 years of rehabilitation I started a job at CCS with youth and adults. I am currently a committee member of Disabled Persons Assembly Northland. I am interested in working towards social change and human rights.

Kia ora, I hail from Whangarei and having lived overseas for some years  I am back in my Turangawaiwai.

I have a career background within the health sector – both adult and paediatric nursing. I made the transition to the disability sector following my diagnosis with Multiple Sclerosis which resulted in this change: into and with, the disability sector. My opportunities within this sector have exceeded those I anticipated due to its breadth and diversity.

I have worked for and with Tiaho Trust for some time and am passionate about Tiaho’s vision and their work towards that goal. 

I have a genuine interest in both lowering and eliminating the barriers that those with a disability encounter everyday – from concrete paths and other tangible ones to those of perspective and attitude – the former of which are far easier to eliminate!

I’m proud to be associated with Tiaho and their passion for doing what we all know is right…for everyone.

Wiremu (Billy) Kani

Taupiri te Maunga

Waikato te Awa

Ngati Pou te hapu

Oraeroa te Marae

Waikato te Iwi

Tainui te Waka

Tuheitia te Kingitanga

When I was born in Pukehohe I had one club foot.

At the age of 4 years I was fitted with leg braces to help me walk and run.

The braces were removed when I was 5 years old, however I had already started walking and running on my toes.  I underwent an operation on my right foot at the age of 6 to enable me to walk properly.

From age 6 until 13 years I was in and out of hospital as the foot continued to turn inwards.  This stopped me from playing any sports or applying to join the Navy.

Ever since then I have lived in Invercargill, Alexandra, Wellington, Hamilton, Pukehohe.  I moved from Pukekohe to Whangarei in 1993 where I have lived ever since.

I met my partner here, Sophie Kake, from Pehiaweri Marae, Tikipunga.  She passed away in 2000 after a car accident.

I learned Te reo at Te Puna o te Matauranga at Northtec – Te Reo o Nga Puhi me o nga Tikanga.

My first job was with Kiri Rewana bread as a baker.  My next job was a Community Maori Mental Health as a Kaiawhina, working with Kaumatua Clients, whanau, Doctors, nurses, community workers, community services based at DHB.  Then I moved to the Inpatient Unit Mental Health Service in Wards 6 and 7.

I then worked for 155 Community House as a Social Worker Aide, Mental Health Advocate, Kaumatua support and team supporter.

My latest job is working at Pehiaweri Marae as Supervisor and Assistant manager.

I have had three hip replacements due to having Osteo Arthritis through all my joints and am currently waiting for a right shoulder and left knee operation.  Eighteen months ago I weighed 167kg and was badly out of shape.  I was using crutches and taking a lot of pain killers.  I was also on the borderline of having Diabetes, had gout, and at risk of having a heart attack.

I was monitored on Care Plus by my nurse, and realised then that I needed to do something about my weight.  I started at the Whangarei Aquatic Centre pools with a Fitness Pal.  I worked very hard to bring my weight down to 104kg, losing 63kg.

It has changed my life!  Don’t let your disability stop you from achieving your goals or dreams.

Now I have no signs of diabetes or having a heart attack.  Have reduced my gout considerably and been discharged from Care Plus.

Jonny has a unique combination of disability sector knowledge, business skills and first hand experience of disability issues. He has Cerebral Palsy, and lives in Whangarei with his wife and two children. Jonny completed a postgraduate business diploma in Information Systems in 1995 at the University of Auckland. On completion of his diploma, he worked as a computer consultant developing and marketing his own software package for lawyers, “Law n Order”.

Prior to becoming CEO of Tiaho Trust he spent three years in management positions with two key organisations within the Northland disability sector. He has also served on the National Executive Committee of DPA. Over this time, he has developed strong strategic planning and people management skills, and an innovative approach to problem solving.

Kia Ora my name is Arlene Carter and I am Jonny Wilkinson’s PA and the Office Administrator at Tiaho Trust. I have worked for Tiaho Trust since May 2016. Previously working for four different local authorities in the North Island and one in Western Australia, as a Community Development/Youth/Grants Officer. In this role I had a lot to do with Event Management and Inclusion. While I enjoyed my role and time in Australia, there is no place like home.

On my return to NZ from Australia, I spent four months complete with tent, fishing rod and a cheap car travelling around the South Island enjoying our own country, meeting some awesome people and catching some seriously tasty fish.

Having previously been a volunteer Ambulance Officer in Whitianga for five years and my mother having passed away with MND, and my father and myself have hearing impairments, I have a sound understanding of the challenges disabled people face.

At Tiaho Trust we are here to help your organisation, whanau or you as an individual, so please pop in or give us a call.

I am a local Northlander and have worked in the disability sector for many years since my middle child was born with a Profound hearing loss. Encouraged and empowered by seeking the knowledge I needed I set off on the journey of ensuring she would have the best possible education and social outcome. That led on to me Teacher Aiding for ten years,  then five years Administrator for the National Parent’s of Deaf Children and then two years with Parent to Parent. I have worked for Tiaho Trust for just over 10 years.

My work takes me into the Mid North and Far North on a weekly basis.  I help promote the 16 Disability groups in Tiaho’s Northland Disability Information Advisory Services (DIAS) Collective and network with other Community Groups or organisations in the Mid and Far North. My primary role is to support effective referrals to the Collective or other organisations.

Being able to contribute to the improvement of the health and wellbeing of people with a disability and be responsive to their needs by providing access to information and services they don’t know about makes my work very rewarding.

I encourage you to use my service, to ask any question about disabilities and my promise is that I will find the answer for you or put you on to the appropriate people.