Ki te iwi Ngāi Tahu, ka mihi Mana whenua, mana moana, mana tangata Ka mihi Ko Tainui te waka Ko Waikato Maniapoto te iwi Ko Moehau te maunga Ko Waihou te moana Ko Maru-Tūāhu te tupuna Nō reira e te whānau Ka mihi atu, ka mihi atu, ka mihi atu Tēnā tātou katoa Lee was born in Waihopai and whakapapa on her father’s side to Pare Hauraki, Pare Waikato, Maniapoto and on her mother’s side to Ireland and Scotland. She moved to Ōtautahi to work for Ngāi Tahu. Lee has a post-graduate diploma in Public Health, a post-graduate certificate in professional supervision, a diploma and certificate in small business management. Amongst these, and other qualifications, Lee was a solo mother of four tamariki while she worked, studied and all aspects of tautoko that come with being a solo parent. One of her focuses is workforce development, where Lee brings her experience managing teams, professional and cultural supervision, and capacity building to expand equity, diversity, and inclusion. Lee is also an experienced lecturer / facilitator. Her passion about fitness, saw her named New Zealand Fitness Leader of the Year. She enjoys community development, including parenting, nutrition, and exercise classes. Lee sees herself as walking alongside others to reach their potential, goals, dreams and aspirations. Her wish is for whānau to live their best lives and experience respect and mana Motuhake. She believes that by role modelling our own mana and identity, we can impart this on tamariki. Poipoia te kākano, kia puawai – Nurture the seed and it will blossom. In her free time, Lee enjoys walking her dogs on the beach, being creative, spending quality time with whānau and friends, enjoying kai – especially kaimoana, health and wellbeing and loves learning.
