Michelle joined Te Puawaitanga ki Ōtautahi Trust Board in 2024. Her most recent role was as Senior Advisor Iwi and Māori Engagement for the Oranga Tamariki Canterbury Regional leadership team and Te Waiponamu/Whanganui-a-Tara youth Justice leadership team. Michelle has worked in health for over 40 years, primarily in nursing and service development. Her focus has always been on whānau health particularly tamariki ora – whānau ora. Her passion is in advocating for equity of access and outcomes for those most marginalised. Michelle’s work has included the design, implementation and delivery of bespoke social work and nursing services, through Pegasus Health and He Waka Tapu, for Māori not accessing health services. She is proud to have implemented and managed the inaugural Tamariki Ora service in Ōtautahi in 1999 for Te Puawaitanga o te Tamaiti. Her governance roles over the last decade include Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, Te Ngāi Tūāhuriri Rūnanga, Christchurch Primary Health Organisation, Manawhenua ki Waitaha, Hato Hone St John, Te Ohu Urupare Emergency Disaster Response Committee, Christchurch Intergovernmental Response Group post Mosque tragedy, Canterbury Children’s Team, Greater Canterbury Community Response Forum and various Canterbury health system clinical and advisory boards. As a member of the Board, Michelle is looking forward to contributing to and supporting the ongoing governance, delivery and development of services Te Puawaitanga ki Ōtautahi offer to whānau. Michelle affiliates to Ngāti Huikai, Oraka Aparima, Makaawhio, Te Ngāi Tūāhuriri.
