Mānawatia a Matariki - and of course as a northern girl - remembering Puanga.

 

Like our Māori new year, This is a special time when can reflect, let go of things, remember our losses and loved ones, and look forwards to the future. 

It makes me so happy seeing our people be great. Building diligently even in a tricky economic time.

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I'm a northern girl and I love my people. I love my Kiingitanga people, I love my Ngati Haua people. I love the communities I serve, and the many that I call whanau. Absolutely magic. 

But before going into the next season, I want to reflect on a personal and professional incident that took place over the last year. 

 

Most people know me as a loving and gentle spirited wairua, strong and skilled by nature and sharpened by seasons. 

However over the last year,I have been softened, for better or for worse. An individual, a stated “leader”,  Te Pora Thompson-Evans, threatened me across months, saying that she would cancel a contract (for a number of Māori employed jobs at stake) if I didn’t secretly give her money from a $2.2m contract. This was while she was the director of a public taxpayer funded role. She was the Te Niwha Director. 

 

An investigation took place which was initiated via the Public Service Commission. That investigation led to Ms Te Pora Thompson-Evans ending her directorship and tenure with Te Niwha in 2025. She “resigned” and I have requested that the SFO and the Office of the Ombudsman consider the matter. Because she is still being paid by the taxpayer, the Ministry of Health Pandemic Advisory Board. I have provided the investigation findings to the Chair - Ian Town. 

She also carried out alleged fraud, applying on our behalf to the Oxford Pandemic Sciences Conference, pretending to be our contracted group, so she could present, desperate to make a name for herself. 

 

When I refused to secretly give her project money and stated in the wimpiest volume, because I was concerned and shocked, I said “that would be illegal”- she then yelled and thumped her fist on the table and said “well take your legal hat off and put your Iwi hat on”. She also made a number of belittling comments towards me about my time with Ngati Haua. 

 

It was weird. It was insidious. But now all the communications sent from her personal email or Facebook messenger make sense. I initially thought she was just incompetent, requiring me to be very rigid and mangage upwards with strong administration. I now realise what she had done was calculated and planned from the start. 

 

I believe in Mana Motuhake, I believe in our hapū and Iwi and tikanga, which is doing the right thing. That is not the right thing. That is not tikanga. A person in the meeting also backed me shouting back “what sort of tikanga is that?" And told me we could leave and not accept that”. Those are moments you don’t forget. 

 

 I am also an enrolled solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand, and I am not about to start breaking the law at this big age. This isn't stealing lollies. This is taxpayer funds. I also have a number of respected family and friends who serve this nation as part the Public Service to New Zealanders.  This is not the behaviour expected of someone in a Government and public role, appointed to leadership. 

 

Over time because she could, Te Pora Thompson-Evans started blocking invoices and all communications to other staff. She isolated me as well as someone I love and respect who was on team with me. 

 

Te Pora Thompson-Evans is still being paid by taxpayers as she is part of the Ministry of Health Pandemic Sciences Advisory Board. I have reported this to the Chair, Ian Town. He has a copy of the investigation Findings and received this in May of this year. He provided a weak, spineless response, that it was a short term and so no due diligence was required for board appointments of this tenure. That is not the expectation of a Chair. 

 

It is a form of alleged fraud and theft involving breach of trust, while in a fiduciary relationship where we reported to her, she was in control, and held the balance of power. 

 

What I like to remember, is no one can take your power, because no one, can take your voice - because here I am, un-muzzled, sharing, in the interests of justice. 

 

Betrayal is hard in any context.  I knew this woman. (Well I thought I knew her.) And She knew me. I have worked with her and her people before. Her family line is one that holds a very special legacy. And yet, here we are, with entitlement and actions that do not reflect that legacy. 

 

 

 

I am sharing this information as part of my own journey to healing, because I’m connected to many outcomes across Aotearoa and we can carry on, while also ensuring we improve collective standards. No one wants to be known for conflict or the difficult things. We want to build beautiful and legacy lasting things for our people. Not stuff like like this. But I remind myself, I deserve the same justice and dignity that I advocate for others, because I’m also worth that too. We are all entitled to lives that are free of corruption in Aotearoa New Zealand. 

 

I love CrossFit, and it’s been so great for the hinengaro, and hopefully getting muscle hehe and one of the exercises is skipping. There was a time though, when I couldn’t keep a skipping rope in my car or near me, because thinking about this incident, the impacts of reporting it, and the fact that so many just wanted to cover up the wrongdoing, it took me to a dark place.

But why should I wear the burden of a wrong that was not made by me. I am both softened and hardened, but not in a bad way. Just one that is more awaren and expects both unity, kotahitanga, but not blind trust or a lack of accountability. I expect leadership. amongst all of us. I expect people to have a spine and not be whimpy.  Whether in hapori, communities or public service. 

This is not acceptable behaviour and I don’t believe we should ever be muzzled into silence. 

 

I have provided evidence-informed copies of the investigation findings to various leaders of the actions carried out by Te Pora Thompson-Evans.  As I mentioned earlier Ian Town the chair of the Ministry of Health Pandemic advisory group, Lance Rapana Te Iti o Haua Marae Chairman, and referral of the matter to the SFO and The Ombudsman’s Office. 

 

My encouragement now is to leaders, to our many Rangatira growing the capacity of teams, or those in public office, as a governing board. 

 

My message is to leaders. 

If you are a leader, then lead. 

 

If you are a leader, you are expected to have a backbone. To take action, not inaction. Not be some sort of sloppy floppy looking jellyfish that just covers up wrongdoing because they're scared to see what's in the water.  

 

Looking ahead and forwards upon reflection. 

 

Nga mihi aroha ki a koutou katoa xx