Regional Engagement Leaders

Te Kaurinui Parata - Whangarei region

Ko Manaia te Maunga, Pataua te Awa, Ngatiwai te Iwi, Ngatikorora me Ngatitakapari nga Hapu. Ko Te Kaurinui Parata te ingoa. I was named after the whale that was named after the tree.

​I grew up in Onerahi, Whangarei until the age of 17 and then decided to study Philosophy and Political Science in Wellington. After learning much from 2 and a half years in Wellington there became a stronger longing for me to return home and I realized my full potential as a student of Matauranga Maori, with particular enquiry to whakairo me te taiao. Growing up under my whanau in whangarei surrounded me constantly with kaupapa o te taiao me etahi taonga tuku iho o Ngatiwai. This included kiore, mautere and of course tohora. At the age of 13 I began learning about whakairo at the carving shed, now known as the hihiaua cultural centre. I have now come to cherish these experiences from my childhood and would like to continue them in my future.

Te Kaurinui Parata coordinated the first leg of the TKOTK tour in Whangarei.
​Taoho Patuawa - Waipoua region.

​Taoho ​is the Science Advisor for Te Iwi o Te Roroa in Waipoua forest. He was formally a fisheries scientist with Te Kuwaha o Taihoro Nukurangi (NIWA Maori Environmental Research Team).

Taoho's 'dayjob' is being responsible for all advising the Te Roroa Mana Whenua Board on environmental scientific work for the Te Roroa rohe. This includes managing strategic overview planning for the iwi, tactical and response planning for the forest as a whole, and standing up responses as and when required for anything that may threaten the forest and other landscapes within the rohe.  Taoho coordinated our visit to Waipoua.
​Jane Matthews - Waipoua region

Jane Matthews is the Tourism Manager for Te Roroa. Along with having a wonderful sense of humor, her knowledge of Waipoua and kauri make her invaluable to TKOTK. She was the on the ground leader for the Waipoua visit. 
Chris Pairama - Kaipara Harbour region.

Chris has strong community ties and is highly experienced in community education and cross-cultural facilitation. He is also heavily involved in efforts to protect kauri, and serves as a member of Kauri Dieback Tāngata Whenua Roopū (TWR). Ko Ngāti Whātua tana Iwi.   

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National Engagement Leader

Abigail Sucsy - National

Abigail Sucsy is the national engagement leader and the project administrator for Te Kura o te Kauri. Before taking on this job (and becoming an expert in shipping container transport) she did a summer research project on Phytophthora agathadicida with Monica. Like Monica, she hails from the east coast of the USA and was born into a moving military family. Also like Monica, she is now a full time resident of  Te Whanganui a Tara. She studied Marine Biology at Victoria University of Wellington before a tap on the shoulder led her into the MME lab and Te Kura  o te Kauri.