Bio
Māhera Maihi (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Whātua, Muriwhenua) is the founder of Mā Te Huruhuru, a kaupapa committed to creating opportunities and pathways for rangatahi Māori. Through her mahi, Māhera supports rangatahi to develop skills, confidence, and cultural grounding, enabling them to thrive as future leaders. Her work champions equity, self-determination, and collective wellbeing, reflecting her deep belief in the potential of rangatahi to drive transformative change. With a focus on education, mentoring, and community engagement, Māhera plays a vital role in advancing the vision of Mā Te Huruhuru—empowering Māori youth to spread their wings and realise their aspirations.
Organisation
The doors of Mā Te Huruhuru were opened 8th December 2020. Since then, they have run six workforce programmes, one pastoral care and vaccination programme, and one ūkaipo programme. In 2023, they opened the first transitional housing kaupapa for Māori by Māori - He Pā Piringa.
The name He Pā Piringa refers to being a place of refuge. A place of refuge where housing is provided to taitamariki Māori aged 17 to 21 years old in South Auckland. Within a safe environment and a gated community, He Pā Piringa provides 24/7 wrap-around support during a 12 month stay for rangatahi. The focus is on supporting taitamariki as they transition to independence and keep them from bouncing from one provider to the next. The housing is set up as an urban papakainga with communal spaces and structured kaupapa, connecting taitamariki to support services.
