Tēnā koutou katoa,

My name is Moana Solomon, and I am from Ōtēpoti – Dunedin, New Zealand. I am a descendant of southern Māori tribes, Kai Tahu, Waitaha and Kāti Māmoe.  

At age 18, I moved to Wellington where I pursued a career in IT.  Later, having children changed my focus and I re-trained as an ECE teacher, completing an education diploma and degree with The Wellington College of Education and Te Rito Maioha Early Childhood New Zealand.   I spent 27 years in the education sector, 12 of those with the Ministry of Education.  I have 3 children and 8 mokopuna / grandchildren.

In 2019 I completed a Masters of Māori and Indigenous Leadership with the University of Canterbury and joined Ara Poutama Aotearoa |Department of Corrections in April of that year.  I hold a strong belief that as Māori we do much better when systems reflect and value our Māori identity, language, and culture and I work hard to see this become a reality. My first role with the department was within the Rautaki Māori team developing and implementing the Hōkai Rangi strategy and following that I joined the Education Programmes team who held national oversight of education and training programmes within custodial settings. I now enjoy a role as Senior Adviser within the Reintegration and Community Services team. All great opportunities to influence positive change for Māori and Indigenous peoples.
Kā nui te mihi 
Moana Solomon

Kia ora Koutou Katoa

 

My name is Karl Goldsbury, and I am from Maketu in the Bay of Plenty. I am married with two daughters, three sons and one moko boy.

I grew up in a loving whanau as an only child, didn’t like school at all and started drug dealing at the age of fifteen. By the age of twenty-two I had begun using meth and had joined the Mongrel Mob not long after.

 

From here my life spiralled outer control for a number of years into prisons and meth addiction.

 

I recently graduated a master’s degree in Master of Change in Organisational Resilience; I stand now as a reformed recidivist offender and ex-meth addict.

 

This monumental change was born and nurtured in the framework of Te Ao Marama Unit in Waikeria Prison, with unending professional and personal support, along with the determination to honour my whakapapa.

 

Choosing to remain a patched gang member throughout my final years in jail and then 5 years on parole, which provided a unique platform to use my lived experience to influence positive change in other gang leaders lives through my mahi.

 

I have been with MMTT from the very start and I am currently delivering the service from Maketu Health and Social services.

 

Below are some links about my journey of positive change.

 

Karls New Life
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/kahu/i-used-to-always-be-an-ahole-meth-gangster-karl-goldsburys-new-family-life/SNRZ43WIF3KIU54L7OX2HPHNNQ/

 

Fighting the Demon
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/fighting-the-demon-an-interview-with-convicted-meth-dealer-karl-goldsbury-from-inside-waikeria-prison/6BQU6DZ3JMATKB7T7W6U2ETP4Q/

 

Taking a New Direction
https://www.1news.co.nz/2021/04/30/mongrel-mob-members-lives-taking-a-new-direction-by-working-with-social-housing-provider/

 

Gang Harm Reduction
https://www.dpmc.govt.nz/sites/default/files/2024-01/PMCSA-23-06-03-V3-Gang-Harms-Long-Report-V3.pdf

 

Family Impact
https://natlib.govt.nz/records/41684076?search%5Bi%5D%5Bcreator%5D=Savage%2C+Jared.%2C+INNZNA&search%5Bpath%5D=items

 

Drug Harm
https://thespinoff.co.nz/society/06-05-2019/media-and-meth-the-nz-herald-goes-deep-on-the-destructive-drug

 

From Drugs to Graduation
https://www.pressreader.com/new-zealand/bay-of-plenty-times/20210511/281621013213685

Kia papaki kau anō ngā tai o mihi 
Tu whakaiti ahau i mua i a koutou

Tena koutou my name is Susan (Huhana) Smith and I am privileged to be the CEO of Maketū Health and Social Services.
I have had a long career working in Government including the Justice Department for 19 years and Corrections for 14 years.
In 2022, I completed a Master of Business Management with Waikato University coupled with a Diploma in Te Tohu Paetahi (Te Reo Māori).  I am an active member in my iwi and my various hapū.  Mai Maketu ki Tongariro, Tihei Mauriora!!
Working at MHSS has enabled me to work authentically and freely with our people whilst being supported by a kaupapa Māori framework. We are impact makers; aroha and humanity are at the heart of everything we do.  We care, inspire, guide, encourage, collaborate, and deliver.

Me Mahi Tahi Tātou has been a welcomed addition to the work we do.  We can truly say we offer our clients a wraparound service, and they are supported from their first engagement with our Prison Reintegration Officer until file closure.  They are treated with respect as people, not as numbers.  We work with hope and positive change whilst holding them accountable to our rules of engagement. Reciprocity is all we ask for which includes respect, honesty and integrity and successful completion of their time with the Hauora. 

He aha te mea nui o tēnei ao, He tangata, he tangata, he tangata.