Te Rōpū Taki Māori provides strategic Māori leadership, support, advice and input into Te Kahu Pairuri o Aotearoa (Te Kahu Pairuri)/Hospice New Zealand (HNZ) and to the HNZ Board on tikanga me kawa (procedures and protocols), initiatives and policies, and to ensure the values and preferences of Iwi Māori and Te Tiriti o Waitangi principals are reflected in Hospice NZ projects and initiatives.
Please read our Terms of Reference Te Rōpū Taki Māori TOR 2022 Final
Currently we have 3 Group members that represent:
- Kaumātua
- Knowledge and experience in different areas of the hospice workforce
- Knowledge and experience in hospice
- Knowledge on current research/evidence
- Knowledge of governance structures and protocols
Group members
Ria Earp (Chair)
Ko Tongoriro te maunga
Ko Te Arawa te waka
Ko Ngāti Whakaue, Ngāti Pikiao nga iwi, nga hapū hoki
Ko Te Kaituna te awa
Ko Whakaūe te marae
Ria Earp is the Chair of Te Rōpū Taki Māori and recently accepted a part-time role as ‘Advisor, Māori Services’ at Hospice New Zealand.
Ria left Mary Potter Hospice late last year, where she had been the Chief Executive for eleven years.
Prior to taking up the role in Mary Potter Hospice, she was the Deputy Director General, Māori Health for the Ministry of Health for nine years.
Ria has a deep interest in Māori community development and health services. She has a BA (Anthropology), MA (Applied in Social Work) and MBA from Victoria University.
Dennis Emery
Ko Ruahine te pae maunga
Ko Oroua te awa
Ko Ngāti Kauwhata te iwi
Ko Tainui te Waka
Ko Dennis Emery tōku ingoa!
Dennis Emery has Ngāti Kauwhata and Ngāti Maniapoto tribal descent. He was born in Fielding and has four daughters and three mokopuna. Dennis is employed as a Kaitakawaenga (Māori Liaison) at Arohanui Hospice. He has held this part time role since 2014. His role includes: supporting staff and volunteers with culturally appropriate care, delivering cultural education, strategic planning input and contributing to the Excellence Framework of Arohanui Hospice.
Dennis has a trade union background, a long-term involvement in Iwi development (with environmental, education, cultural, health issues and social networks) in the Horowhenua, Manawatu and Rangitikei regions. He has been a founding member of Te Rōpū Taki Māori. He is also a MidCentral District Health Board member, a Director of Tihi Whānau Ora Alliance in Palmerston North, Trustee to Whaioro Mental Health Trust and Chairman of Ngā Kaitiaki O Ngāti Kauwhata Inc in Feilding.
Linda Olsen
Ko te taha ō tōku matua
Ko Te Arawa te waka
Ko Matawhaura te maunga
Ko Waitahanui te awa
Ko Te Arawa te iwi
Ko Ngāti Whakaūe, Ngāti Makino, nga hapū
Ko Pukehina me Otamarakau ngā marae
Ko te taha ō tōku whaea
Ko Aotea te waka
Ko Taranaki te maunga
Ko Nga Ruahine te iwi
Ko Ngāti Tu te hapū
Ko Kapuni te awa
Ko Waiokura te marae
Ko Linda Olsen taku ingoa
Linda’s background comes from working within her community in health and social services for the past 45 years. Linda works with a diverse range of families and has worked at Te Omanga Hospice for over 8 years. Linda works predominantly with Maori families. Her lived experience informs her work within palliative care. Linda draws upon her own Maori heritage to share knowledge and experiences in Maoridom, with the help and support of iwi, hapū, whanau.
Linda is employed as a Māori Liaison Worker at Te Omanga Hospice. The purpose of the role is to support whānau to understand the Hospice approach to palliative care, the environment, and provide information to whānau and their loved one who has a life limiting condition. It also involves educating and supporting Te Omanga staff to work from a culturally responsive approach. Linda has been a member of Te Rōpū Taki Māori since 2015.
