OUR TEAM
“Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, engari he toa takitini –
My success is not mine alone, it is the success of the collective.”
Dr Cadence Kaumoana Chief Executive Officer
Contact: cadence.kaumoana@pha.org.nz
Dr Cadence Kaumoana (Ngāti Maniapoto, Waikato, Ngāti Apakura, Te Ati Awa) joins PHANZ with an extensive professional career in executive leadership, strategic management, and governance & compliance. Working across the sectors of education, community, health and iwi development, Cadence is committed to increasing the wellbeing of our communities across Aotearoa.
As the former Chief Executive for the Maniapoto Māori Trust Board she supported the settlement of the tribe and transition into the post-settlement entity. Cadence has over 20-years’ experience in the education sector starting as a secondary school teacher and working in the schooling, tertiary, and government sectors, culminating in winning a Prime Minister’s Excellence Award in Māori Education in 2019.
An award-winning academic Cadence has completed undergraduate qualifications and then a master’s degree in Māori Education in 2013, and a Doctorate in Education with the University of Auckland in 2022. Some of Cadence’s research includes the development of a Māori research methodology, the entrepreneurial mindset programme, learning concepts and tools and methods of implementing the Maramataka for health and wellbeing.
Cadence is committed to the prosperity of tāngata whenua and the care and protection of land and natural resources. When the land is well the people are well, and Cadence is heavily involved in environmental kaupapa, including being an accredited RMA commissioner, a conservation board member, a member of the National Geographic Board and a number of Māori trusts and groups.
Cadence resides with her hoa-rangatira in Pirongia, they have four tamariki and are grandparents to two mokopuna. Cadence loves to be in the Taiao, she creates artistic pieces, builds stuff and when there’s time, loves to travel to historic sites and read a new book.
Katie Barden Finance Officer
Contact:
finance@pha.org.nz
Katie Barden is the Finance Officer for the Public Health Association of New Zealand (PHANZ), bringing nearly two decades of experience in bookkeeping and finance support roles. Her expertise in managing financial operations ensures that PHANZ's back-office functions run smoothly, allowing the rest of the team to concentrate on advancing the organization's mission.
Dr Erena Wikaire Pou Kaupapa Here (Māori Policy Lead)
Contact:
erena.wikaire@pha.org.nz
Dr Erena Wikaire (Ngāti Hine, Ngāpuhi, Te Kapotai, Te Hikutu) serves as the Policy Lead for the Public Health Association of New Zealand (PHANZ), where her work focuses on improving public health policy and advocating for health equity. With a strong background in health sciences, she has dedicated her career to addressing disparities in health outcomes, particularly among indigenous communities in New Zealand. Dr Wikaire's approach emphasises the importance of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, pushing for policies that are equitable and culturally informed.