Manaakitanga and creating a safe space for people to feel welcome and comfortable are really important for Whānau Ora Navigator Suzi. Working for many years in administration and office manager roles, Suzi was eager to get back out in the community, which would enable her to engage kanohi ki te kanohi with whānau.
Being a Whānau Ora Navigator feels natural for Suzi. For her this role means being able to be hands on in the community and having a direct impact with whānau. She enjoys responding to different needs for different people and supporting them to achieve their goals.
Suzi was inspired to work with Hei Whakapiki Mauri because she wanted to help whānau overcome barriers to achieving their goals by accessing support systems. Through working with tāngata whaikaha in a previous role, Suzi understands how many people can struggle to access everyday things.
The Māori Women’s Welfare League is an important part of Suzi’s life, and she carries that forward with whānau today, with a passion for supporting the health and wellbeing of wāhine, māmā and their whānau. She has been part of the League for close to 20 years and is currently president of the Ōtautahi Māori Women’s Welfare League.
Originally training to become a primary school teacher, Suzi used her skills and love of engaging with her community to work with Parents as First Teachers here in Ōtautahi, supporting parents with young tamariki in their role as the most important teacher in their child’s life. The role evolved into managing a Kaupapa Māori health and social services organisation.
Suzie most recently worked with Waitaha Primary Health in a role supporting the COVID response for Māori and other vulnerable whānau in the community by helping them access and navigate information so they could make informed choices about their health and wellbeing. She was also involved in setting up Māori community vaccination clinics throughout the Canterbury rohe.
Suzi has a background in clothing and design, so she enjoys being involved in the arts and using her creativity to engage with whānau and tamariki.
After raising her three children and now enjoying being a Tāua to seven mokopuna, Suzi loves to put all her experience and knowledge to good use by continuing to support whānau in the community.