The Team

Mairin (she/ her) has dedicated nearly two decades to therapeutic practice and research, specialising in neurodiversity and supporting people through trauma, health challenges, grief and loss and academic performance. Mairin has worked in full-time practice in Ōtautahi Christchurch (Lightbox Psychology Service), as a research specialist in Okinawa, Japan, and as Senior Lecturer co-leading the counselling programme at the University of Canterbury, where she remains an adjunct senior fellow. Mairin’s parents and grandparents were born in India, China and Fiji and she has a large extended bicultural whanau.

Kelly (Waitaha, Kāti Māmoe, Kāi Tahu) is an adjunct fellow and senior researcher for the University of Canterbury. Bringing her experience as a senior registered nurse with over 20 years’ experience working in a variety of health settings, including District Health Boards in Auckland, Wellington, Dunedin and Christchurch. She has extensive experience working in community and clinical health settings with medical, surgical, neurology, public health, and mental health inpatient work.  Kelly has divided her nursing experience between secondary health care settings and primary hauora Māori community organisations situated all over New Zealand.

Mel Tainui is of Kai Tahu descent from Ōnuku with a Masters in Mãori and Indigenous Leadership. Mel has a background in cultural development currently working as a Kaiārahi Māori for UC Māori. As mana whenua co-developer and co-leader of MindKiwi from inception, Mel has ensured mãtauranga Mãori is foundational, not an afterthought. With over 20 years of experience as a professional facilitator in cultural responsiveness and Treaty of Waitangi education, and leadership roles including Onuku Rünanga deputy chair, she is a skilled and responsive facilitator.

Founder and CEO of M3 Mindfulness, Speaker and Wellbeing Champion

Me mahi tahi tātou mō te oranga o te katoa – We must work together for the wellbeing of all.

Kia ora mai e te iwi.

He uri tēnei nō Ngāti Apa, Ngāti Ruanui, me Ngāti Tūwharetoa hoki.

Ko Jase Te Patu tōku ingoa.

I’m a TED talk speaker and an award-winning Wellbeing Champion with over 30 years of experience in the Exercise and Wellness industry. I’m a 350 ERYT-accredited yoga, meditation, and Mindfulness facilitator for all ages and a Ministry of Education-accredited PLD Trainer for Principals and Teachers.

People’s health and wellbeing are at the heart of all I do! I’ve taken the tools that helped save my life and now share them with people from all over the world. I’ve worked with everyone from elite sports people to hapū and iwi, Corporate Exec.s, teachers, and students as young as two.

Imagine a world where the next generation of leaders are equipped physically, mentally and emotionally to ride out all of life’s challenges whilst standing in the fullest, most potent expression of themselves. That’s a world I want to create, which is why I have deeply enjoyed working on this MindKiwi kaupapa. I love that our neuro-diverse tamariki get to build a toolkit of wellbeing alongside their whānau, who support them every day!

Kat is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist in private practice, work which involves therapy, supervision and research. Passionate about equity, Kathryn supports tino rangatiratanga and is an ally for diversity. She is the co-author of Postpartum Depression and Anxiety: the Ultimate Survival and Recovery Guide (2017). Specialising in ACT, Kathryn cares about helping diverse clients and whānau build strong, connected, and compassionate lives. These values flow into Kathryn’s work as a supervisor, mentor, and facilitator for colleagues.  Kathryn coordinates the Ōtautahi ACT Interest Group, and guest lectures in professional programmes.  Her research relates to mindfulness, ADHD, impulsivity, and temperament.

Cheyenne (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Whātua ki Kaipara, Ngāi Te Rangi) is completing a PhD in Psychology at the University of Canterbury, where she is using a Kaupapa Māori approach to research trauma-informed care for tamariki Māori and their whānau. She is also a researcher with one of her projects exploring rangatahi experiences during the transition to independence from the care of Oranga Tamariki. Cheyenne has worked in therapeutic settings with tamariki, rangatahi and whānau in organisations such as Stand Children’s Services and Oranga Tamariki. She has been involved in the academic space facilitating a Māori health course at UC and was previously in the role of Postgraduate Representative for Te Akatoki | Māori Students’ Association.

Kelly is a licensed psychologist in the U.S. and a registered Educational Psychologist in Aotearoa New Zealand. She is a Pūkenga/Lecturer in Educational Psychology at Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington and directs the programme to train future Educational Psychologists. Kelly and Mairin worked collaboratively in Okinawa, Japan researching ADHD and helping families to support their children with ADHD. She completed a PhD in School Psychology where her research focused on language and executive functioning in early childhood. Her current research centres mainly around ADHD.

Aaron is a Māori lecturer within Te Kaupeka Oranga – Faculty of Health at Canterbury University. He is proudly of Ngāti Kahungunu ki Heretaunga, Ngāti Pāhauwera, Ngāti Rongomaiwahine, Ngāti Mahuta, Ngāti Tahinga descent. Aaron’s professional background includes a number of years in Māori health promotion and Public Health. He has also worked in wellbeing kaupapa in Waitaha Canterbury including AllRight?, Sparklers, and Manahau. Aaron’s lifelong interests include a love of Kapa Haka and Māori performing arts, both at home in Aotearoa and internationally, Māori movement, and theatre. He is currently the head kaiako (Taura Pouwhakarae) and chair of Te Whare Tū Taua o Waitaha, the Christchurch branch of Te Whare Tū Taua o Aotearoa – the international school of Māori weaponry. These are all skills, knowledge, and experiences that Aaron aspires to bring to the kaupapa of MindKiwi to support the well-being of whānau.