Published: 27 November, 2023
Nau mai ki a Teish
E te iwi, we were excited to welcome Anteisha O'Connell as Pou Whakahuene (Strategic Systems and Engagement Manager) earlier this month.
Teish moved to Waikawa from Ōtautahi to take up this role, which will see her work to identify opportunities for process and systems improvement, drive key initiatives, and ensure strategic alignment across our pou, as well as overall engagement with whānau.
A huge welcome to Teish and her beautiful 9-month-old tama, Te Ara. Teish has already become a valuable and much-loved member of staff and we are stoked to see another whānau member return home to work for their iwi! Koia kei a koe Teish!
Here’s Teish to tell you more …
Tēnā rā koutou e te whānau,
He uri tēnei nō Te Ātiawa, Ngāi Tahu, me Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa
Ko Puketapu me Ngāti Te Whiti ngā hapū
Ko Mere Ruru Te Hikanui te tupuna
Ko Arapaoa te moutere tapu
Ko Waikawa te marae
Nō Ōtautahi ahau
Ko Anteisha O’Connell tōku ingoa
Kei te noho au ki te whanga o Whatamango
Nōku te whiwhi! I am feeling so lucky and excited to be part of the team at Te Ātiawa as my wee whānau and I move home to start our new journey here in Te Tauihu.
We are blessed to be able to join my parents and grandparents in Whatamango Bay (even though having four generations in one whare is a bit of chaos!), I am already feeling the warmth and strength of whānau support around us.
I whakapapa to Te Ātiawa through my māmā Debbie O’Connell and have spent a lot of time in Waitohi with my kui Annie Bishell (nee Love). My best childhood memories have all been made between Waitohi, Waikawa and East Bay on Arapaoa Island and I’m looking forward to sharing this special place with my eight-month year old tama, Te Ara.
Leaving my Ops and Engagement Lead role at NAIA in Christchurch wasn’t an easy decision, but it is an incredible opportunity to work with and for my Te Ātiawa iwi while raising our pēpi on his whenua. I hope that in my time here I can contribute to more positive outcomes for our iwi and for our mokopuna to come.
Nāia te mihi aroha,
Teish