Community Research is run by a governance group with two caucuses – Tangata Whenua and Tangata Tiriti – and a small team based in Te Whanganui a Tara and Ōtautahi.
Governance group / Kaitiaki
Tangata Whenua caucus members are:
- Pania Coote: Co-chair
- Marie (Greaves) Farquhar
- Eden Skipper
- Brendan Stevenson
Tangata Tiriti caucus members are:
- Garth Nowland-Foreman: Co-chair
- Caroline (Ligi) Harris
- Analiese Enoka Robertson: Treasurer
- Jennifer Braithwaite
Tangata Whenua caucus members
Co-Chair: Pania Coote (nee Simeon), Ngai Tahu, Ngāti Kauwhata and Ngāti Porou
JP, MSW, Dipswk, MANZASW
Descendant of: Ngai Tahu, Ngāti Kauwhata, Ngāti Porou
Pania has a background in social, health and education, with a Masters in Social Welfare and Community Development through the University of Otago. She has a range of interests including research/evaluation, communities and addressing the causes of inequities. Building on over 20 years’ experience in the health arena, she strives to improve, promote and protect the health and well-being of the people that she serves.
Pania is an Independent Director and Contractor (experience in strategy development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation). She brings executive leadership experience and has the ability to place resources where they will make the greatest difference
Marie (Greaves) Farquhar
Marie Farquhar was born and raised in Murupara and strongly links with Tūhoe. She is Senior Portfolio Manager at Ministry of Health. Marie has more than 30 years of experience in administration, initiating, managing and financial monitoring of projects from inception to completion. She has a wealth of public and private sector experience in financial management, project management, procurement and contact/relationship management and project report writing. Marie is widely recognized for her professionalism; process, goal and task orientation and her adeptness in managing complex relationships.
Marie is passionate about evidencing Māori achievement and success having spent 5 years within Te Puni Kōkiri as Senior Advisor, Whānau Ora Action Research Programme. She works diligently to build, develop and facilitate relationships and engagement across sectors, systems, organisations and people to ensure the best services for Māori. Marie is also passionate about Health Workforce Development/Recruitment and Retention particularly in our rural areas.
Eden Skipper, Ngāi Tahu
Tēnā koe ko Eden Skipper toku ingoa, ko Wairewa papatipu rūnanga (Ngāi Tahu) ahau. I work at Manatū mo te Taiao in Māori advisory in the Office of the Chief Executive. Outisde of this mahi, I sit on the Generation Zero Board a youth-led climate action organisation. In my spare time, I often exercise mahinga kai whether that be watercress from the awa, kaimoana such as paua or mussel and in March I am in Ōtautahi catching tuna back home in Wairewa.
Brendan Stevenson
Ko Ngāpuhi te Iwi, Ko Ngati hau te Hapū, Ko Ruawahine te Awa, Ko Ruapekapeka te Maunga, Ko Ngā Ruawahine te Whare Tūpuna, Ko Akerama te Marae, Ko Brendan Stevenson ahau.
I went to High School in Dargaville, dropped out of university in Hamilton and then Christchurch, and completed my Masters in Psychology 10 years later in Palmerston North. I’ve picked Kumara and squash, worked in Dairy Factories, galvanising plants, and tried sole-trading as a consultant. I’ve worked at Massey University as a research officer for Te Pumanawa Hauora and the School of Psychology, and as a supernumerary lecturer in public health. I have wrangled data from nationwide longitudinal studies, drug and alcohol rehabilitation services, iwi surveys, Kaupapa Māori Kura, and the Ministry of Health. I’ve been part of research into experiences of racism over the life-course, the wellbeing of older Māori and New Zealanders, and worked alongside some amazing people from academia, the community, and the Pacific nations. I most recently was a senior researcher in the Mental Health and Wellbeing Team at Te Hiringa Hauora (Health Promotion Agency) and I’m now a senior consultant in research and evaluation with Allen + Clarke. I’m also doing a PhD in the area of Māori cultural identity and public health part-time.
I’m of Ngā Puhi, Ngāti Porou, Scandinavian, Scottish, and English descent. I’ve been a whānau caregiver for CYFS (Oranga Tamariki), am married, have three beautiful children, two dogs, and two cats.
Tangata Tiriti caucus members
Co-Chair: Garth Nowland-Foreman
Christchurch-based, Garth is a director of LEaD Centre for Not for Profit Leadership, working across Australia, Aotearoa New Zealand and the Pacific. For 18 years he lectured part-time in the Unitec NZ Graduate Programme in Not for Profit Management. Garth has researched and written widely on these topics and especially on non-profit funding, outcomes and accountability, social policy and advocacy, and strategic philanthropy.
Garth has a number of voluntary roles and has served on the boards of the Australia and New Zealand Third Sector Research (ANZTSR), the Lottery Grants Board, New Zealand Council of Christian Social Services (NZCCSS), and the Christchurch Methodist Mission. He chaired the Committee for the Study of the New Zealand Non Profit Sector and was also the first SAN registered Social Auditor in Aotearoa New Zealand. Previously, he has worked in a Cabinet Minister’s office and was national director of the Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS) for six years. Garth has two adult sons, one of whom has a number of disabilities.
Caroline (Ligi) Harris
Ligi Caroline Harris is the Senior Career Development Consultant Pacific Work Connect for the Tertiary Education Commission. She works across multiple industries and communities to advance successful outcomes for people under-served by the system. Alongside her work, Ligi is Co-Chair of the Democratic Advisory Pacific people at Auckland Council.
Ligi has worked in education for over 20 years in various roles as teacher, course developer, education advisor, programme manager and leader of community-initiated programmes. Her creative talents lie in thinking creatively outside the box and initiating new and innovative programmes for diverse people groups
Treasurer: Analiese Enoka Robertson
Analiese Enoka Robertson is of Cook Islands descent, from the villages of Puaikura and Te Au o Tonga, and is the Professional Development and Networks Manager for Adult and Community Education (ACE) Aotearoa. Analiese has an extensive background in tertiary education and community development, qualified in adult education, not-for-profit management and governance. With over 20 years’ experience in community based learning, Analiese has spent a significant part of her career working directly with and on behalf of adult learners who have had negative or unsuccessful experiences in the education system. The last ten years, she has led responsive professional development for educators and providers in moving from pretty dodgy to ‘better-gogy’ teaching practice. Analiese has contributed to the development of ACE research, policy and strategies in tertiary education, providing a voice for the sector both nationally and internationally, and holds a number of community, tertiary and government agency advisory roles. She is also actively involved with a number of community organisations with a focus on capability building, infrastructure support, change leadership and succession planning. Analiese is currently a member of the Ako Aotearoa Pacific Caucus, a member of the Inland Revenue Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Group, and is a serving member of the Hutt Valley Cook Islands Association. She is also a student with Īnano Dance (a Cook Islands dance company in Wellington).
Jennifer Braithwaite
Jennifer is a lawyer and passionate advocate for children and access to justice with a background in children’s rights, child protection, Te Tiriti o Waitangi claims, Māori legal issues, refugee status applications, public law, and general litigation. She also has had a long involvement in the community law movement including seven years as the Chairperson of YouthLaw Aotearoa and two years as its General Manager as well as ongoing work with Community Law Canterbury.
Jennifer is the Chairperson of the steering committee of Children’s Rights Alliance Aotearoa New Zealand, a coalition of non-governmental organisations, families and individuals that prepares and presents the civil society reports in relation to New Zealand’s compliance with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. She is also an Associate of Child Poverty Action Group, an independent charity working to eliminate child poverty in New Zealand through research, education and advocacy. Jennifer holds a Masters in Law and recently completed her thesis research in relation to youth participation in NGOs in Aotearoa New Zealand which is the final component of her Masters in Social and Community Leadership.
Staff / Kaimahi
Janie Walker – Kaiwhakahaere Matua – General Manager
Janie’s life has been a mix of paid and unpaid work opportunities. Highlights include running a creative writing workshop for the Wellington Mosque community post-March 15; senior engagement roles with local and central government, exploring mahi aroha at social enterprise Be Collective, and having the privilege of supporting the mahi of Community Research.
She is passionate about research, especially participatory action research with diverse communities: Her research achievements include a Master’s degree in community climate change adaptation in Fiji, and translating Sanskrit into Tibetan.
Out of office hours, Janie writes, sails and chills out at home in Titahi Bay with her partner and beautiful old dog, Zena.
Dr Janet Tupou – Kaiputahi Rangahau – Research Programme Manager
We are excited to announce that Dr Janet Tupou will be joining us in May as the new Kaiputahi Rangahau. We look forward to introducing her to you all soon.
Jenny Moore – Admin/Coordinator of Fundraising & Communications
Jenny is our administration superstar who works hard to support all the mahi of Community Research, including fundraising and communications.
Her experience in the sector includes being a resettlement volunteer for newly arrived refugees with the NZ Red Cross, the office manager for Sailors with Disabilities in Sydney and a volunteer worker at Plunket.
She has two gorgeous children and loves to take the whānau tramping and camping in the beautiful wilds of Aotearoa.