Introducing ABI Kaiwhakahaere

ABI’s Kaumātua is Ray Ahipene-Mercer. Ray (Ngāi Tara, Ngāti Ira, Ngāi Tahu) is of Māori, Welsh, Swedish and Scot descent.  

Ray regularly works with Wellington schools and other groups around environmental and Mātauranga Māori issues and sharing knowledge. Ray’s work in environmental and Mātauranga Māori issues often bought him in contact with Wellington City Council.  Ray was elected to the Council for five terms (sixteen years), being the second Māori to be elected to the Wellington City Council and the first Maori to be elected since 1962.  Ray held various roles in the Arts when at the Council.

Ray has had a long musical career as a vocalist and guitar player.  This started at an early age and he became a full-time musician at the age of 21. Ray learned to make and repair guitars as a luthier (stringed instrument maker) which he still does from his studio in Wellington. Ray has been involved with various music schools in New Zealand as either an Assessor of live music performance and member of Boards at both Whitereia and Te Toi Whakaari – New Zealand Drama School.

Currently, Ray is Chair of Orchestra Wellington, a role he has held since 2018. Ray was the first Māori to chair an Orchestra in New Zealand.

Te Rina Ruru-Pelasio (LLB, BScoSc) is ABI’s Urihaumate (Māori Consumer) and Whānau Advisor and also a member of ABI’s Clinical Governance Group.  Te Rina (Ngāti Kahu ki Whaingaroa, Te Aitanga a Māhaki) is of Māori and Irish descent. Te Rina has lived experience with her older brother who sustained a severe Traumatic Brain Injury from a motor vehicle accident in 2007.  Along with her whānau experience, the experiences of others she has met on their journey, has increased her awareness of the quality, safety and cultural issues people face on a day-to-day basis. Te Rina since co-founded Camp Unity, a Charitable Trust that provides advocacy, support and holistic healing to young people who provide care to a family, whānau, or aiga member with a disability, illness, or injury requiring daily support. Te Rina has also been a member of national and local advisory groups such as the Royal Australasian College of Physicians Consumer Board, ACC Whole Pathways Collaborative, Health Quality and Safety Commissions Consumer Network, Te Roopū Māori group, and Medication Safety group. 

Te Rina is passionate about sharing the experiences of her whānau to influence positive change within crown agencies, providers, and community organisations.

Patricia Ashton is ABI’s new member to the team as a Kaiārahi Kaupapa Māori. Patricia (Ngāpuhi, Hokianaga Whakapau Karakia, Ngāti Whānaunga and Ngāti Kahu ki Whangaroa) grew up in a small town called Kaikohe also known as Kaikohekohe where she attended Kura Kaupapa. Patricia then moved to Tamaki Makaurau (Auckland) where she completed a Bachelor of Arts in Māori Development at AUT University. One of her most recent qualification’s was a Diploma in Te Pinakitanga ki te Reo Kairangi, this giving her the opportunity to advance in her Reo Māori. 

In the last 6 years before starting with ABI, Patricia was working in the finance sector at a major bank with her recent role as a National Operations Manager with Māori and Iwi. Within this organisation Patricia was always putting herself forward to be part of the many groups on offer. She was part of the Cultural Expert Advisory Group, Māori performing group, Youth Network, Health & Safety representative, First Aider. She was a Manage Your Money Facilitator where she was able to present and assist communities with tips and information to help them financially. She participated in ‘The day in the Navy’ twice as well as being selected to travel to London for the One Young World summit (a global young leaders forum). Patricia has always been a person who loves to be part of the community and find new ways on improving her skills to be able to do more for others.

Patricia has always been passionate about Te Ao Māori where she is a new branch member of the Te Ropu Wahine Maori Toko i te Ora (Maori Women’s Welfare League) where she can stay connected to Māori communities and assist in guiding better outcomes for Māori Wahine and their Whānau. She often finds herself learning new skills to revitalise her language as well as bringing back old practices. Such as mahi rārānga Korowai (weaving Māori feathered cloaks), cooking Fry Bread, baking Rewana Bread, cooking Steam pudding. She is also part of a Kapa Haka Roopu (Māori performing group) called Muriwhenua located in Kaitaia.

Here is one of Patricia’s favourite Whakatauki (Māori proverb) – Ko taku reo taku ohooho, ko taku reo taku mapihi mauria which means My language is my awakening, my language is the window to my soul.