Christina Mahanga

Kia Ora, I am a mother of three and have been married for 25 years.

I have been working for Te mana o Ngapuhi Kowhao Rau for six years starting in administration and just recently taken on a management role.

The work is social justice and working with predominantly Maori, as there is a high incarceration rate in Aotearoa.

Our mahi is to empower our Whanau to be their authentic self and have the mana to enhance themselves and their Whanau, going back to their core values and ko wai au, our mahi focuses on Rehabilitation and a therapeutic approach apposed to a punitive approach which has been the Justice system for hundreds of years.

I have fourteen kaimahi working across all different fields of support in the Justice space, we measure our suggest, by whanau reconnecting back to their Whanau, Whenua and Whakapapa, we work with historic trauma, addictions and mental health, however my mahi is very rewarding and i have enjoyed the journey.

I am 43 years old now, i finished school early and didn't achieve any NZEA, applying for this course is supporting my personal journey towards education and i need to start some where.