Tim Marshall

Deputy Chair

Following a 20 year career within government departments at Corrections and Social Welfare, Tim has dedicated his work to working within the Tairāwhiti community to “create a community of caring men”.

In 2006, Tim co-founded Tairāwhiti Men Against Violence (TMAV), a local group established to engage and support men to eliminate violence towards their partners and families.

Tim was instrumental in the establishment of the Tauawhi Men’s Centre – a support and resource centre for men, offering counselling, non-violence programmes, advocacy, social work support, youth and parenting programmes. In 2016, Tim’s work within the Tairāwhiti community was recognised when he was announced as a finalist for Kiwibank New Zealand Local Hero of the Year.

Paul Naske

Steering Group Member

Originally from Australia, Paul is heavily involved within the Tairāwhiti community as a committee member of the Gisborne Harriers running club, and as a volunteer mentor for Business Mentors New Zealand. He is also a former Tairāwhiti Man of the Year recipient for his work as a youth mentor and his contribution to the Tairāwhiti community.

Paul is currently the Chief Operations Officer at Rua Bioscience and has over 20 years of experience in business strategy and development. Since 2013, Paul has served on the Gisborne Chamber of Commerce board as both President and Vice President.

Derek Watson

Steering Group Member

Derek is co-owner with his wife Rebecca and sole Director of local civil construction company Ritchie Civil. Since qualifying with his engineering qualification he has gained 25 years experience in the civil construction industry within New Zealand. He is passionate about giving people a go and a chance to better themselves. For them to gain valuable long-term skills along the way – he says “we all started somewhere”.

Derek first came across Mates of Tairawhiti in 2019 when he attended one of the first regional awareness roll outs by Eastland Group. Seeing the importance of Suicide Awareness, all Ritchie Civil staff then attended the training.

Unfortunately Ritchie Civil lost a 21 year old male employee to Suicide in July 2019. Being through losing someone first hand Derek joined the Mates of Tairāwhiti steering group in 2020.

Frances King

Ngati Porou

Frances is of Ngati Porou descent, Whanau a Ruataupare. Since qualifying as a nurse in 1995, Frances has dedicated her career to improving mental health services in our region.

As one of the founding members of Ngati Porou Hauora mental health services, Frances currently works as Mental Health and Addictions / Research Manager for NPH, supervising and supporting mental health services on the East Coast/ Tairawhiti.

France's speciality is in Child and Adolescent Mental Health. Her knowledge and experience have also been recognised by the University of Otago where, until recently, she worked as a Professional Practice Fellow.

Jarred Moroney

Chairperson

A Gisborne local, Jarred has spent the past 14 plus years in health and safety management and has learnt the key to great safety and culture is people.

In 2018, Jarred was instrumental in bringing Dr Beautrais to the region and establishing the Mates in Tairāwhiti programme and is still key in developing the role of MOT in our region.

As General Manager of Eastland Network, Jarred understands the importance of ensuring people are enabled to be the best they can in a safe environment, and having the ability to use their skills and learn new ones as they go.

Melka Oakley

Te Whanau-a-Apanui / Waikato-Tainui

Melka, who is originally from Raukokore and Rahui Pōkeka (Huntly) moved to Tūranganui-a-Kiwa with her husband Matt and daughter in 2017 from Hong Kong to be closer to her whānau and whenua. With a background in technology and education, Melka is motivated by opportunities to lift people to their full potential.

A recent addition to the Mates of Tairāwhiti whānau, Melka brings her facilitation skills and the ability to connect with people on all levels to support our more experienced presenters in the team.

Bridgette Penny

Mates of Tairawhiti Coordinator

A Gisborne local, Bridgette has a strong sense of community, and continues to volunteer for a number of organisations. When not working, she spends time with whānau and friends enjoying the beauty of the East Coast.

Bridgette is a natural communicator who connects with people from a diverse range of backgrounds, she has a natural flair for problem-solving, and leads conversations with aroha, integrity and clarity.

Bridgette’s extensive experience in the business world gives her insight into the challenges facing organisations here in Te Tairāwhiti. As Coordinator for the Mates of Tairāwhiti workplace suicide prevention programme, Bridgette is helping organisations to address some of these challenges.

Ivan Maurirere

Te Aitanga a Hauiti / Ngāti Porou / Te Whakatohea

Born in Gisborne and raised in a small place called Mangatuna, on the North side of Tolaga Bay. Immersed in Te Reo Māori and tikanga, Ivan started his career as a teacher in the Māori education sector. He then set out to gain experience within the transport industry, throughout this time he observed and experienced first hand the impact of suicide on whānau members and friends from all walks of life.

Upon hearing a radio interview in the back blocks of Tauwhareparae, he then decided to start giving back to the people who gave him the knowledge he holds to this day. Grown from a son to a father, he now endeavours to assist whanau not only within his role as a Presenter with M.O.T but also within his role as a Non-Violence Programme facilitator for Tauawhi Mens Centre.

Matt Oakley

Presenter

Matt, who is originally from England, moved to Aotearoa in 2000 seeking new opportunities in his chosen profession of Information Technology. He has since lived and worked in Australia and Hong Kong, moving home to Aotearoa in 2017 with his wife Melka and daughter (Te Whanau-a-Apanui) who are from the small settlement of Raukokore on the East Coast.

When Matt first came across Mates of Tairāwhiti, he realised the power that can come from having a community based response in place for when people find their kete empty of tools to help them face the challenges of everyday life, and jumped on board to become the lead presenter.

Meet our team

Bridgette
Penny

MATES OF TAIRAWHITI COORDINATOR

Matt
Oakley

PRESENTER

Ivan
Maurirere

PRESENTER

Melka
Oakley

PRESENTER

Jarred
Moroney

CHAIRPERSON

Tim
Marshall

DEPUTY CHAIR

Paul
Naske

STEERING GROUP MEMBER

Frances
King

STEERING GROUP MEMBER

Derek
Watson

STEERING GROUP MEMBER

Mates of Tairāwhiti Whānau

Meet our team

Chairperson

Jarred Moroney

Steering Group

Presenter

Ivan Maurirere

Presenter

Melka Oakley

View Bio

Presenter

Matt Oakley

Presenters

Mates of Tairawhiti Coordinator

Bridgette Penny

deputy chair

Tim Marshall

Steering Group Member

Paul Naske

Steering Group Member

Frances King

Steering Group Member

Derek Watson

Tim Marshall

Paul Naske

Derek Watson

Frances King

Jarred Moroney

Melka Oakley

Bridgette Penny

Ivan Maurirere

Matt Oakley

Meet our team

BridgettePenny

Matt Oakley

Ivan Maurirere

Melka Oakley

JarredMoroney

Tim Marshall

Paul Naske

FrancesKing

DerekWatson

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Steering Group

View Bio

View Bio

View Bio

Presenters

View Bio

View Bio

View Bio

View Bio

View Bio

Bridgette
Penny

Matt
Oakley

Ivan
Maurirere

Melka
Oakley

Jarred
Moroney

Tim
Marshall

Paul
Naske

Frances
King

Derek
Watson