Ko Kakepuku tōku maunga
Ko Waipa tōku awa 
Ko Tainui tōku waka 
Ko Te Kopua tōku marae 
Ko Ngati unu tōku hapū 
Ko Ngati Maniapoto tōku iwi
I tipu ake au Te Awamutu
E noho ana au ki Kirikiriroa 
Tokorua aku tamariki, ko Tatiana raua ko Harvey 
Ko Donald tōku hoa tāne 
Ko Natasha tōku ingoa 

Mauri ora ki a koutou katoa, My name is Natasha (Tash). I am third year oral health student. I have worked for the last 8 years as a dental assistant for Te Whatu Ora and casually for Waikato Dental. I am part of Te Awawa Kiritahi Roopu and Nga Mokai o Nga Whetu ki Tamaki Makaurau Tumuaki. I aspire to become an oral health therapist and go back to Te Whatu Ora's mobile dental unit to support the Waikato's kura kaupapa, wharekura, and kohanga reo.

Nga mihi kia koutou katoa, Tash Apiti-Pickup

Chanae Ihimaera is a senior lecturer in oral health with a focus on governance, cultural safety, and community engagement, committed to achieving equity in practice.  Chanae is an AUT alum and has worked as a dental therapist with the district health board since the early 2000s. During the pandemic, she was redeployed to the Emergency Department and later into the COVID-19 Directorate Manatū Hauora (Ministry of Health, New Zealand) as Senior Advisor Equity and Community Engagement, and then to Te Whatu Ora (Health New Zealand) in the Outbreak Response Directorate of the National Public Health Service.  

Ko Taupiri te maunga
Ko Waikato te awa
Ko Tainui te waka
Ko Ngāti Mahut ate iwi
E noho ana au ki Te Nehenehenui
Tokowhā ngā Tamariki
Ko Anne-marie Maikuku ahau

A member of Te Ao Marama Aotearoa Māori Dental Association, passionate about our people, inspired by the next generation Anne-marie lives by her values of Mana wāhine, manākitanga, whenua ora and whanaungatanga,. Deeply guided by her epistemology Anne-marie served as dental assistance for Waikato DHB further developing her career by creating kura Kaupapa māori mobile dental unit where she later expanded her learnings at Otago University graduating in Bachelor Oral Health, advancing in he mātauranga completing a Masters of Indigenous knowledge at Te Wananga o Aotearoa as she now serves our people of Aotearoa as the strategic Oral Health Lead of Clare foundation alongside her appointment by Ministry Of Health as the BOH rep on the Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal.

“nou te rourou, nāku te rourou, ka ora ai te iwi”

Ko Te Ramaroa a Kupe tōku maunga
Ko Pakanae tōku awa
Ko Ngātokimatawhaorua tōku waka
Ko Maraeroa tōku whare Tīpuna
Ko Pakanae tōku marae
Ko Te Roroa, Ngāti Wharara raua ko Te Kapotai oku hapū
Ko Ngāpuhi tōku iwi
I tipu ake au Waimatenui
E noho ana au ki Ekope, Te Moananui ā Toi
Ko Leeann Waaka tōku ingoa

Leeann is a proud wahine Māori, māmā, and nanny to seven moko. Her journey into the oral health sector began in the second year of the AUT BHSc Dental Therapy program, laying the foundation for nearly two decades of service across the oral health and wider health sectors. Guided by the aroha, awhi, and manaakitanga of Te Ao Mārama Aotearoa Māori Dental Association, Leeann has been supported from her student days through to her role in Oranga Niho, where she serves whānau and communities as a dedicated Dental Therapist. Since 2013, she has upheld her responsibilities as a Kaitiaki (guardian) of Te Ao Mārama, championing hapū independence and interdependence on shared kaupapa, in line with the commitments and aspirations of the Rangatira who signed He Whakaputanga and Te Tiriti o Waitangi. These guiding principles continue to inspire her dedication to the kaupapa 'Hei oranga niho mo te iwi Māori.' Leeann is currently pursuing a Master of Indigenous Studies at Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi, further deepening her commitment to Māori health and education. She serves as Clinical Lead for Hauora a Toi Community Oral Health Services, advocating for equitable, whānau-centered oral health services that prioritise community wellbeing. Alongside her contributions to the health sector, she actively participates in local governance, serving her Rangitāiki community as Chair of the Rangitāiki Community Board.

Mālo e lelei, my name is Ilaisaane (Saane) Kaufanga and I hail from the villages of Kolomotu'a and Ma'ufanga, Tongatapu. I am currently a second year Oral Health Therapy student at Auckland University of Technology and a graduate of the University of Otago. I have a big heart for the improvement of pasifika health both physically and holistically, so that paired with my interest in teeth has been what has led me to what I am currently studying. I'm not sure what the future will look like just yet in terms of my career goals, but I know continuing to be involved in spaces that challenge and inspire me will help shape that for me.