Our Board

Dr David Tipene-Leach - Kaihautū/Chairperson
Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Kere, MBChB, MCCM (NZ), FRNZCGP, Te Panekiritanga o Te Reo
Dr David Tipene-Leach, or DTL as he is known by many, is a GP known for his innovative public health projects on prevention of long-term conditions such as diabetes and sudden unexplained death in infancy. When he...

Dr Curtis Walker - Kaihautu Tuarua/Deputy Chairperson
Ko Whakatōhea rāua ko Ngāti Porou ngā iwi.
Formerly a veterinarian, I retrained in human medicine and qualified from the University of Auckland in 2007. I started work as a House Officer at Waikato hospital and commenced internal medicine training there before moving to Palmerston North and then...

Dr Sarah Sciascia - Mema o Te Poari
Dr Sarah Sciascia; Ko Ngāti Maniapoto te iwi, Ko Ngāti Te Puta-i-te-muri te hapū.
Sarah is a General Practitioner for Ora Toa PHO, of Te Runanga o Ngāti Toa Rangatira, located at Takapūwāhia Marae. She was awarded the Peter Anyon prize as a first year GP trainee with the RNZCGP, and achieved...

Baden Vertongen - Mema Poari/Board Member
Mr Baden Vertongen (Ngāti Raukawa) has a Master of Science (Zoology / Ecology - Massey University) and a law degree (Otago University). Mr Vertongen was admitted to practice as a Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand in 2004. Mr Vertongen is a current board member for the...

Dr Kathie Irwin, Mema o te Poari
My passion inspires me to contribute to nation building in innovative and creative ways that are framed by our Ngati Porou tipuna Sir Apirana Ngata's whakatauaki (proverb) "E tipu, e rea". This proverb speaks to the possibilities of bicultural and bilingual models of change that create authentic...

Chayce Glass - Te Oranga Representative
CHAYCE GLASS
Role: Tumuaki
Year: TI
Medical School: Wellington Medical School
Iwi: Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Wai
Contact Email: teoranga.tumuaki@gmail.com
E ngā mana, e ngā reo, e ngā karangatia o te motu, nei rā te mihi ki a koutou
He uri au no Te Tai Tokerau. Ko Ngāpuhi rāua ko Ngāti Wai ōku iwi. Ko...