MidCentral Governance Group

The purpose of the MidCentral Governance Group is to provide strategic oversight of the Mana Whaikaha prototype.

Meet the MidCentral Governance Group

Members of the MidCentral Governance Group were appointed by the Minister for Disability Issues and Associate Minister of Health.

Peter Allen (Chair)

Peter Allen

Peter’s whakapapa has links to Rangitane, one of the local iwi within MidCentral. Peter has a visual impairment. Peter spent twenty years in the Royal New Zealand Air Force and for the last 9 years has worked as a civilian logistics analyst for the NZ Army at Linton Military Camp developing his strategic overview skills. Peter is a member of the Retina NZ management committee (a small incorporated society) that includes both governance and management responsibilities. Peter supports the intent and vision of Mana Whaikaha of giving more choice and control to disabled people and whanau as it is humanity in its most basic form – control over your life.

Email: Peter.Allen@manawhaikaha.co.nz

Heather Browning (Deputy Chair)

Heather Browning

Heather has worked in the disability sector in New Zealand and Australia, initially as a Physiotherapist, and latterly in a variety of Service Management and Project Management roles for around forty years. She is now also actively involved in supporting the settlement process for former refugees in her role with the New Zealand Red Cross. Heather has experience in governance across a range of organisations. She is passionate about ensuring change and growth is sustainable, that policy development is driven by meaningful population outcomes and that service providers are accountable to the people they serve.

Rachel Kenny

Rachel represents the views of hundreds of people with a learning disability living in the MidCentral region. She has lived experience which inspires her helping others speak up to have a better life, more choice and control. As well as being an active member (and Treasurer) of People First Manawatu, she has knowledge of rights and experience in running self-advocacy meetings for IDEA Services. Rachel has spoken up about education, living in residential services, lack of staffing and how hard it is to speak when things aren’t going well.

Martin Sullivan

Martin has been involved as an academic activist in disability issues for most of his life. He sees the Enabling Good Lives – System Transformation as the best framework ever proposed in Aotearoa for disabled people to build the kind of lives they want. This because Enabling Good Lives – System Transformation has been co-designed with disabled people to the fore and because it is principles-based. He wants the MidCentral prototype to be successful – that is why he is serving on the Governance Group where he has strategic input.

Rasela Fuauli

Rasela has an affinity with people; she is a parent of children with disability, a teacher with 11 years’ experience and a manager of Pasifika for Tomorrow in which she walks alongside Pasifika people and provides support to maximise their potential. Rasela’s strong connections with the Pasifika communities in the MidCentral area assists Mana Whaikaha’s introduction into their families.

Zandra Vaccarino

Zandra is the National Executive Officer of the New Zealand Down Syndrome Association (NZDSA). In the role, she has worked alongside governance, as well as working with a range of disability and community groups achieving shared goals sand representing the view of whanau at national stakeholder meetings. Zandra brings her lived experience of advocating for her son and her mamma and her professional experience in community development, systemic advocacy and working with families, whanau and people who are disabled by society to access full citizenships right to enjoy a good life.

Maxine Dale

Maxine is the CEO for the Ryder-Cheshire Foundation Manawatu which provides accommodation and 24-hour lifestyle support for 35 disabled people. She is also the Treasurer for the Disabled Person’s Assembly (Palmerston North and Central Districts). Maxine’s previous roles have included being Chairperson for the Brain Injury Association (Palmerston North) Chairperson of the Globe Theatre Trust Board and Chair of a Council Controlled Organisation (Palmerston North City Council). The experiences in leadership and governance give Maxine a unique perspective from which to support the Governance Group.

Peter Ireland

Peter has been a union organiser with the Public Service Association for 13 years. During that time, he has worked extensively in the disability, community health and DHB areas. Peter has also been an advocate for a family member with a learning disability. Peter’s knowledge and clarity of thinking around employment matters will be valued in Mana Whaikaha’s workforce development stream.

Angela Hobden

Angela is a chartered accountant who works in Palmerston North. She was the strategic financial manager for the Rangitikei District Council and was the financial accountant for Northland Regional Council. In these roles, she has been responsible for developing budgets and financial policies, and the financial strategic direction. Angela has comprehensive experience with long-term budgeting and preparing reports for diverse audiences that include the perspectives of the community.