Pōhutukawa
Brian Simpson
Ngā kahurangi o pae mahara
Brian Simpson | Ngāti Awa
Brian was a determined, caring and visionary man who ensured what we did served our communities with a particular emphasis on the cultural and holistic care and well-being of the vulnerable and those who had been under-served by a health, social, employment and education system.
For more than 10 years, Brian has been a valued and trusted rangatira of Te Puna Ora o Mataatua, serving as the Board of Trustees Deputy Chairperson, having been appointed in November 2013.
He promoted an idea about integrated services so that clients, whānau, hapū, iwi, and the hapori would not need to go to multiple services. Brian called it the “one-stop shop”.
Adding to that, he was essential to the development of services spanning pre-natal right up to kaumātua/pakeke. This was the genesis of a strategy that has brought about many of the services we offer today, under the one banner.
During his time, Brian has represented our organisation at many events and kaupapa across Mataatua and afar. He has been a person who offered words of hope and was insightful as the organisation manoeuvred through some tumultuous times.
Importantly, Brian was a key part in the development and introduction of Te Puna Ora o Mataatua’s guiding framework, Te Poutokomanawa. He continued this mahi as Pou Kaitiaki o Te Kōmiti o Te Poutokomanawa, which inculcates the framework’s values and principles in all that we do.
Just like our Te Poutokomanawa, Brian drew from the past to inform the present providing direction for healthy community Māori futures.
As Pou Kaitiaki of Te Kāhui Kaumātua, an important advisory kōmiti to the Board of Trustees, Brian brought together iwi, hapū, whānau and marae representatives to kōrero health and wellbeing within our hapori. Brian was particularly encouraging with this mahi which led to our Mātāwaka Strategy, and he was pivotal in securing support and connecting people across communities.
This information was shared by Fiona Wiremu
