Kiri is of Ngā Rauru, Ngāti Ruanui, Ngāti Kahungunu and Ngāti Tūwharetoa descent.

Kiri is currently a Whānau Kaimahi, working in the sector of family violence at He Waka Tapu – a Māori NGO delivering a variety of services to our community under a Kaupapa Māori framework encompassing Wairua, Tinana, Hinengaro and whānau in Otautahi. 

Kiri also sits on Te Herenga Tangata which is a co-lab of three Māori NGO’s: Te Whare Hauora, Te Puna Oranga and Ngā Maata Waka, which strengthens the kauapapa as they work together in their communities to support the needs and issues that our whānau face and to help restore and heal them in their journeys.

Previous to this role Kiri was the Logistics Manager to the Māori Bio Protection Research team based at Lincoln University and project managed the many contracts and accounts, built relationships with our Māori communities and stakeholders inclusive of Māori Champions, Māori Research and Teaching Committee and the Biological Heritage National Science Challenge Kāhui Māori.

Kiri has a background in Administration working for Trusts, Schools and Universities.  Growing up in the Hurunui, Kiri says “whānau always had an open door policy and our whare was never empty…..from babies to youth to adults there was always a new face at the kitchen table and extra mattresses on the floor.”