The Aunties

Hollie Russell

Kia ora e hoa mā! 💗 Ko Hollie Russell ahau, he uri o Ngāti Rakaipaaka me Ngāti Pākehā. I’m best described as a nature loving, hot chip eating, anti-capitalist aunty. I am a strong believer in cutting your own fringe when on an emotional rollercoaster, the key is watching a lot of YouTube videos on how to beforehand. My dream is that Te Poho can provide a space for young people to engage with the freedom, resources, and matauranga they need to fulfill their potential and reach a space of tau.

Nau mai, haere mai XX

Abha Dod

Namaste y’all! Ko Abha Dod ahau. My roots are in India, my birthplace is in Kenya, and Aotearoa is my home. I’m an auntie on a personal journey of moving from trauma to transformation and I’m super passionate about bringing the koa of life into community and wellbeing spaces. I love so many things that life has on offer – yoga, expressive arts, permaculture, and relationships are at the top. My dream for Te Poho is that we can come together to share our collective wisdom, lighten our loads and celebrate our wins. That we can create a new way of ‘doing’ mental health in this complex world. I reckon that together, we have everything we need to survive, thrive, and feel alive!!

Hannah Mason

Ko Waitākere te maunga ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Ko Marawhara te awa ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Ko Ngāti Pākehā te iwi ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Ko Te Kawerau ā Maki te mana whenua⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Nō Piha ahau ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Ko Hannah tōku ignoa⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Tēnā koutou! Hannah here, a recovering people pleaser, semi-professional mask wearing Aunty from the west coast! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
When the sun is shining you can find me In the garden, frothing over nature or adventuring to new places with my play shoes on. When it’s not I’ll be snugged in an oversize jumper writing, reading, crying and refreshing the weather app hoping to see that sun. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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I don’t think I’m alone when I say, I love to run away, but I’ve (we’ve) been doing that for years and it feels real stale. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Being part of Te Poho has allowed me to feel like we have somewhere to run toward.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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A place where we can tautoko one another and give space to our experiences. I know I’ve been starving for a community like this, and I don’t think I’m alone on that either ❤

The Aunties

Sharnae Morrell-Hopa

Kia ora,⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Ko Taupiri tōku maunga⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Ko Taupiri tōku marae⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Kua piki ake au te whenua ō Whakatū ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Ko Sharnae tōku ingoa⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Kia ora.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Hey, I’m Sharnae, a friend, daughter, sister and aunty. I love spending quality time with those I surround myself, whether it be having those deep kōrero or just laughing about everything and nothing.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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I’ve often felt that my emotions are too much for people so being apart of Te Poho has taught me that emotions are normal and it’s ok not to be ok. I’ve left each kōrero feeling loved and respected and with confidence in my own wisdom. I feel super honoured to be apart of Te Poho and I’m excited as for you all to feel those same virtual hugs from the aunties ❤️❤️❤️

Brontë Bones

Kia ora rā!

Nō Pōrana oku tupuna
I whānau mai ahau Taranaki
I tupu ake ahau Haumoana, Turangi, me Taranaki
Kei Taranaki toku ngākau.
E manawanui ana au ki te whānaungatanga
Ko Brontë tōku ignoa

🌸🌸🌸

Kia Ora I'm BB,
My Mā's Polish, dunno about my Dad (sometimes I feel a way about it), I moved heaps growing up but call Taranaki home.
I am a big sister and my whānau mean everything to me.

I reckon big feelings happen for us all. Somedays I feel powerful, on others I feel overwhelmed and anxious.
For a longtime, I just pretended I was super hearty with no feelings, this made me feel pretty lonely, turns out more people feel like I do. But it can be so hard putting words to our feelings, knowing where to start, or who to talk to.

As Te Poho tuakana, we're here to be straight up about how we feel in the world and show that we are all good to be honest. The world can feel pretty rough out there- I don't think we're supposed to 'do it alone'.

We got you!
Te Poho is our place, and we’re all here to awhi each other. It’s our place to pull up, nuzzle in, be wrapped up in that real manaaki.

It is OUR place, and it is nothing without you.
Let’s grow this together.

Nau mai, Haere mai

Manisha Morar

Nō Inia ōku tūpuna.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I whānau mai au I Zimbabwe.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I tupu ake au I Fiti me I Aotearoa.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Ko Manisha Morar tōku ingoa.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Namaste, I'm Manisha, and my pronouns are she/her. My ancestors are from Gujarat, but I live in Manukau. I moved around a lot as a kid, and often feel like I walk between worlds. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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I find comfort in feeling understood and joy in creating stories that weave us together, feeding bees, and hosting dance parties (for one).⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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I'm a daughter and big sister with big auntie energy, so whatever's going on, grab a cuppa and a cushion. We'll figure it out together. 😊⠀⠀