Ko Aotea te waka
Ko Ruapehu te maunga
Ko Whanganui te awa
Ko Ātihaunui-ā-Pāpārangi te iwi
Ko Ngāti Tuera, Ngāti Pamoana, Ngāti Pareraukawa ngā hapū.
Ko Pungarehu, ko Parikino, ko Koroniti, Ko Ngātokowaru Marae ngā marae.
Ko Gill Potaka-Osborne au.
My professional career and interest in Kaupapa Māori were born out of my involvement as both a kaimahi and whānau member of Te Hunga Kawitiwiti Kohanga Reo (language nest) in the early 80s. The next 15 years were spent in working in the public sector before I rekindled a passion for Māori development and joined Taumata Hauora Trust (Māori Development Organisation) as contracts manager. In 2005, I began employment with Whakauae Research Services in an administrative capacity. My current role is community researcher and evaluator which has given me the opportunity to engage, build capability and seek solutions with local communities. My passion is to grow Māori potential and I am excited about being able to use research and evaluation as methods for advancing Māori development.
I was supported by Whakauae to complete a Postgraduate Diploma in Social Sector Research and in 2019 I completed my final year of master’s study.
I am a member of the Aotearoa New Zealand Evaluation Association (ANZEA), Ma Te Rae Māori Evaluation Association and of the Australian Evaluation Society (AES).
E rere kau mai te awa nui
mai I te Kāhui Maunga ki Tangaroa
Ko au te Awa, ko te Awa ko au
The great river flows from the mountain to the sea
I am the river the river is me
