2025 Conference
Date:
16th April 2025, 8:00am start
Location:
Claudelands Events Centre
Gate 4 Brooklyn Road
Claudelands, Hamilton 3214
New Zealand
Member ticket: $299 plus GST
Non-member ticket: $399 plus GST
Join us for the TRMA Conference 2025, a powerful one-day event designed to inspire, connect, and drive meaningful change in Health and Safety.
Experience thought-provoking speakers, valuable networking opportunities, and practical insights that will empower you to integrate Māori values into workplace safety and well-being.
Let’s create a safer, more inclusive Aotearoa – together.
SECURE YOUR TICKET
When purchasing, you'll have two options: Pay now or pay later.
If you select "Pay now," you'll be directed to complete an online payment via credit card. If you choose "Pay later," you will be emailed an invoice by Te Rōpū Marutau o Aotearoa within 5 business days.
2025 SPEAKERS
Speaker Biographies to come…..please keep checking back regularly.
Kotahitanga
"Kia kotahi ai, kia ora ai, kia haumaru ai... he āhuru mōwai mōku..."
In September of 2024 we farewelled Kingi Tuheitia. During the lead up to his tangi speakers on the Marae said’
"Farewell to the king of kotahitanga," and
"No waka moves forward without all the paddles going in the same direction."
In August of 2024 at the Koroneihana Kingituheitia himself said;
"Let's keep pushing forward while we are currently facing a storm, there's no need to worry. In this storm we are strong. Together. The wind in our sails is kotahitanga, and with that we will reach our destination."
What is Kotahitanga?
Kotahitanga means unity and irrespective of your whakapapa (genealogy) and your mahi (work), kotahitanga is something we should all aspire to have with the people we surround ourselves with.
Kotahitanga means togetherness, and solidarity. It recognises the diversity of people and supports collective action and achieving unity when coming together.
Kotahitanga involves working together to be inclusive and unified. This includes collective action to support collective outcomes and purpose, and the acknowledgment of the strengths and contributions of all.
To achieve a feeling and a sense of kotahitanga requires a lot of groundwork. A team won’t feel like they belong or gel as one straight away – this takes time, and strategies need to be applied/implemented.
When we consider introduction the Health and Safety at Work Act in 2016 it can be argued that while everyone has had the same goal of keeping everyone safe, the steps taken have not necessarily received the results we had hoped for.
In 2017 Māori were told that they were 44% more likely to be harmed at work and five years later it had grown to 55%.
Perhaps the issue is that we are wanting everyone to do the same thing, follow the same training, do the same training. But when we see the world differently we should recognise that we are not the same.
More importantly perhaps we have forgotten that we can still embrace our differences and recognise that while the final goal is the same, how we get there can be different and unique to gender, ethnicity, age and so on.
“Kotahi te kōhao o te ngira e kuhuna ai te miro mā, te miro pango, te miro whero”.
This translates to “there is but one eye of the needle, through which white, black and red cotton must pass”.
If our goal is to keep everyone safe, should embrace differences and welcome new ideas. But we must also remember that while we may be different, we should respect that although Maori have a different view, it’s not to protect Māori only, if anything it’s to ensure that as Kaitaikai (caretakers of New Zealand) we follow a path the protects everyone.
We invite you to the third annual Māori Health and Safety Conference and to learn something different, to strengthen your techniques, to improve your awareness, increase your connections and to rekindle your resolve. There is no other conference like it and we welcome you to be part of the Kotahitanga movement.
"Kia kotahi ai, kia ora ai, kia haumaru ai... he āhuru mōwai mōku...".
Let us unite, to rejuvenate, to recover within a sheltered haven...
Unite - come together with or for a purpose
Rejuvenate - reinvigorate something that needs a new face to an old kaupapa
Recover - to get back, to regain something that was lost
Conference Agenda
| TIME | ACTIVITY | WHO |
|---|---|---|
| 7:00 AM | Team arrives | TRMA |
| 7:30 AM | Flag Raising | Ngaati Wairere |
| 8:00 AM | Registrations start | TRMA |
| 9:00 AM | Mihi / Whakatau | Ngaati Wairere |
| 9:20 AM | Welcome / Interactive Activity | Pene Wahanui Hemi |
| 9:40 AM | Minister | Tama Potaka |
| 9:50 AM | Special Guest | TBC |
| 10:00 AM | Kotahitanga and the Kiingitanga | Tuku Morgan |
| 10:30 AM | Interactive Activity | Hinga & Lloyd Whiu |
| 10:40 AM | ACC | TBC |
| 11:10 AM | TRMA Update | Gerrard Jull / Jodhi Warwick-Ponga |
| 11:30 AM | Te Takenga Mai | Moira Loach / Afele Paea |
| 12:00 PM | Entertainment / Lunch | |
| 1:00 PM | Maramataka Calendar | Harata Samuel |
| 1:40 PM | Te Tiriti and Health and Safety | Dr Rob Josephs |
| 2:20 PM | What is Pare Kore? | Jackie Collins |
| 3:00 PM | Interactive Activity | Hinga & Lloyd Whiu |
| 3:10 PM | Improving wellbeing through the moana | Tamati Stevens |
| 3:50 PM | Thankyou / Manaakitanga Taonga | Pene Wahanui Hemi |
| 4:00 PM | Closing Remarks | Tracey Hook |
| 4:15 PM | Karakia / Lower Flag / Event Close | Ngaati Wairere |
Our Partners
Our Trustees
Wayne Kohi, Trustee Chairperson (Whakatōhea)
Ko Tarakeha te maunga, Ko Opepe te awa, Ko Opape te marae, Ko Ngai Tamahaua te hapū, Ko Whakatohea te Iwi Ka Wayne Kohi ahau. Kia tau te aroha noa o to tatau Ariki, o Ihu Karaiti ki o koutou wairua.
Wayne is married to Linda and together they have four tamariki and live in Tauranga. His Health and Safety experience extends 30 years in areas of management systems, machine safety, transport and asbestos.
He’s passionate about the Kaupapa to reduce the disproportionate injury stats of Maori in general and believes that Te Rōpu Marutau o Aotearoa can help to reduce these statistics by changing the way we measure and administer Health and Safety systems.
Encouraging whanaungatanga between Maori and Tangata Tiriti to unify our efforts plays a big role in the quality of our initiatives. Without this, restoration of trusting relationships will not be achieved.
Event Portfolio: TRMA Chairman | TRMA Introductions
Moira Loach, Trustee (Ngāti Awa)
Ko Putauaki toku maunga, Ko Rangitaiki toko awa, Ko Mātaatua toku waka, Ko Ngati Awa toku iwi, Ko Ngai Tamawera toku hapu, Ko Uiraroa toku marae, Ko Moira Loach taku ingoa.
Moira is the Health and Safety Adviser at Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi. Moira has been in the health and safety sector for 11 years including in Australian coal mines and as a WorkSafe NZ Senior Inspector.
Moira’s work has included advising Maori Trusts, farming, horticulture, construction and manufacturing businesses, schools and Marae.
Event Portfolio: Te Takenga Mai
Mel Brown, Trustee (Ngāti Maniapoto)
Ko Tainui te waka, Ko Maniapoto te iwi, Ngāti Urunumia te Hapu, Kakepuku te Maunga, Pūniu te Awa, Ko Te kotahitanga rāua ko Mangarama ōku papakainga, Ko Mel taku ingoa.
Mel Brown has over 20yrs experience as an Official Assessor in the meat industry. He is also a frontline HSR for over 15 years and has been serving as the national H&S delegate for 5 years. He currently holds the position of Shift Supervisor for AsureQuality – Kaitiaki Kai. Mel is a respected and dedicated sector mangai (representative) who serves on both the State Sector and TRONTA committees for the PSA Union – Te Pukenga Here Tikanga Mahi.
Mel’s passion is to share his experience and enhance worker engagement and representation. In addition, he is an executive member of TRMA Te Rōpū Marutau Aotearoa (The Maori Health and Safety Association of NZ). Mel’s outstanding contributions to workplace health and safety were recognized when he was selected as a finalist in the HSR of the Year category at the New Zealand Workplace Health and Safety Awards in 2019.
Event Portfolio: Kaitiaki Liaison | Support Personnel
Jodhi Warwick-Ponga, Trustee (Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa)
Tēnā koutou katoa, Ko Tākitimu taku waka, ko Aorangi taku maunga, ko Ruamahanga taku awa, ko Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa taku iwi, ko Ngāti Hinewaka taku hapū, ko Tuhirangi taku marae, ko Piripi Te Maari tōku tūpuna.
Jodhi is a dedicated, energetic and innovative Senior Manager who has significant experience in the private and voluntary sectors. An enthusiastic and flexible individual with a passion for people development combined with the ability to adapt easily. Can build and develop strong working relationships at all levels of an organisation and within the community.
A dedicated individual, recognised as a respected team player who brings a positive energy and a positive attitude both personally and professionally.
Event Portfolio: Advertising-Marketing | Media Liaison
Gerard Jull, Trustee (Ngā Puhi/ Te Rarawa)
Anei Toku pepeha mai I te taha o toku whaea, Ko Ngatokimatawhaorua me Kurahaupo ōku waka, Ko Te Ramaroa me Hinerake ōku maunga, Ko Whirinaki me Rotokakahi ōku awa, Ko Ngā Puhi me Te Rarawa ōku iwi, Ko Te Hikutu me Te Uri o Tai ōku Hapu, Ko Pa Te Aroha me Ohaki o Pawarenga ōku marae, Ko Kupe te tupuna, Ko Gerard Jull tōku ingoa
I currently work for Waiotahi Contractors Limited in the Bay of Plenty as the Senior Health and Safety Advisor. I have over 10 years of experience in Health and Safety working in managing events, agriculture, horticulture, civil construction, quarrying, transport, and the meat industry.
I am passionate about Health and Safety and am working hard to ensure this whakatauki is enacted.
“Me hoki ora pai koutou ki o koutou kainga ia ra”
“Every person to go home healthy and safe every day,”
Daniel Tuhora Bennett, Trustee (Ngāti Maniapoto, Tainui, Ngāi Tahu)
Nga hau e wha, Nga iwi e tau nei, Tēnā koutou katoa.
Ko Pirongia te maunga, Ko Tainui te waka, Ko Waikato te awa, Ko Ngāti Maniapoto te iwi, Te Raurauiti o Haere toku marae, Ko Raniera Tuhora Bennett toku ingoa. E hara ahau i te tangata mōhio, ki te korero otira, e tika ana, kia mihi atu, kia mihi mai, Tena koutou, Tena Koutou, Tena Koutou katoa.
Daniel (Dan) and his wife Rebecca have five (5) Tamariki and (3) Mokopuna.
Dan has interests in a number of New Zealand based organisations, including Twenty-Four Seven Health and Safety Limited and Bennett Industries Limited t/a Comp Spec NZ. Dan has held several leadership, management and executive roles across the technology sector. Dan’s previous roles include technical & operations management, business leadership, and board advisories. He brings extensive building fire safety experience with his leadership role at Elite Fire Designs, supporting New Zealand and the Pacific Islands.. Dan has well over 25 years of experience in the IT industry starting at the forefront of service administration to systems, networks, architecture, consultancy, leadership and management.
Event Portfolio: Digital-Technology | Registration
Pene (Benjamin) Wahanui Hemi, Trustee (Ngāti Koata, Tainui)
Pene (Ngāti Koata, Tainui) is a father of four, papa to three and says one of his greatest successes, is that his wife of over 30 years, still loves him.
Professionally Pene has experience in managing events nationally and internationally, has worked for event venues, councils, and a circus. He has contracted privately and has played a major role in the planning and management of the 2006 World Waka Ama Sprint Champs and the 2014 Land War Commemorations.
Over the past 6 years, Pene has been the Health and Safety Adviser for Tainui group holdings, supported Waikato Tainui with their major events and has served as a trustee for TRMA while also supporting his iwi as a former trustee for Ngati Koata.
Event Portfolio: Event Manager | Master of Ceremony