About Us | Ngā Ringa Āwhina

Our Story

We Are the Product of Ngā Ringa Āwhina

In 2004, at Manukau Institute of Technology, a collective of Māori nursing students and lecturers came together to form Ngā Ringa Āwhina — a rōpū dedicated to nurturing and empowering Māori nurses. Guided by kaumātua Kukupa Tirikatene and Sonny Rauwhero, supported by kaiāwhina Carol Dewes and lecturers Evelyn Hikuroa and Gay Ford, the kaupapa was to uplift, support, and guide Māori nurses on their journey

The dream of a Māori nurse-led whare oranga was first spoken into life in 2009 around a bonfire, with waiata and vision shared. After a pause during COVID-19, the kaupapa was revived in 2022, leading to the establishment of Te Korowai O Ngā Ringa Āwhina — the first kaupapa Māori nurse-led general practice in Auckland.

Our Team

Lian Kairua

I te taha o tokuu papa, Ko Te Ati awa raua ko Ngati Maru ki Hauraki tooku iwi, I te taha o tooku mama, Ko Te Arawa tooku Iwi.

I am a proud mum, wife, daughter, aunty, cousin and friend. I am passionate about people and am intrigued by the psychology of society. In my professional life I am a Registered nurse with a community prescribing scope, My recent mahi is in the NGO space as Clinical director. I have a Bachelor of Arts in Education and Anthropology, Bachelor of Nursing and a Post Graduate Diploma in Health Sciences. Co-ownership of our own Māori nurse led clinic in South Auckland has been an aspiration for many years and to finally see it come to fruition will always be a very proud and humbling milestone of my life. I am proud to stand alongside my team who share the same passion and drive to contribute to better health outcomes for all whanau that we are privileged to work alongside. If I am not working in the clinic you will find me with my family, or friends enjoying the outdoors or travelling to warm and wonderful places.

Dhyanne Hohepa

Ko Raukawa ki Wharepūhunga, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Kea Ngāti Tuarā, me Ngāpuhi ōku iwi.

I am a Nurse Practitioner from Manurewa with over 20 years’ experience across primary care, urgent care, older people’s health, palliative care, general practice, population health, and emergency medicine.

Alongside my clinical practice, I mentor Māori nurses into Nurse Practitioner and prescribing pathways. Kapa haka is a lifelong passion and a tool we use to strengthen resilience, identity, and wellbeing. Our collective mahi is dedicated to uplifting the mana of our people and empowering whānau to take control of their health and wellbeing

Miri Hohepa

Ko Tainui te waka, ko Raukawa ki Wharepūhunga te iwi, ko Puehutore te hapū, ko Mangatūtū te awa, ko Panetoki te maunga, ko Whakamarama te marae, ko Te Rangimoeakau te tūpuna.

I am also a proud member of the Manurewa Community. These connections ground me in my whakapapa and guide the way I work as a nurse. My background is in nursing practice, and I am passionate about growing the Māori nursing workforce within South Auckland. This dedication is complemented by my love for waiata, whakawhanaungatanga, and manaakitanga.

My goal is to walk alongside whānau on their health journey, offering care that is safe, supportive, and respectful, while promoting prevention, early detection, and long-term wellbeing. A whakataukī that inspires me is: “Toitu te tinana, toitu te wairua, toitu te whenua.” When the body is well, the spirit is well, and the land is well.

Tiffany Soloa'i

Ko Maungatautari te maunga
Ko Waikato te awa
Ko Ngāti Hauā te iwi
O Faleatiu ma Sauniatu o’u nu’u
Ko au tēnei, he uri nō Ngāti Hauā me Ngāti Hāmoa

Kia ora, talofa lava, my name is Tiffany, I am an experienced nurse with a strong background in primary health care. Over the years I have worked in all areas of practice nursing supporting whānau at every stage of their health journey.

I’m an Independent Vaccinator and Cervical Smear Taker, and I also have a lot of experience in helping people manage long-term health conditions. One of the areas I’m most passionate about is making sure tamariki get their immunisations on time, keeping them, their whānau, and our wider community well protected.

I believe in care that is kind, accessible, and whānau-centred — making sure everyone feels listened to, respected, and supported.

Shari Kauri-Vakaloa

E noho ana rā au i runga i ōku Taumata, ko Ruahine, ko Tuwhakairiora
Ka titiro whakararo ki aku whenua taurikura, ki Kai Iwi Pā, ki Te Araroa
Tukituki ana rā taku hoe no runga Tainui me Horouta
Ka whakaripo i te ia ki Oroua, taka rawa atu hoki ki Awatere
Mau rawa taku rere ki Kauwhata Marae, ki Paerauta Marae
Ki ngā hukahuka wai i tere ai taku tae atu, mai i te tairāwhiti, ki te tonga
E kōkō ia e ara e.

I’m a Clinical Nurse Specialist in a Māori Hauora service. With experience across burns, district, and primary health nursing—and leadership during the COVID-19 Māori response—I’m passionate about improving health outcomes for Māori and Pacific whānau. I see myself as an agent for change, driven by equity and culturally grounded care.

Our clinic is coming soon!

We’re working behind the scenes to bring a kaupapa Māori, nurse-led family health clinic to the heart of South Auckland.
Our vision is to create a safe, welcoming space where whānau are supported through every stage of their health journey — guided by te ao Māori values and a whānau-centred approach.

Keep an eye out for updates as we prepare to open our doors — we can’t wait to welcome you and your whānau soon.

Contact Us

Phone FREE on 0800 NRA FAM 0800 672 326

Email nrafamilyhealth@gmail.com

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