Kristina Cavit, MNZM

Kristina is the Founder of The Kindness Institute, co-founder of TAIORA and FAT YOGA NZ. She has spent the past 15 years working with marginalised communities facing stress and trauma in Aotearoa and around the world. She has trained with world leading organisations including Jon Kabat-Zinn’s Center for Mindfulness through the University Of Massachusetts Medical School. Kristina was adopted and doesn’t know her whakapapa. She is driven by kaupapa Māori approaches to mental health & wellbeing.

Brady Polkinghorne - Ngāti Tamaterā, Ngāti Raukawa

Former Director and current mentor of The Kindness Institute, Brady has completed a year at Te Wānanga Takiura and is passionate about providing kaupapa Māori informed resilience tools to ngā rangatira o āpōpō.

Te Aorangi Kowhai-Morini - Tainui, Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Tamaterā

Speakers & Guest Facilitators

20 year old Te Aorangi joined TKI as a rangatahi in 2018. Since graduating the Atawhai program, she has become a Mentor on the program, Board Member and Facilitator for TAIORA. A raukura of Hoani Waititi, having completed her Psychology undergraduate degree, she brings an incredible blend of her own mātauranga and knowledge of Te Ao Māori into her teachings.

Dr. Nikki Penetito-Mehara

Ngāti Ranginui, Ngāti Kahungunu, Te Whakatōhea, Ngāti Porou

Dr Nikki Penetito-Hemara is an experienced researcher, strategist, manager, champion of mana wāhine theory and praxis and she is driven by kaupapa Māori approaches to social innovation and systems transformation. Dr Nikki is a leading tākaro (play) Māori specialist.

Dominic Hoey

Dominic Hoey was a founding member of The Kindness Institute and sits on the board of trustees. He has over a decade of experience in youth work. Dominic is also an award winning writer and has taught thousands of neurodivergent students how to think and write dyslexic. His creativity fuels his community mahi.

Zane Wedding

Ngāti Pikiao, Ngāti Kurī

Zane Wedding is a passionate youth advocate from Aotearoa, dedicated to empowering rangatahi through education and activism. With experience teaching arboriculture at MIT and mentoring with TKI, he has guided countless young people to discover their strengths. He is the Director of Mangere Maunga Education Trust. Beyond education, Zane is a committed activist, championing environmental justice, equity, and Indigenous rights, inspiring future generations to lead with purpose.

Christine Russell

Ngāti Kurī

23 year old Christine joined our program as a 16 year old rangatahi to work on communication, anxiety and hauroa challenges. She learnt how to feel inspired, confident and genuinely happy. Having gained an interest in Mindfulness, Yoga and Te Ao Māori, she has taught thousands of rangatahi and whanau. She knows how beneficial these tools are and loves to teach these practices with thw community.