Meet the Team

Dr Diana Kopua
Ngāti Porou
I am a registered psychiatrist, passionate about addressing institutional
racism that negatively impact Māori. I developed Mahi a Atua in the
mid-90's to address inequities for Māori and continue to lead
change through my collaboration with my husband Mark Kopua.
Our Kaupapa’s goal is to train Mataora (change agents who are
trained in Mahi a Atua) to flood Aotearoa with Mahi a Atua
and Tūporeariki.

Mark Kopua

Te Aitanga a Hauiti, Ngāti Ira, Ngāti Porou. 
I am a keeper of ancient Māori knowledge and whakapapa, regarded as a historian by East Coast iwi. I am passionate about Toi Māori and after a 20 year career as a traditional carver, I was a part of the small group of moko artists responsible for the reinstatement of moko into Aotearoa society. I embrace my unique skills as a storyteller to share healing knowledge and assist with my role as Manukura at Te Kurahuna.

Kelly Burns

Ngāti Porou 
Whānau Māori have always been my passion. During my years as a nurse, I strived to provide Māori with the best possible care. However, none of that passion or mahi was changing health outcomes for Māori. Since joining Te Kurahuna I have been utilising the principles of Mahi a Atua, reclaimed my Māoritanga and renewed my hope for our people. 

Tiana Matiu 

Ngāpuhi, Te Ngahengahe, Te Rarawa, Parewhero
E noho ana au ki Whatuwhiwhi 

I am a Māori health promoter, administrator and Mataora. I'm passionate about reconnecting whānau to their whakapapa as a path of healing. Mahi a Atua triggered my deeper yearning to explore how I could heal through te ao Māori and what being Māori meant to me. I attended Rangi Parauri and became a Mataora in 2023. I’m now working at Te Kurahuna as a Matataki. I get to immerse myself in te ao Māori and Mahi a Atua principles everyday while continuing to learn about who I am.  

Lisa Cherrington 

Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Kahu o Torongare
Niuean, Samoan, Irish

Creative writing and story telling in all of its forms is the place
where I find my sense of connection and bliss. I was first
introduced to Mahi a Atua by Dr Di in the late 1990’s whilst
working as a child clinical psychologist in a Māori mental
health service. I have continued to embrace and utilise
Mahi a Atua both personally and professionally.
Through pūrākau, our individual and collective
stories will continue to be retold and actualised.
I attended my first Rangi Parauri training in
2022 when I also joined the Te Kurahuna
team as a Mataora.

Jor’el McQueen 

Ngāti Maniapoto
I am a proud father of 2 beautiful kōtiro and live life with a lens of gratitude. I spend my free time with my whānau and supporting my community through various kaupapa.  I love immersing myself in wānanga and creating space for indigenous ways of healing and growing.  I am passionate about reinstating mātauranga Māori and enjoy practicing taonga pūoro, living aligned to Maramataka and the Mahi a Atua ways of being.

Cora Lambert

Ngāti Ruapani ki Waikaremoana, Ngāi Tūhoe, Waikato,
Te Māhurehure, Ngāti Whātua, Ngā Puhi

I am a Mauri, a daughter, sister, aunty, and so much more.
My life experiences are important to me and have led me
to where I am today. When I found Te Kurahuna I felt my
true purpose for this life became clear. I became a Mataora
and am now a Matataki within Te Whare Wānanga o Te
Kurahuna. I want to ensure the voices of the whānau
who come to Mahi a Atua are prioritised. I utilise Mahi
a Atua principles and matauranga Māori to navigate
our experiences. Kia Mataora ai te ao!

Lybian Moeke 

Ngā Ariki Kaiputahi, Ngāti Porou

I am a proud māmā to eight tamariki, a nanny to thirty mokopuna, and a great grandmother to nine moko tuarua. My passion is spending time with my whānau. We love being by our moana and spending precious moments together watching my
mokopuna playing in their different sports codes.

Meet Our Team

Dr Diana Kopua
Ngāti Porou
‍
I am a registered psychiatrist, passionate about addressing institutional racism that negatively impact Māori. I developed Mahi a Atua in the mid-90's to address inequities for Māori and continue to lead change through my collaboration with my husband Mark Kopua. Our Kaupapa’s goal is to train Mataora (change agents who are trained in Mahi a Atua) to flood Aotearoa with Mahi a Atua and Tūporeariki.
Mark Kopua
Te Aitanga a Hauiti, Ngāti Ira, Ngāti Porou. 
‍
I am a keeper of ancient Māori knowledge and whakapapa, regarded as a historian by East Coast iwi. I am passionate about Toi Māori and after a 20 year career as a traditional carver, I was a part of the small group of moko artists responsible for the reinstatement of moko into Aotearoa society. I embrace my unique skills as a storyteller to share healing knowledge and assist with my role as Manukura at Te Kurahuna.
Kelly Burns
Ngāti Porou 
Whānau Māori have always been my passion. During my years as a nurse, I strived to provide Māori with the best possible care. However, none of that passion or mahi was changing health outcomes for Māori. Since joining Te Kurahuna I have been utilising the principles of Mahi a Atua, reclaimed my Māoritanga and renewed my hope for our people. 
Tiana Matiu
Ngāpuhi, Te Ngahengahe, Te Rarawa, Parewhero
E noho ana au ki Whatuwhiwhi 

I am a Māori health promoter, administrator and Mataora. I'm passionate about reconnecting whānau to their whakapapa as a path of healing. Mahi a Atua triggered my deeper yearning to explore how I could heal through te ao Māori and what being Māori meant to me. I attended Rangi Parauri and became a Mataora in 2023. I’m now working at Te Kurahuna as a Matataki. I get to immerse myself in te ao Māori and Mahi a Atua principles everyday while continuing to learn about who I am.  
Lisa Cherrington
Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Kahu o Torongare, Niuean, Samoan, Irish

Creative writing and story telling in all of its forms is the place where I find my sense of connection and bliss. I was first introduced to Mahi a Atua by Dr Di in the late 1990’s whilst working as a child clinical psychologist in a Māori mental health service. I have continued to embrace and utilise Mahi a Atua both personally and professionally. Through pūrākau, our individual and collective stories will continue to be retold and actualised. I attended my first Rangi Parauri training in 2022 when I also joined the Te Kurahuna
team as a Mataora.
Jor’el McQueen
Ngāti Maniapoto
‍
I am a proud father of 2 beautiful kōtiro and live life with a lens of gratitude. I spend my free time with my whānau and supporting my community through various kaupapa.  I love immersing myself in wānanga and creating space for indigenous ways of healing and growing.  I am passionate about reinstating mātauranga Māori and enjoy practicing taonga pūoro, living aligned to Maramataka and the Mahi a Atua ways of being.
Cora Lambert
Ngāti Ruapani ki Waikaremoana, Ngāi Tūhoe, Waikato, Te Māhurehure, Ngāti Whātua, Ngā Puhi

I am a Mauri, a daughter, sister, aunty, and so much more. My life experiences are important to me and have led me to where I am today. When I found Te Kurahuna I felt my true purpose for this life became clear. I became a Mataora and am now a Matataki within Te Whare Wānanga o Te Kurahuna. I want to ensure the voices of the whānau who come to Mahi a Atua are prioritised. I utilise Mahi a Atua principles and matauranga Māori to navigate our experiences. Kia Mataora ai te ao!
Lybian Moeke 
Ngā Ariki Kaiputahi, Ngāti Porou

I am a proud māmā to eight tamariki, a nanny to thirty mokopuna, and a great grandmother to nine moko tuarua. My passion is spending time with my whānau. We love being by our moana and spending precious moments together watching my mokopuna playing in their different sports codes.