Materoa Mar

Nga Puhi, Ngati Whatua, Ngati Porou

Materoa has been involved in mental health for more than 25 years in a variety of roles. She become aware of the Foundation's work during a period when it had a high media profile as an advocate for issues around mental health services, specifically deinstitutionalisation and service development.

Because of her work in mental health service delivery, Materoa had a keen interest and strong belief in the issues the Foundation was advocating for. Her opportunity to become involved with the Board arose through her professional association with Dr Peter McGeorge (the then Chair) who she worked with at the predecessor of the Capital and Coast District Health Board. She was nominated and became a board member in late 1999. Mike Spraggon became interim Chair when Dr McGeorge resigned. Materoa was first elected to the position of Chair in 2004 and was recently re-elected for her third and final term ending in 2010.

Materoa is also involved in a number of national initiatives and groups. She is a current board member for Te Rau Matatini, a national Maori mental health workforce development organisation, and a board member for The Werry Centre, a national child and adolescent mental health organisation.

Materoa is particularly interested and committed to indigenous development within the context of mental health in its broadest definition.