Judge Frances Eivers (Ngati Maniapoto, Waikato)
Te Kaikōmihana mō ngā Tamariki ō Aotearoa
Commissioner for Children
Before being appointed Commissioner, she was a Judge in the District Court in Manukau, working extensively with mokopuna in the court system. She has worked as a lawyer in Auckland, Whakatāne, London and Tauranga. In New Zealand, she practised mainly in the Family, Youth and Criminal courts, including working as a lawyer for children and as a youth advocate.
Born in Kawerau and raised in Te Teko, she counts herself lucky to have been raised with love in her whānau whānui and to have had a community where “everyone pretty much knows everyone”. She is a mother of three sons and counts this as her greatest achievement.
She believes that every child is a gift: he mokopuna, he taonga. If every child is treated as a gift, a treasure, then every New Zealander would ensure that the welfare of children is at the heart of every decision that affects them and their families. Her initial priorities as Commissioner are advocating on mental wellbeing, family violence and education
Whakatū Marae
Kei te mihi nunui, naumai haere mai, whakatau mai.
Ko Maungatapu te maunga
Ko Mahitahi te awa
Ko Kākāti te whare tupuna
Ko Mauri Ora te whare kai
Ko Whakatū tenei marae
Ko Ngāti Koata, Ngāti Toa Rangatira, Ngāti Rarua; Tainui waka, ko Ngāti Kuia; Kurahaupo waka, ko Te Ātiawa, Ngāti Tāma; Tokomaru waka, ki te Tautoko ngā whānau Mataa Waka ki Whakatū.
Sauileone (Sonny) Alesana
I was born in the village of Vavau, Samoa in1965 and moved to Christchurch in the early 1980’s.
I joined Te Piki Oranga Māori Health and Wellness Service in 2015 as the Cultural Advisor. Since then I have been promoted to a Manager position where I have helped the company to update their company policies, integrate tikanga Māori values and practices, and change the way in which we deliver services to whānau and iwi.
I am a graduate of Te Whare Wānanga o Raukawa, where I majored in Social Services.
I currently live in Nelson with my wife Tania. We have three children and three grandchildren. When I’m not busy with my mahi you can find me supporting a variety of community initiatives.
I hold various roles within Te Tauihu rohe including, Member of the Māori Iwi Health Board representing Pasifika, current Chairperson of Te Tau Ihu o te Waka a Maui Māori Culture Council, Māori, and Pasifika Advisor for Oranga Tamariki, Member of the Nelson Tasman Civil Defense and Emergency Management Committee and chair of the Nelson Tasman Pasifika Community Trust.
I believe that my role as a leader is to serve the community which means, providing services that benefit people. a b c