Te Hiwi Preston

I bring a grounded and community-centred approach to leadership, shaped by my whakapapa to Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Rēhia, Waikato, Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Kahungunu, Te Ātiawa, Tahiti, and the Cook Islands. My journey has taken me across roles in public health, state care advocacy, tertiary education, and the public sector – always guided by kaupapa Māori and Te Moana Nui a Kiwa values, and a deep commitment to collective wellbeing.

Some of the strengths I strive to uphold are listening, building relationships, and helping create spaces where people feel seen, heard, and valued. I believe in quiet, consistent leadership – the kind that supports others to thrive and centres the needs of whānau and community.

I’m a devoted husband and proud papa to seven tamariki (six whāngai and one biological), and my biggest inspiration comes from home. Whether I’m in the kitchen making kai for the kids or making a cup of tea for our kaumatua and kuia, I carry a deep sense of responsibility to contribute in ways that uphold mana and create pathways for future generations.