Environment: Taiao Team

Regenerating our place

Families and communities can only be healthy and thriving when the air, water, soil and life around us is also healthy and thriving. The Taiao Team at ME Family Services works to regenerate our local ecosystems and to nurture positive, reciprocal relationships between people and place in Māngere/Ōtāhuhu, recognising and valuing the unique potential that is in all.

We provide; Waste education and support to reduce and regenerate waste, a Recovery Room and Resource Recovery Network, our Te Puna Oranga community garden and makerspace, the Māngere Ngahere Project, local stream education and community engagement around the Harania Stream, Pest-Free Māngere/Ōtāhuhu to support for our community to create balance in our biodiversity, and opportunities for the Māngere Taiao Network to connect and collaborate in our area.

What we offer

The Taiao Field Diaries - Ashgrove Reserve

Our Team

Meet some of our Taiao Team below. Don’t hesitate to contact us

Colleen Smith

Taiao Manager

Ko Takaka te whenua tupu
No Golden Bay ahau
Kei Tāmaki Makaurau ahau e noho ana
Ka ora te whenua, ka ora te tāngata
If the land is well, we are well
Colleen’s mahi is grounded in social and environmental justice. Colleen brings an excitement to the role where she will lead the Taiao Team in collaboration with mana whenua and community organisations to reconnect with, and take positive action for te taiao in South Auckland.
She believes that the wellbeing of our natural environment reflects the wellbeing of our community and vice versa. Colleen’s motivation to do this mahi is for the benefit of our grandchildren’s children.

Raquel Sanga

Ngahere Regeneration Facilitator

Nelly Hikaiti

Pest-Free Regeneration Facilitator

Vern Togiatau

Te Puna Oranga - Regeneration Practitioner

Vijay Rajan

Stream Regeneration Facilitator

Destiny Harris

Waste Regeneration Facilitator

ME Family Services
We offer

Early Childhood Education

Creating a brighter future for our children

Social Work

Manaaki Tangata Team Encouraging families to achieve fulfilling lives

Environment

Taiao Team
Regenerating our place

Parent Engagement

Coming in 2024