Kowhai Olsen
Trustee
Te Puketaapapatanga a Hape te Maunga
Te Manukanuka o Hoturoa te whanga
Ooruarangi te Awa
Makaurau te Marae
Waikato / Waiohua ngaa iwi
Kowhai carries herself with purpose in her professional world. She serves as Kaitiaki Taiao, known to some as a Resource Management Officer for Te Ahiwaru Waiohua.. Her hands help steer Te Motu a Hiarao Trust as a trustee, and she holds the same mantle for Te Pu a ngaa Maara. Her ties to the kaupapa run deep; as a trustee and mana whenua representative for Te Pu a ngaa Maara, she stands firm for her people and their legacy.
When you ask about her achievements or skills, she’d likely let an old whakatauki do the talking: Kaore te kumara, e koorero ana i toona reka– Ara! Ka moohio koe, Ka moohio.
Kowhai’s personal koorero is one of place and loyalty. Born and raised in Taamaki Makaurau, she counts herself blessed to have grown up in her papakainga at Ihumatao, surrounded by the whispers of her ancestors. Her heart beats for her marae, her Maangere community, and, above all, her whaanau. Her skills stretch wide, built on ancestral values, nurtured through hobbies, and proven in the roles she’s taken on at the marae. She’s a kaitiaki for her hapu and iwi, stepping into responsibilities with a natural grace. At her core, she believes in lifting others, championing the Tuakana-Teina way, guiding rangatahi to sharpen their soft skills and chase qualifications that ignite their true passions.
Kowhai Olsen, a woman whose life is a testament to her roots, her people, and the future she’s helping to shape.