The Huia Mai team provides Māori-based whānau services designed to meet the needs of whānau Māori and all other whānau who seek our support.
Pae Aronui

Jason Dickson | Kaiārahi Team Leader – Pae Aronui
Tena tatou e te iwi…
He uri ahau no Ngapuhi me Ngati Whatua
Ko Puhangatohora me Maungakiekie nga maunga
Ko Hokianga whakapou karakia me Waitemata nga moana
Ko Ngatokimatawhaorua me Mahuhu ki te rangi nga waka
Ko Taheke me Tumutumuwhenua nga marae
Ko Ngati Pakau ratou ko Te Taou, ko Ngaoho, Ko Uringutu nga hapu
Ko Taheke te awa
No reira, Ko tenei ahau e mihi nei…
Jason has been with Visionwest since Sept 2020, coming in as a Kaitauhere, supporting and mentoring Maori rangatahi to achieve future goals and aspirations in Education, Training and Employment. He is now our Kaiārahi Team Leader for Pae Aronui. Jason has years of experience working in the community sector and providing community support and advocacy for people who seek direction and guidance. Jason has also worked in the corporate sector and for many government agencies.
Jason enjoys being able to empower people in simple, practical ways that bring a positive change to Whānau, Hapu and Iwi – that allows whānau to stay connected, flourish and grow in mind, body and soul.
“He aha te mea nui o te Ao?… Maku e ki atu, He Tangata, He Tangata, He Tangata”
Matanga Oranga


Faye Pouesi
Tena Koe. I’m privileged to walk in two worlds. I’m Pākehā through my paternal lineage and I’m Māori (Ngāruahine) through my maternal lineage. Over the past 26 years, I’ve worked alongside individuals and whānau throughout West Auckland and Auckland-wide, as a counsellor and group facilitator specialising in complex historical trauma, including sexual abuse, intergenerational trauma, gang, and domestic violence.
My holistic approach to restoration, training and experience forms the foundations of my work with individuals, whānau/families whose lives were/are enmeshed in gangs and intergenerational trauma and abuse.
Qualifications: MSocP, Dip Couns, Advanced Cert Supervision, NZAC
Huia Mai Leadership


Fred Astle – Pou Whakarae (Head of Māori Development)
Tainui te waka
Waikato te Iwi
Taupiri te maunga
Waikāto te awa
Kingi Tūheitia Potatau te
Wherowhero Tuawhitu
Te tangata
He uri o Te Puaha o Waikato
He piko, he taniwha
He piko, he taniwha rau
Bch Māori Studies, PG Cert Health Leadership & Management, PG Dip Arts Leadership, MA
Māori Leadership – AUT.
Fred is a highly respected educator, advisor and manager. With a wealth of experience in Māori Health and Education, Fred provides leadership and guidance across Whānau Services and Māori Development at Visionwest Waka Whakakitenga. Alongside his role here, Fred is also the Director of Kaupapa Māori (Hon Prof Teacher Fellow), for the Surgical and Translational Research Centre (STaR) at the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland.





Val Goold – Pou Ārahi Kaupapa Māori
Tapuae o Uenuku te maunga
Wairau te awa
Kurahaupō te waka
Rangitāne o Wairau te iwi
Ōmaka me Tuamatene nga marae
Rea Rangihiroa te tangata
MEd, BDiv, BA, DipTchg (Sec).
Val joined Visionwest in September 2021. Val has invested herself in the areas of education, mentoring, leadership and faith development, and governance. In recent years, she has been bringing these broad experiences to supporting organisations to engage with issues of diversity and inclusion. She is passionate about Te Tiriti and its wero for how we function as communities, and as a society today and in the years to come.





Rāwiri Auty – Pou Ārahi Whānau Services
Takitimu te waka
Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairoa te iwi
Titirangi te maunga
Waiau te awa
Rangiahua te Marae
Tamaterangi te tangata
MAppTheol, GradDipNPM, Bmin.
Rāwiri joined Visionwest early in 2021 coming from a background of 20 years in pastoral and community work. Rāwiri has a collaborative leadership style and believes that people always come first. He uses his management and research skills to help ensure the best care for those who seek support from our Whānau Services.
Through Pae Aronui, we enable you to achieve specific educational and employment opportunities including:
Education:
- Re-engaging in qualification-based learning.
- Attaining credits/qualifications, or
- Taking meaningful and measurable steps towards re-engaging in learning or attaining qualifications.
Employment:
- Attaining relevant pre-employment credits and or qualifications,
- Attaining stable employment (for at least 6 months),
- Attaining in-work credits and qualifications, and or
- Acquiring relevant pre-employment skills.





Apply for Pae Aronui
Applicants need to be:
- Living within the Waitakere region.
- Aged between 15 and 24 years.
- Of Māori heritage (whakapapa).
To find out more, or to discuss if Pae Aronui is suitable for you:
Phone: 022 012 0019
Or complete the form: