Whakamanawa - The National Social Services Conference, is the only annual Conference that brings together all those working across Aotearoa New Zealand's community social services and wider social sector. Everyone who works in Aotearoa New Zealand's social sector is invited, and each year 200+ delegates attend from throughout community-based social services, the government social sector and a wide range of connected spaces. As the name of our Conference indicates, Whakamanawa is about inspiring, encouraging, instilling confidence in and connecting us all across our social sector, to enable us to return to our communities and hapori revitalised and with new tools and maatauranga for the mahi ahead. Earlybird tickets are available until Friday 31 March.
We are excited that Kanoa Lloyd will be joining us as our Conference MC at Whakamanawa 2023! We know she is going to create a wonderful atmosphere for everyone at the Conference.
Hon Carmel Sepuloni is the 20th Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand, the first Pacific and third female in the role. She is the current Minister of Social Development and Employment, Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage and Associate Minister of Foreign Affairs (Pacific Region). MP for Kelston, Carmel is of Samoan, Tongan and NZ European descent.
She was born and raised in Waitara but has lived in Auckland since 1996. Outside of politics Carmel has worked broadly across the health and education sectors, working as a Literacy Educator with youth in West Auckland, teaching in Samoa, managing equity programmes at the University of Auckland, managing the non-regulated Pacific health research project and acting as CEO of New Zealand’s only national Pacific health provider, Vaka Tautua.
Carmel has always been committed to improving social, health and educational outcomes for all New Zealanders but has especially focused during her career on low socio-economic groups, Māori, Pacific, disabled people and sole parents. Across her portfolios, Carmel is committed to transforming the welfare system so that it’s fairer and treats people with dignity, and providing opportunities for people to get ahead in life – including better opportunities to get into meaningful and sustainable employment. She has previously held the portfolios of Minister for ACC, Disability Issues and Associate Pacific Peoples.
Jehan Casinader is a journalist, keynote speaker and mental health advocate.
He was named “Broadcast Reporter of the Year” at the Voyager Media Awards in 2020, and “Reporter of the Year” at the New Zealand Television Awards in 2018.
In the aftermath of natural disasters, terror attacks, sporting triumphs and everything in between, Jehan has helped hundreds of Kiwis to share their vulnerable and deeply personal stories with the rest of the country.
He works with wide range of organisations to promote storytelling in the areas of wellbeing, leadership and culture.
Jehan is the author of This Is Not How It Ends: How rewriting your story can save your life (HarperCollins).
Chappie Te Kani (Ngāti Porou, Te Aitanga a Mahaki, Tūhoe, Ngāti Maniapoto, Rongowhakaata) has held several senior public servant roles including Assistant Commissioner at the Public Service Commission, Head of System Assurance and Continuous Improvement, and Caring for Communities Lead within the COVID-19 Group at the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. He was also Acting Chief Executive Te Arawhiti.
He joined Oranga Tamariki–Ministry for Children in May 2021 as Deputy Chief Executive Governance and Engagement before being appointed to the role of Chief Executive.
Chappie lives in Lower Hutt with his wife and two children.
