Theme: Explore, Reaslise, Act

Like a child blowing a dandelion, curious as to where each floret will land, TEDxManukau provides you with an opportunity for uninhibited thought, curious as to where each notion of a new idea may take you.

Being held on Saturday 11 June 2016 at the Ko Awatea Centre at Middlemore Hospital, TEDxManukau allows you to explore realities, realise potential, and be inspired to act. You will hear ideas, and the stories behind those ideas, from ordinary South Aucklanders, who are doing extraordinary things to make their community the remarkable place it is to live, love and work in. Some ideas will be big, some small. But you can be certain they will be inspiring and you will discover the era or possibility that exists for our future.

Ko Awatea Centre
Middlemore Hospital
100 Hospital Road
Auckland, Auckland, 1640
New Zealand

David Sinfield

Senior lecturer

David Sinfield is a senior lecturer and the undergraduate programme leader of Graphic Design and Moving Image at Auckland University of Technology’s (AUT) South Campus in Manukau. David’s research focuses on the potential of animated written words to capture the human condition – whether this is as film titles, animated speeches or as political remarks on urban decline and social injustice. As a graphic designer, he research studies visual and social observations to uncover how old worn-out lettering may be used to remember places and experiences by reading eroded signage and symbolic relationships. He believes by generating creative and social discussions he can investigate the relationship between lettering, design and storytelling across both space and time.

Emeline Afeaki-Mafile’o

Social entrepreneur

Emeline Afeaki-Mafile’o is the director of Affirming Works, an organisation that provides mentoring to children and youth in Auckland. She also owns a number of community cafes and a coffee business in Tonga that restored 10 cooperative farms. Most recently, Emeline founded Fofola Consultancy in order to assist government groups with creating culturally appropriate policies such as a Tongan conceptual framework for family violence and faith-based programmes. She has been presented the Sir Peter Blake Emerging Leader and Westpac Women of Influence for Community and Social Enterprise awards. This year, Emeline received the prestigious honour of being made a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit.

Evan Williams

Chair: Te Papa Tongarewa, the Museum of New Zealand

Evan Williams (LLM (Hons)) is the current chair of Te Papa Tongarewa, the Museum of New Zealand. A former law lecturer, he is a lawyer, investor and company director with international experience across a range of sectors including energy, aviation, government, property development, conservation and iwi (local peoples). Evan was one of the chief authors of the co-governance arrangements with iwi for the Waikato River treaty settlements and has been chairman of the Auckland City Mission, Chapman Tripp (a large NZ national law firm) and a founder or director of a wide range of private and not-for-profit organisations

Gina Guthrie

Mother & former prison inmate

Gina Guthrie is a former criminal entrepreneur now working for Reclaim Another Woman (RAW). Gina is a thriving mother of two sons enjoying the challenges that come with leading a legal life. Gina is passionate about working alongside RAW to provide others with the same opportunity to reintegrate back into the community. With her understanding of the struggles faced upon release she is ideally positioned to provide support and guidance to parolees to reclaim their lives for themselves, their children and the community.

Iavana Seuala

Iavana Seuala is a 15 year old Kiwi born Samoan from Manurewa who is very proud of his South Auckland heritage. He has been inspiring people for the last three years with his public speaking and MCing performances. He has also done a great deal of work with the Vodafone Pacific Music Awards, including the production of a short film, acting in between-award performances and presenting an award. Having just started Year 11 at Manurewa High School, Iavana is now looking forward to the challenge of NCEA level one. He is an inspiring, motivated young man who has used the journey of his grandparents from Samoa and his parents' hard work to inspire him to succeed.

Ish Sodhi

Professional cricketer

Ish Sodhi is a New Zealand (NZ) cricketer known for his right-arm leg spin bowling and right handed batting. Born in India before moving to NZ at the age of four, he made his international debut in 2013 before achieving the best score (63) by a number ten batsman in Test cricket in 2014. It was not until March 2016 however that he made his family face a dilemma of loyalty; they had always been devout supporters of the Indian cricket team, but now Ish was about to face their team wearing the colours of NZ. In the end Ish’s family were cheering despite a loss for India; it was largely thanks to Ish’ spectacular bowling that NZ won.

Jean M Allen

PhD student

Jean M Allen is a student at the University of Auckland. She has a background is in education, with experience teaching at primary and tertiary levels. Having been raised and now living in South Auckland, Jean has a strong focus and belief in social justice and her projects aim to inspire and empower people within her local community. She is interested in challenging perceptions of South Auckland by using her position as a university student to provide youth with a platform to be brave and share their experiences of what it means to belong to South Auckland.

Kahurangi Taylor

Social innovator

Kahurangi Taylor is a young woman of Ngati Te Ata descent who was born and bred in Waiuku, South Auckland. Amongst other things she is a project manager, board member, former Miss New Zealand and science graduate who is passionate about seeing Māori ambitions become reality. She is a current recipient of the Vodafone World of Difference Award which means she is funded for one year to work with young people. In the past two months, Kahurangi has been able to establish a new youth organisation, physically build a youth centre, create a social enterprise run by young people and fund four new staff members – all whilst doing a Master’s degree in Business.

Rakesh Nauhria

General Manager

Rakesh Nauhria is the general manager of sister companies owned and operated by his father and himself; Nauhria Reinforcing Ltd and Nauhria Precast Ltd. Hailed as one of the ‘new disruptors’ in contemporary business leadership, Rakesh pushes the boundaries of innovation, leadership and strategy, while maintaining core values of hard work, teamwork and strong family commitment. Not only is Nauhria Reinforcing a major fabricator of reinforcing steel to the Auckland construction market, Nauhria Precast leads the market in decorative precast with its multi-award winning ‘Monarc’ brand and was named ‘Best of the Best’ at the Westpac Auckland Business Excellence Awards 2015. Partnering with Auckland’s leading architects and designers, Nauhria creates some of the most visually stunning building exteriors in the city.

Raneem Caco

Raneem Caco is a spoken word poet and the current head student of Papatoetoe High School. He was born in Libya to Iraqi parents but has lived most of his life in Papatoetoe. He is equally as proud of his South Auckland and Iraqi heritage. Raneem believes that New Zealand is as close as it gets to perfection and the people in it are a reflection of its greatness. It is this belief that makes him passionate about using his natural ability to shape spoken words, and sacrificing his own time, to help those who need it and share what New Zealand has taught and blessed him with.

Rene Naufahu

Director / screenwriter

Rene Naufahu is just your average actor, writer, director, rugby coach, gym instructor, father and husband. Having become a household name when he was cast as Sam Aleni in Shortland Street, he was regularly voted ‘New Zealand’s worst actor ever’ by his family. But he persevered, and has gone on to forge a critically acclaimed career as an actor and writer director of The Markets and The Last Saint. Selected to attend the prestigious Binger Film Lab in Amsterdam in 2004, it was here he co-produced one of his most incredible accomplishments… his eldest son Jole. Nowadays, if he is not yelling out instructions at his brother Joe’s gym, he can be found staring into space wondering ‘How on Earth did I get here?’

Smita Singh

Lecturer

Smita Singh is a lecturer at the Auckland University of Technology (AUT), teaching various entrepreneurship courses. Having grown up in India, she immigrated to Aotearoa New Zealand in 2002 and through her personal experiences is drawn to researching stories of those who have encountered challenges, faced loss and attempted to start all over again. In particular, Smita’s focus is on exploring the connections between entrepreneurship and the key issues affecting neglected communities. She has had work recognised in a number of journals and conferences and her doctoral thesis on entrepreneurial failure won one of the most promising dissertations awards at the prestigious Academy of Management Conference, U.S.A.

Tigilau (Tigi) Ness

Tigilau (Tigi) Ness is a Niuean New Zealand reggae artist and activist. Having started his musical career as a founding member of reggae group Twelve Tribes of Israel over 30 years ago, he has since gone on to create the band Unity (now Unity Pacific) who released their debut album From Street to Sky in 2003. Tigi’s contribution to music was recognised in 2009 when he received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Pacific Music Awards. As an activist, Tigi was an early member of the Polynesian Panthers, has taken part in Māori land protests and was active in opposing apartheid and the 1981 Springbok Tour.

Tihei Harawira

Tihei Harawira is a freestyle rapper who was born in Otara, South Auckland. As a child, Tihei was diagnosed with autism and dyslexia, was bullied and felt constantly behind in school. However a chance encounter with two musicians at the age of 14 set him on the path to discovering his own unique way of connecting with others; freestyle rapping. Now, Tihei has not only toured his studio album ‘Tihei Life’, he is also a regular performer at the Otara Markets where he turns subjects given to him by market-goers into freestyle raps. Having already completed a certificate in contemporary music, Tihei is now furthering his study by undertaking a diploma in Performing Arts.