Joseph Tyro

I’ve been a registered Social Worker and worked in health, social service and community sector for over 30 years. I am employed as Principal Advisor at Health New Zealand and additionally, I run a small consultancy company. My career began as a 16-year-old as youth worker in my local community and running school holiday programmes. After school I moved to San Diego in USA playing rugby and working with my uncle and then returned home to study and work. Whilst completing my Social Work Masters and Health Sciences degrees, I always had fulltime and casual jobs in Health and Social Sector at Oranga Tamariki, Te Poutama Arahi Rangatahi, Emerge Aotearoa, Stepping Stones Trust, Kakakura Health Services, IHC, Lyttelton Youth Centre and as Kaihautū Matua for Barnados. After finishing University I then moved to Canterbury District Health Board firstly as Pukenga Atawhai Māori Health Worker then into Social Worker, Clinical Social Work Specialist, Family Protection Specialist and Clinical Manager roles. I was fortunate to have received CDHB Clinical Excellence and Innovation Award. I then moved into tertiary education as Social Work Lecturer at Ara Institute of Canterbury and Supervisor for Open Polytech New Zealand.

Several years ago, I then moved into my first executive leadership role, as Director Māori Health at District Health Board. At the time I became the youngest Māori Director in New Zealand and although was a challenge particularly working through COVID-19. I was privileged to have made a positive difference in developing equity work programmes that were picked up emulated in other regions. This included Kia Tika te Ara, Te Ha o Aoraki (tooth brushing programme, Navigate Māori Leadership Programme and Toa Mana Taurite Equity Champions Network. Additionally, I was fortunate to sit on Te Tumu Whakarae, National Reference Group of Māori Health Strategy, General Practice New Zealand Māori Leaders Group - Ngā Matapihi o Te Wairua, Te Herenga Hauora o Te Waka o Aoraki, South Island Regional DHB Māori General Manager Network, South Island Alliance, Health Promotion Forum of New Zealand and Ministry of Health – Social Work Sector Reference Group. I was brought over on secondment as Principal Advisor, in helping setting up Te Aka Whai Ora in its early inception.

Governance, leadership, community and hapū development are the area’s where I believe I can make the most change. I first was involved in the health sector as an 8-year-old supporting my grandmother Mekura Tuatini Taiaroa through her cancer journey and treatment. My grandmother later became National Cervical Screening Kaumatua and inspired me to work in the health sector to make a difference. I then became involved in governance at the age of 16, joining my local Youth Council through Local Government, this was in response to my community having the highest suicide rate per capita in the country. During this time, I was fortunate to be mentored by a network of community and Iwi leaders, including the mayor, kaumatua, and my whānau. I was fortunate to receive may youth and community leadership awards from Human Rights Commission, Christchurch City Council, Rotary New Zealand, Ministry Social Development and Banks Peninsula District Council. In my teenage years I became local youth worker supporting our community and local tamariki and rangatahi from our hapū. Additionally, my grandfather Hori Briggs was the local hapū caretaker, groundsman and kura bus driver, and was privilege to work alongside my poua.

I currently hold a range of board and chair roles, including serving as chair of Ngāti Wheke Hauora committee where I coordinate Hauora initiatives such as Taurite Tū, Whanau Ora, Hauora Clinics and rural/community education for Otago University Medical Students whilst on community exposure weeks. I am a founding director of Te Matāpuna Health Ltd, a newly established health company and collective of 5 hapū that I have whakapapa connections to Ngāti Wheke, Koukourarata, Wairewa, Onuku and Ngāti Moki. I am also a board member for Whakatuputupu, one of New Zealand’s largest ever infrastructure projects. Additionally, I serve on the boards of the Aotearoa New Zealand Social Workers Association, Ngā Pou Mana Tangata Whenua Allied Health, Presbyterian Support (Upper South), Wāitaha Māori Rugby, Te Waipounamu Māori Rugby, Tāne Whai Ora – Canterbury Men’s Centre and other local community NGO groups and school boards.

I have been appointed by the Minister to serve on the board as Deputy Chair of two National Schools for Tamariki with neurodiversity and intellectual disabilities. My governance experience also extends to environmental initiatives through my local hapū for Whaka-Ora Healthy Harbour, and I am the Chairperson of Purapura Whetū a large Kaupapa Māori NGO focused on Mental Health and Addiction. I co-chair New Zealand Decentralized Clinical Trials, and I am a board member for large national social service agencies, including STOP and Reconnect Family Services in South Auckland. I have also been fortunate to have been acknowledged as Manukura for Te Whariki o te Ara Oranga. I am a Trustee for Manawā Kawhiu a facility in my local community where we still run the youth programme that I was involved in as a young person.

Additionally, I am employed as Kaihautū Māori at Hohepa Canterbury an intellectual disability provider and actively involved in governance for Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons and the Australian Gastro-Intestinal Trials Group. I also continue to serve my local community where I first became involved as a young person, as Trustee for Mānawa Kāwhiu. Additionally, I support New Zealand Māori Rugby as a Kaitiaki and Rangatira promoting Wellbeing and Hauora for our rangatahi and kaimahi for regional and national camps. I have recently released my first article presented in New Zealand Medical Journal. In 2024 I was privileged to receive a governance Director internship at Canterbury Scientific, which is a leading global and international health supplier. In 2024, I supported New Zealand Institute of Directors Canterbury convene a Māori Governance wananga at University of Canterbury, and I look forward in supporting this further in 2025.

Lastly, I would never be in the position I am in without the aroha of so many that have nurtured, challenged, shaped and inspired myself to make a difference and be the best I can be. Ko ngā mahi katoa e mahia ana e au, ko te painga mō koe, ngā tūpuna me ngā pēpi.