Nga Kete is a thriving not-for-profit organisation offering a wide range of wellness and social services, employing over 100 staff members, all dedicated to connecting whānau to resources, ideas, and energy for wellbeing and independence. Nga Kete is the mandated health and social service provider of Oraka Aparima Rūnaka.
Tracey, a Southern woman, leads this successful initiative, but she humbly reflects on the team effort behind the vision.
Tracey often notes the surprised expressions when she introduces herself as a local Kai Tahu woman, but her heritage is undeniably rooted in her mother’s lineage. Her ancestral ties stretch across Western Southland to Oraka Aparima, Pahi (Cosy Nook), and to her cherished coastal village, Moeraki. Her father, of Scottish descent, is known as a passionate hunter and rugby enthusiast—“A true Kiwi bloke,” as Tracey puts it.
With a passion for cultures from around the world, Tracey embraces her love for travel, and she is immensely proud of her Iwi. “Kai Tahu is all about whānau, and that’s how I was raised. My parents instilled in me and my siblings values of compassion, hard work, respect, and the importance of living a good life,” she says. “It's an ongoing journey to lead a productive life, but that's what we're striving for.”
Tracey believes that our lives are shaped by people, places, values, and experiences, and she fondly recalls her childhood memories. “Visiting my great-grandmother in Colac Bay was special. Back then, the fridge was just a meat safe outside the house, and when Nan said it was time for lunch, we ate without a word. We’d help bring the cow in, and there was always cream on our porridge. Simple tasks like tearing newspaper for the outhouse made me appreciate the resourcefulness of those early pioneers. They always found a way to get things done, and that’s something I carry with me today.”
Growing up in Southland fostered in Tracey an unwavering love for the region, where she raised her family, developed her career, and committed her life to the deep south.
Her career began with after-school jobs in catering, followed by time in the meat works, and a decade at Social Welfare. But it was her work for Iwi that sparked a deeper desire to make a difference.
In 1999, Tracey and her late husband, Roy Tawha, founded Ngā Kete Mātauranga Pounamu Charitable Trust.
“I have always honored all people, and Nga Kete serves everyone, but my motivation from the start has been Māori health,” Tracey reflects. “Māori were dying a decade or more earlier than non-Māori, and I felt that loss deeply.”
Her vision was to create a one-stop agency that took a whanau-centred approach, where families could connect with nurses, counsellors, social workers, and advocates—all under one roof. The addition of our own GP practice was the cherry on top.
Tracey has cultivated a workplace ethos centered on Aroha ki te Tangata—a love for mankind and a deep regard for people’s wellbeing. “I expect nothing less than excellence from my staff in how they engage with others. I protect the privilege and responsibility of being invited into people’s lives. In fact, I’m always the client in my own service.”
Despite the challenges, Tracey is driven by the belief that some things just need to be better. She recalls an experience when her son, at the age of 11, asked her to make time for him. "I felt so ashamed when he looked at me like that, and I apologised for being busy. But he responded, ‘It’s okay, Mum. We know you work hard because some things just need to be better.’ And that’s it in a nutshell—some things just need to be better. We learn from our mistakes.”
What started with humble beginnings, no money, and a big dream is now a flourishing organisation with six locations, Southern-wide services and two GP practices.
Today, Nga Kete offers a wide range of services, including mental health and addiction services, smoking cessation, restorative justice, rongoa, crisis respite care, health promotion, and much more.
“I’m grateful to everyone who has supported this beautiful story,” Tracey says. “This journey has been driven by collective energy, the shared vision of like-minded people, and our ability to believe in something bigger than ourselves. Relationships are key, and Maori-led approaches add value to everything we do.”
Nga Kete is the people's service, and as for Tracey, the woman behind the vision, there’s no single word to define her. But here’s a few: Principled, fair, forward-thinking, and with a deep love of gardening, writing, photography, family, and her beloved dogs.
Aroha ki te Tangata - a love for mankind and a deep regard for people’s wellbeing.
