Mana o te Tangata, Leilani Maraku

Leilani Maraku

Leilani Maraku (Ngāti Raukawa) is the Manukura Lead and founder of Mana o te Tangata Trust, the largest peer-led mental health and addiction service in Aotearoa. Celebrating 10 years of operation in 2025, the Trust was formed through the unification of Te Upoko O Nga Oranga O Te Rae and Journeys to Wellbeing Trust —combining legacy, lived experience, and a strong Kaupapa Māori foundation to serve Tangata Whaiora and their whānau.

In her presentation, Leilani brought attendees back to “our why” — a powerful reminder of the purpose behind this mahi. She emphasised the importance of keeping whānau voice at the centre, ensuring it is heard where it truly matters, and highlighted the vital role of collaboration in creating meaningful, sustainable support for our communities.