Maria Bradshaw
Manager Maria has a long history with Refuge beginning in 1991 when she and her 14 month old son were admitted to a Safe House as clients. Maria went on to work as a Child Advocate and then at NCIWR National Office first as a Training and Education Coordinator and then as a Policy Adviser. Maria has an MBA from Auckland University and a passion for growing and developing feminist organisations and empowering women and children to achieve their goals. Maria is currently studying Te Reo and Tikanga at Te Wananga o Aotearoa.
Jarita Stothers
Senior Advocate
Jarita has worked in Social Services since 1998. She is a qualified Social Worker registered with the Social Workers Registration Board of NZ and a member of the ANZASW.
Jarita has many years of experience in working with children and adults, helping them resolve issues and achieve their goals and potential. She is passionate about supporting victims of family violence to live violence-free lives and ensuring women and children live in environments in which they can flourish. She also works with male victims of family violence and facilitates hui where families can come together to address issues of violence within their whanau.
Jarita is a mum of 2 adult children and several moko
Joanne Reti
Tena koe, Ko Joanne Reti, Tenei,
Ko Manaia kei te Waka
Ko Matatua kei to Maunga
Ko Ngapuhi Toku Hapu
Ko Ngatiwai Toku Iwi.
Jo is a children's advocate at Te Rau Awhina. She has a Diploma in Teaching,(0-8), and experience of working as a parenting adviser and in Early childhood and Social Services since, 1986. Jo runs programmes to support children affected by family violence and for caregivers of children under 5.
Loren Clews
Loren is a Women’s Advocate who has worked in the family violence field since 2019. She has a particular interest and expertise in supporting women to set and achieve goals to live violence free lives and achieve their full potential. Loren specialises in providing long term, ongoing support to women once crisis support has been provided. She is the mother of two children aged 8 and 13.
Ashley Pomare-Sydney
Ashley is Ngāti Raukawa has been providing Advocacy for Children since 2020. She has worked successfully with children of all ages to help them stay safe where they are living in homes where there is violence, supporting them to deal with complex feelings and advocating on their behalf with pre-schools, schools, medical professionals, Oranga Tamariki and other agencies to ensure they understand the circumstances facing them. Ashley runs group and individual programmes for children aged 5-17 and for caregivers of children under 5. Ashley is the mother of five children.
Ngaroma Reti
Ngaroma, Women’s Advocate and facilitator of our Women’s Empowerment Program facilitator is Nga Puhi, but born and raised in Tokoroa. She has worked in social services within our community for close to 20 years. Ngaroma is passionate about the personal growth of women.
Dairne Hook
Dairne moved to Tokoroa 3 years ago with her husband and 4 children. She is a women's advocate with a focus on delivering services for the whole whānau. Her area of expertise is crisis support for women in high-risk situations.
Sheree Treadaway-Hale
Administrator/ Data Analyst
Sheree is of Ngāti Porou and Ngāti Kahungunu decent. She has completed a bachelor’s degree at the University of Waikato and takes care of the reception, administration and financial responsibilities at Te Rau Āwhina. Sheree has also completed her advocacy training. She is a proud mother of three children.