INTERVIEW: HPF welcomes new Health Promotion Lead – Māori

HPF recently welcomed Venus Rangi as our new Health Promotion Lead – Māori.

Venus brings with her a wealth of knowledge and experience, having worked in a variety of roles across the community, education, transport, sport, and housing sectors.

In a written interview for our Hauora News Blog, Venus gives us a glimpse into her busy home life, what were some of the highlights from her career over the years, and what excites her most about her new role.

Hauora News: We’d love to learn a bit more about you! Would you mind sharing a little a bit about yourself and your background?

Venus: I have lived in Ranui, West Auckland, for over 20 years. I am a mother of five and have many mokopuna who  call me Meema. Our ‘open-door’ policy at home has seen our living-room transform into a Marae and filled our hearts with many days of boisterous laughter, fun and energy.

When I first moved to the Ranui community, I was a young mother of two young girls. I reached out to the local Community Organisation, Ranui Action Project and was able to build myself a network from there getting involved in different community activities, programmes, and extra-curricular activities for myself and for my children. This led me to sport where I have been surrounded by the biggest village, and I have spent many years volunteering and working.

I realised during my volunteering journey that I enjoyed growth and development for myself and others, and connecting and nurturing relationships. I have been fortunate to continue to lean on these passions in all the mahi I have undertaken. I've held roles where I can build relationships, share, and receive information, and work towards the bigger picture. It is because my roles are grounded in these foundations that I believe in the saying, ‘If you do what you love, you don’t work a day in your life'. My roles have never felt like work because they align with what truly inspires and motivates me."

Hauora News: You’ve had a fair bit of experience working in a variety of roles across a wide range of sectors such as community, education, transport, sport, and housing. Looking back at your career, what are some of the highlights, for you?

Venus: I think the biggest highlights that come to mind are – connecting with people and building a wider village. I always say once we connect, your part of my village. Also watching others meet their goals and aspirations.

Hauora News: Your most recent role was as the Chief Advisor Community Development at Kainga Ora. What were some of your major achievements during your time there?

Venus: A major achievement was developing and implementing the Community Development Policy. Kainga Ora and the predecessors delivered community development in various regions with various approaches. The policy was the first document to outline Kainga Ora’s role (linked heavily to legislation, strategies, and other policies) and was released with several tools and resources to support practitioners and frontline team members across Kainga Ora.

Another major achievement was supporting the development and implementation of He Toa Takitini, the partnership and engagement framework and He Kete Paraha, the tool kit that had several engagement tools to support Kainga Ora teams to engage well, internally, and externally.

This led to facilitating several workshops internally to build capability and align our teams with the Principles of the Framework and also leading and facilitating several engagement sessions with key stakeholders and communities.

Frm left, Sunila Mani, Venus Rangi and Jess Turner at HPF's last face:face meeting for 2024

Hauora News: Although you have worked in a wide range of sectors, you do have a background in health promotion? Can you please tell us about your expertise in this area?

Venus: I worked as a Community Broker for several years for a Regional Sports Trust (RST). I learnt there were many individual and community benefits of sport and recreation including building networks and contributing to healthier individuals and communities. However, we needed to understand the barriers that inhibited access to activity, and work with those who could help remove the barriers.

As a broker, building relationships were crucial to creating and contributing to change. The role required me to whakarongo, titiro, korero! And to use my space to advocate. The networks I developed were wise enough to acknowledge that if we worked together on a project, we would achieve shared outcomes for our targeted communities and create real systemic change.

I was also fortunate during this time to be working for the RST when they secured the Healthy Families Waitakere contract. With a focus to create real systemic changes that contributed to better health outcomes for West Auckland Communities. I still currently sit on the Strategic Leadership Group which provides strategic leadership to the operational team.

Hauora News: What attracted you to the role in HPF and what are some of your main goals and aspirations in this role?

Venus: The role is exciting because it contributes to workforce development. As previously mentioned, I enjoy watching people grow and develop, so this is right up my alley.

It’s also exciting because health promotion is about making positive impacts on the lives of individuals and communities and so having the opportunity to work with, converse and create a network with people who are all aiming to contribute to the wellbeing of others is exciting.

Hauora News: Is there anything else you would like to share?

Venus: I’m a fond animal lover however I have not truly acquired any of the animals that I now own. My children have each, at some time, brought me home a fur baby. So, in my spare time, I fuss over either of my three cats or either of my three dogs. Their personalities are different and keep me on my toes!!