Kataraina Davis

A descendant of Ngāti Whātua, Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Kahu, a mother of 7 tamariki, partner to a wonderful husband, and avid ‘Dance Mum’ and kaikaranga. Kataraina is of the Paora Reweti (Davis) whānau and has been raised amongst her people on her marae, Ōrākei. She is passionate about serving, working with and for whānau Māori, with over 18 years experience working in the hauora Māori space.

Her mahi journey started in sexual health and sexuality working at Counties Manukau DHB. Then to Auckland DHB for 11 years leading the health promotion and education team at Auckland Sexual Health. She then took a leap of faith and moved into the design and innovation space with Innovate Change/Innovation Unit.

Now, Kataraina is a keen, unapologetic Māori Designer, Chief Advisor Māori at the Heart Foundation New Zealand, and leading Māori Rheumatic Codesign Initiative commissioned by Te Whatu Ora, and until recently was the Head of Maurea Design.

Kataraina believes in kaupapa Māori lead design, leading through whanaungatanga, privileging the voice of whānau Māori to design solutions to wicked problems greatly affecting Māori, with a passion to create space to further grow Māori designers in Aotearoa.