Mara Kopu

Ko Ranginui kei runga
Ko Papatuanuku kei raro
Ko Nga tāngata kei waenganui,
Tihei, Mauri Ora!
Ko Mauao te maunga
Ko Mataatua te waka
Ko Tauranga-Moana te Moana
Ko Ngai Te Rangi te iwi
Ko Ngāti Tāpu te Hapu
Ko Waikari te Marae
Ko Barbarich me Kopu ngā whānau

Mara is the Kaiāwhina - Support Staff and Pāpaho Pāpori Pouwhakahaere - Social Media Liaison and one of our newest addition to the HEART team. She joined the HEART team mid-August this year during the covid lockdown.

A phenomenal mother to 5 children, she recently just gave birth to baby number six. Mara has been living in Tāmaki and currently residing in Glen Innes for 10 years. She grew up in East Auckland attending Glendowie Primary, Glen Taylor Primary, Tāmaki College, and Glendowie College.

Mara has worked in a few local daycares and kindergartens where she saw the opportunity to still make an income and not miss out on all the important years of her children's lives.

She is fully involved in the recently new Te Reo Rangatira unit Te Puna Wairua at Tāmaki Primary School. She spends most of her time at Tāmaki Primary school, where she also plays an important role for the whānau kaiwhakahaere for the kapa haka roopu Te Mura o Tāmaki.

Mara loves how community-driven The HEART Movement is, working on healthy relationships in Tāmaki and being able to work alongside some amazing people in our community.

Working with HEART for a short period of time has opened up another world for Mara and she thrives in the mahi she gets to do for her community.

Mara is a sucker for Disney Movies and hates being put outside my comfort zone. She loves helping people and supporting them in any way possible and giving back to the community.

In her spare time, Mara loves spending time with family especially her babies, being super organized, getting active outdoors and exploring local nature reserves, watching kapa haka, and cooking bringing whānau together.

Mara's words of advice, "always be open and honest with yourself, because if you can accept who you are as a person you will attract people around you that share the same energy.