Dr Catherine Savage

Ngāi Tahu,
EdD, PG Dip Ed Psych, MEd Psych, BEd, BAppB

Catherine is passionate about equity, communities leading change for themselves, and learning as a lifelong journey.  She is the managing director of Ihi Research with her partner John.  Catherine has an employment history that is connected by the common thread of learning.  Beginning her career as a teacher and educational psychologist, she worked with children and whānau in schools on the East Coast of the North Island. She spent ten years as a senior lecturer at Victoria University where she was the associate director of the graduate teaching programme. She completed her Education Doctorate at Massey University in 2006, which investigated the School Network Reviews of 2004.   While at Victoria, worked on several major Ministry of Education research and development projects including the national evaluation of Te Kotahitanga (2010).

From 2010 to 2014 Catherine was the Chief Executive of Te Tapuae o Rehua, a subsidiary of Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, where she led research and educational development initiatives on behalf of the iwi.  Her work brought about a new era of partnership and collaboration between the Iwi and tertiary partners and saw the initiation of key partnership projects such as Mau ki te Ako, He Toki ki te Rika and Whenua Kura.

Since 2014, Catherine has successfully led research for clients such as Site Safe, Work Safe, Ako Aotearoa, All Right?, Te Pūtahitanga o Te Waipounamu and Rātā Foundation.  She has produced a series of research and evaluations projects investigating social impact from innovative approaches to achieving social change.   Her research interests lie in qualitative methodologies and working with Māori whānau to improve educational and social outcomes.  She has published and presented nationally and internationally on culturally responsive practices and the development of Iwi led initiatives.

In her spare time, Catherine enjoys Crossfit with the tribe at Waimakariri Crossfit.  She loves  New Zealand art, shopping and great coffee.

Aroha Hōhipera Reriti-Crofts CBE (born August 1938) is a former national president of the Māori Women’s Welfare League and active community worker amongst Māori in New Zealand.^[1][2]

Aroha joined the Ōtautahi Māori Women’s Welfare League in 1968 and served as secretary of the branch in the 1970s. In 1990 she was elected national president. In the 1993 New Year Honours, she was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire for services to Māori and the community.^[1] Also in 1993, she was awarded the New Zealand Suffrage Centennial Medal.^[3] In 2014 she stood for election as a Member of Parliament in the Waimakariri electorate, representing the Māori Party.^[4]

Her involvements in community organisations include serving as a trustee of Te Puawaitanga ki Ōtautahi Trust, the Māori Women’s Development Incorporated, Mana Waitaha Charitable Trust and Maori Reserve Lands: Tuahiwi/North Canterbury, She is a kaiwhakamana of the Department of Corrections and chairperson of Matapopore – Tūāhuriri Rūnanga.^[5] She has been particularly involved with health initiatives in Maori communities, such as Tamariki Ora (well-child), Rapuora (mobile nursing service), outreach immunisation, flu vaccinations for older people and breast feeding advocacy.^[2]

As you can see, known affectionately as Aunty Aroha, she is well recognised and acknowledged in our community for the tireless work she carries out for and on behalf of her whanau hapu iwi and hapori.