Maria is a māmā of five, born and bred in West Auckland but currently residing in Rotorua. Maria started her career as a physiotherapist and eventually ventured into tertiary teaching and Māori development. She now holds governance roles as well as her first public service job at the Department of Internal Affairs in community funding. Maria is passionate about her whānau, everyone else's whānau, and wants to see everyone healthy and well! She has BHSc, PgDip Neuro Rehab, MHSc beside her name, and is being chased down by her PhD supervisors to finally finish her thesis. Maria joins organisations she loves, alongside her roles in Tapuwae Roa, IndigiShare and as a trustee of her Marae, Te Rito - a.k.a. 'Te Ritz’.