Meet Our Quit Coaches

Our Quit Coaches are health professionals qualified to help people become smokefree. They know the Smokefree methods that are backed by research and are trained to tailor specific programmes for everyone they help so the support is right for them.

Te Hā – Waitaha Quit Coaches are based across Canterbury and work in urban and rural locations.

 

Amy James

Amy James

He Waka Tapu

Kia ora, Ko wai au. I am Amy. I have worked in the mental health and addictions field for a few years now and am passionate about helping others achieve a well balanced and positive lifestyle.

Being able to empower and educate others and walk along side them in their journey , and see them reach their goals is amazing and so rewarding. That's what is so great about this mahi and what continues to drive me to be the best support I can be.

I have lived the majority of my life in Ōtautahi and am married with four sons. Creating a smoke free environment for my sons to live their best lives and achieve their sporting dreams is vastly important to me.

Moving into a smokefree Aotearoa, I am passionate of supporting tangata whaiora on their journey of becoming and maintaining a smokefree life.
Christine Solomon

Christine Solomon

Community and Public Health

Kia ora koutou. I started with Te Hā-Waitaha in October 2016 and I have 14 years’ experience. I am passionate about working alongside whānau to become auahi kore. Guiding them to set attainable goals and sharing in their successes. I especially love working with hapu mama and their partners on the Pregnancy Incentive Programme as they’re trying to make a difference to their whole whānau. Once you identify the barriers to becoming auahi kore you can start chipping away at them and be successful in becoming auahi kore.

I look forward to working with you and your whānau.
Courtney Carter-Smith

Courtney Carter-Smith

Community and Public Health

I am passionate about improving positive health outcomes in New Zealand, especially in relation to smoking cessation. My educational background is a mixture of health and social sciences specialising in bioethics and public health. In recent years I have worked hard to develop valuable experience in coaching, counselling and mentoring in the health sector of which I utilize daily to support our clients. The magic I feel I bring to my mahi is compassion and positivity. I enjoy nurturing motivation and working with people to turn things around and make being healthy exciting and rewarding.
Ella Newey

Ella Newey

Community and Public Health

Kia ora, I have always had a passion for health, helping others and reducing inequities where possible. Helping people to begin their SmokeFree journey ticks all these boxes for me!

After finishing my degree in Health Science, majoring in Public Health in 2020, I found my place at Te Ha Waitaha in early 2021.Through my study, my eyes were opened to smoking and the impacts it can have on the individual, and whānau. Becoming SmokeFree benefits our social, spiritual, physical and our mental health.

In my role I am the initial contact for those who are wanting to quit. I love hearing the passion and reasons behind why someone wants to become SmokeFree, and then being able to help them started on their journey is awesome.
Gina Straker

Gina Straker

Waitaha Primary Health

Being Māori myself, I have seen many of my own whānau struggle with smoking related illnesses and with some even death. This has pushed me to fight for my whānau and others who still battle with their addiction to have a better smokefree life.

I believe everyone has the ability to change and within my role, I can build on their strengths and offer options so that they can make a fully informed decision.

Our children are our future and I hope that going forward a smokefree Aotearoa will benefit them with better health outcomes for future generations.

I cover rural South Canterbury and mid-Canterbury. People in these areas live in isolation and this way we get to take the support to them, which can remove barriers.
Jo Butler

Jo Butler

Waitaha Primary Health

Kia Ora I’m Jo, I have worked in the Health industry for 17 years. I have a huge passion for helping anyone and everyone, I have the ability to communicate effectively for us to work together to achieve goals that are set. We all see things through our own perspective, and I try to understand what that perspective is for others so we can communicate well.

Working for Te Hā - Waitaha as a Quit Coach has given me the opportunity to love what I do and help motivate others to build healthier habits. I am especially passionate about working with young people and Hapū Māmā with their smokefree journey.
Josh Grenfell

Josh Grenfell

Pegasus Health (Charitable) Ltd

Kia ora. I discovered my passion for health and the desire to work to achieve healthy lifestyles in my high school physical education classes. After high school I decided to take my passion further and studied a bachelor’s degree of Applied Science, Physical Activity and Health Promotion. During my study I worked with Community and Public Health to promote smokefree in schools across Christchurch. I entered my current role as a Quit Coach after completing my degree in 2018.

Everyone has a unique experience when dealing with addiction. I am constantly learning about the struggles people face when wanting to quit smoking. It is my ambition to support our clients to the fullest with their journey. It is an absolute privilege to see progression with clients achieving personal goals to better their health.
Kirsty Bloomer

Kirsty Bloomer

Purapura Whetu

Kia ora koutou. Originally from the UK, I have been working across Population Health and Smokefree Services for almost 14 years, and since 2018 I have been supporting the clients and communities of Hawke’s Bay.

It is a privilege to be given the opportunity to walk alongside an individual on their smokefree journey. The benefits of becoming smokefree extends beyond the individual smoker and seeing the positive impact that this has on their whānau’s health and wellbeing in addition to their own is what drives me to continue in my mahi.

After recently moving to Ōtautahi, I am excited to be a part of the Te Hā Waitaha whānau and supporting our community to become smokefree.
Maraea Peawini

Maraea Peawini

Community and Public Health

Teenā rā koe, welcome to me.

In my hand is an oar from the smokefree waka. I paddle knowing that one day we will all be in this waka together, paddling in unison, free from this addiction and relationship we have had with tobacco that has held us for many generations. Moving forward as we take back control as an individual, as a whānau, and as a country is mind blowing and exciting.

I am Maraea, of Te Whakatōhea, Ngāti Porou, Ngā Puhi and English.

I want to be part of raising a smoke-free generation. I am going to be part of raising a smoke-free generation. Are you?
Nika Matenga-Brooker

Nika Matenga-Brooker

Community and Public Health

Kia ora koutou, I’m Nika, one of the Quit Coaches in the Te Hā – Waitaha team.

While studying towards my bachelor of health sciences I found my passion in smoking cessation.

After successfully quitting myself, I knew that I wanted to support and encourage others to make their own positive changes.
It is a real honour and a gift being in a role where I am able to work alongside the community to help build a smokefree future together.
Niki Fox

Niki Fox

He Waka Tapu

Ko Nuku Mania te Maunga
Ko Orokaia te Awa
Ko Ngai Tahu, Ngati mamoe me Waitaha te Iwi
Ko Ruahikihiki te hapu
Ko Ta O Moki te Marae
Ko Marsh toku whānau
Ko Niki toku ingoa

Kia ora. My name is Niki.

I am looking forward to helping support Tangata whaiora (clients) in becoming smokefree.
I come from a background where everyone smoked, and I have also been a smoker myself.
I understand the toughness of becoming smoke free and want to help change the lives of whānau.
I am currently studying L4 mental health and addictions and have been working alongside whaiora in the addictions space at He Waka Tapu.
I believe with the right support and whānau around you, you can make that change and be good at it!!!
I am excited to see the change in whaiora becoming smoke free with goals and structure to help secure that change

I am passionate about this Kaupapa and bring a lot of energy to supporting you all.
Teresa Butler

Teresa Butler

Te Puawaitanga ki Ōtautahi Trust

What ignites your passion?
My whānau. My little girl Taika.

What drives, motivates you?
Watching whānau become happier, healthier and fitter... the best them they can be.

Why do you do what you do?
To help make any positive change in our whānau and communities.

Why smoke-free?
Because I watched the pain and discomfort my mother went through from 50+ years of tobacco smoking which eventually took her life.

What’s “that” magic you bring to your mahi?
Empathy, aroha and understanding. I love to talk too and have a good laugh lol… oh and I’m known to be a good listener... hehehe

What is this mahi about for you?
Educating our whānau around as many options for them to get off the tobacco smoking… save money, become healthier to be around longer with their whānau.

What area do you cover?
Woodend to Ashburton – based in Hornby.
let's go!