Join us at the Te Kiwi Māia Wellbeing Summit, a transformative event that brings together an inspiring community of individuals who dedicate their lives to protecting and serving our country and communities. This summit is a unique opportunity to connect with specialists and guest speakers from diverse fields, all united by a commitment to wellbeing and mental health.
Gain valuable insights into the innovative initiatives and support systems being implemented within first responder and defence organisations. Whether you're passionate about mental health, interested in the wellbeing of those in uniform, or simply looking to engage with like-minded individuals, this conference offers knowledge, inspiration, and community.
Discover how you can make a difference and walk away with a deeper understanding of the challenges and triumphs faced by those who serve. Don’t miss this chance to be part of a movement that champions wellbeing for our everyday courageous kiwis.
Event Details:
Christchurch Town Hall
Thursday 23rd July
Registrations open at 8:00 AM
Formal welcome begins promptly at 8:30 AM
Finish: 4:00 PM
Dress code: Smart casual, no need to wear uniforms.
Workshop Details:
Christchurch HMNZS PEGASUS
Wednesday 22nd July
1300 - 1530
Dress code: Smart casual, no need to wear uniforms.
Pre Drink Details:
Christchurch VENUE TBC
Wednesday 22nd July
1730
Dress code: Smart casual, no need to wear uniforms.
OUR SPEAKERS
Keynote Speaker
& Workshop
Dr Henry Bowen
Dr Henry Bowen is the head of research for The Hospital Research Foundation - Military and Emergency Services Health Australia (MESHA), and a Senior Research Fellow at Flinders University...more information below
Their work focuses on how military and first responder culture influences health and wellbeing, including the development of MESHA’s Military Identity and Cultural Competency (MICC) training and the associated Military Informed Cultural Competency Scale, now validated in five countries.
Additionally, Dr Bowen is internationally recognised for advancing postvention support for families and colleagues bereaved by suicide. In 2025, they were awarded the Flinders University Vice-Chancellor’s Early Career Alumni Award and the VESPIIA Academic of the Year Award and since 2024 have attracted over $1.6 million in research funding across government, health, and emergency service organisations nationally and internationally.
Presentation title:
Strengthening Military and Emergency Services Communities: Research Supporting Members, Families, and Systems
Military personnel, veterans, emergency service workers, and their families operate within unique cultures shaped by service, identity, mobility, and exposure to risk. These factors influence how individuals seek support, engage with services, and experience.... click here to read more
wellbeing across their careers and beyond. This presentation provides an overview of the work of Military and Emergency Services Health Australia (MESHA), a research, training, and programs centre focused on strengthening the systems that support service communities. Drawing on examples from across MESHA’s research and programs, the session will explore practical approaches to improving cultural understanding, supporting families, strengthening postvention responses following suicide, and building capability among civilian professionals who work with service-connected populations.
Designed for practitioners, leaders, and organisations working with military and emergency services communities, the presentation will also explore how emerging insights and approaches can inform practice within the Aotearoa New Zealand context, supporting stronger, more responsive systems for members, families, and the communities around them.
Heading
Enter your content...
Lightning Speaker
Jodhi Warwick-Ponga
(Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa, Te Ātiawa, Ngāti Mutunga, Ngāi Tahu, Raukawa) is a Māori health and safety professional working across vocational....more information below.
education, high-risk industries, and workforce development in Aotearoa New Zealand. She is Head of Programmes and Apprenticeships at Vertical Horizonz, a trustee of Te Rōpū Marutau o Aotearoa, and a board member of the Waikato Pacific Business Network.
She has also served as a board advisor to New Zealand Women in Roofing and Women in Construction, contributing to research and advocacy to improve equity, safety, and participation in the trades
Alongside her professional role, Jodhi is a student of Indigenous knowledge and modern safety practice, supporting the design and integration of relational and Māori-centred approaches to workforce capability, injury prevention, and engagement across many industries.
Her work often explores how concepts such as collective wellbeing, cultural safety, and relational responsibility can be expressed within contemporary health & safety settings.
She is currently completing a Master’s in Indigenous Studies, with a focus on how Māori models of health and balance can inform more holistic approaches to workforce health, safety, and organisational care. Jodhi is particularly interested in restoring Indigenous knowledge within everyday practice, and in supporting organisations to create environments where people, whānau, and communities can heal, grow, and thrive.
Presentation title:
He Ara Maha ki te Oranga
Māori and Pacific Models in the Workplace
Most workplace wellbeing programmes draw on Western models that tend to measure health in individual and often binary ways, either well or unwell. Māori and Pacific knowledge traditions offer broader ways of understanding wellbeing that place relationships, spirituality, environment, and community at the center.... click here to read more.
This session introduces several Māori and Pacific wellbeing models and explores how they can deepen the way organisations approach workforce wellness. Concepts such as balance, collective responsibility, cultural identity, and connection to people and place invite us to think about wellbeing as something relational and living rather than something to be managed through programmes alone.
Drawing on experience across vocational education, high risk industries, and community settings, the presentation reflects on how Indigenous models can sit alongside existing organisational frameworks. For wellness professionals, this provides an opportunity to widen the lens and consider how workplaces can support not only individual health, but also the wellbeing of whānau, communities, and the environments people work within.
Heading
Enter your content...
Lightning speaker
Lightning speaker
Dr. Alia Bojilova
Alia is a published author, registered psychologist, global keynote speaker, and facilitator with a passion for leadership, resilience, and curiosity... more information below.
Described as insightful, inspiring, energetic, and restlessly committed to better, always, Alia brings a wealth of experience from some of the world’s most challenging environments.
She has worked across Venture Capital, elite sport, Government, creative industries, education, health, and the not-for-profit sectors. Alia also served as the lead psychologist for the New Zealand SAS and was awarded the United Nations Commendation and the inaugural Meritorious Service Medal for her critical incident work in the Middle East.
Today, she continues to lead and enable change, partnering with organisations in New Zealand and North America to build environments where people can thrive.
Presentation title:
Pannel Lead
Adele Saunders
Lived Experience Pannel
Ange Coyle
Veteran
SUMMIT
SUMMIT & WORKSHOP
SUMMIT
SUMMIT & WORKSHOP
86 Kilmore Street, Christchurch Central, Christchurch 8013, New Zealand.
19 Princes St Auckland 1010
Accommodation in Christchurch - Quest on Kilmore
93 Kilmore Street, Christchurch,
South Island, 8013
Please visit www.questonkilmore.co.nz to view booking T&C
MEET OUR MC
Senior ‘Constable Bryan’ Ward Q.S.M.
With over 28 years in the New Zealand Police, Bryan Ward is a highly respected Community Officer, youth advocate, and media personality. A Queen’s Service Medal (QSM) recipient, he has delivered crime prevention and safety messages to over 1.5 million tamariki, parents, and caregivers across Aotearoa.
As the national ambassador for Blue Light and Variety – the Children's Charity, Bryan is passionate about community wellbeing. He co-created the award-winning TV show Bryan and Bobby and hosts the Top 5 NZ-charted podcast, Coppuccino, featuring global guests like Dame Valerie Adams and DEA Narcos agents Steve Murphy & Javier Peña.
A martial arts expert and self-defence instructor, Bryan empowers individuals through training and advocacy. His NZ Police-approved social media presence has gone viral internationally, sharing messages on anti-bullying, diversity, and community policing.
As your MC, Bryan brings humour, experience, and passion, ensuring an engaging and inspiring conference.