Ko wai mātou
Our Team
Our operations and projects are overseen by a dedicated team who work hard to ensure everything runs smoothly.
Our Team
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General Manager
Ngapuhi, Ngati Tuwharetoa, Te Aitanga-a-HauitiPhoenix joined Common Unity in October 2022. A natural creative, agitator & disruptor! Phoenix enjoys being involved in community mahi which has seen her hone in on her passion for creating spaces to cultivate change. She’s an advocate of setting in motion—intentional Pou—that signal to our rangatahi & moko, the potential of what can be utilised to heal nations, including reclamation of Whenua, Reo & Whakapapa
Phoenix’s background is primarily in the Social & Criminal Justice Sectors and is always up for conversations centred around change, well-being and working with & alongside Mana Whenua and our communities across Te Awa Kairangi ki Tai mē ki Uta.
If you’d like to discuss collaborating and utilising our space you can contact Phoenix via phoenix@cupa.org.nz
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Finance Manager
Catherine joined Common Unity in February 2023 as our Finance Manager. She manages all the important financial functions of Common Unity, taking care of payments, receipts, payroll, budgets and year end reporting. Catherine grew up in Naenae and loves being connected to Te Awa Kairangi again. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time outdoors, creating things and reading.
If you’d like to discuss donating or funding any Common Unity projects you can contact Catherine via catherine@cupa.org.nz
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Jill of all trades
Michaela is the heart of Common Unity. She first joined The Remakery as a volunteer in 2018 and now leads our Comms & Marketing space. She wears many hats as a key player in the business hub team. Michaela can often be found in our sewing studio making amazing products with Sew Good, or in various locations around The Remakery making magic happen.
For all marketing and comms related kōrero, you can contact Michaela via admin@cupa.org.nz
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Schwarzwälder, Tūhoe
Lani first started her journey with Common Unity back in 2014 when she participated in some community service activities through her school. She later became the café manager for the organisation in 2020, but was drawn to the Urban Kai team in 2021 to work in the Te Puni school māra.
Currently delivering aspects of the growing operations, leading exciting initiatives, and supporting regular urban kai educational sessions. She’s passionate about creating climate resilient communities though matauranga māori. Guided by tūpuna wisdom, Lani spends her time in the school garden and wairepo (swamp) at Taita College and connecting communities of Te Awakairangi to grow kai and care for Papatūānuku.
To find out more about The Rātā Rangatahi programe, Epuni Primary School education sessions & joining the keen collective of volunteers across Te Umu i te Mamaku & Kotahitanga i te mara contact Lani via lani@cupa.org.nz
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Urban Kai Farmer
Fin joined us as an intern in November of 2021 after returning home from overseas. He brings his passion for creating alternative food systems that are community-driven and reconnect us all with Papatūānuku to the Urban Kai team.
Fin works diligently behind the scenes to support the distribution channels for the kai we produce, while also lending his skills and expertise to support Urban Kai Farms' broader production, including the compost hub.
When not with us, Fin enjoys playing records and embarking on adventures. He's always had a fascination with the outdoors and is eager to learn more about gardening techniques to optimise food production!
To find out more about joining the keen collective of volunteers across Te Umu i te Mamaku & Kotahitanga i te mara contact Fin via togetherwegrow@cupa.org.nz
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Urban Kai Farmer
Elise began her journey with us in July 2020 as a volunteer, before joining our internship program. She’s passionate about the power of gardening to heal people, places, and the planet.
Elise serves as an kai educator, co-leading volunteer groups and facilitating community connections and learning. With plenty of work to keep the farms thriving, Elise is also actively involved in supporting Urban Kai's broader production efforts.
Outside of work, Elise can be found exploring the bush, hanging out with the Berrigan House Catholic Worker community, philosophising about the meaning of life (most likely in conjunction with gardening), and dabbling in the arts and crafts with friends.
To find out more about joining the keen collective of volunteers across Te Umu i te Mamaku & Kotahitanga i te mara contact Elise via togetherwegrow@cupa.org.nz
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Sew Good Coordinator
Roberta is our Sew Good coordinator and tutor, since May 2021. She is a costume designer from Barcelona (Spain) and shares her sewing skills and creativity with the community. You can find Roberta humming away in the studio working on community projects, creative collaborations, upcycling projects, and commercial orders. She brings her knowledge and experience in design and creating products from repurposed textiles. She is in charge of processing and organising our Fabric Library.
Roberta loves hiking in her spare time, rowing, electronic music and chair design.
If you’d like to know more about our Sew Good sessions you can contact Roberta via sewgood@cupa.org.nz
Our Board of Trustees
Common Unity is supported by an active Board of Trustees with diverse backgrounds and skills, who all volunteer their time to deliver better outcomes for our community.
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Chris has been a member of the Common Unity board since 2019 and the board chair since March 2021 & as of 2023 co-chairs alongside Frankie Herrington. He is interested in seeing food waste reduced and the better use of rescued food. Chris first got to know Common Unity when looking for an outlet for wood shavings from his Hutt-based timber recycling business. The wood shavings have been used on the gardens at Rimutaka Prison.
Chris is an enthusiastic but amatuer cook and is interested in most things outdoors. In his shed is a range of well used sailing, hiking, mountain biking and camping equipment. He has two young adult daughters who grew up in the Hutt Valley.
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Frankie (Ngāti Raukawa) is an experienced portfolio and project manager with governance and change expertise. Her most recent roles have been in higher education and public service.
A Waiwhetū local, Frankie was drawn to Common Unity's numerous creative projects and manaakitanga. Having seen the positive impact on the community, she wanted to support the mahi by joining the Board.
Her interests align to Common Unity's kaupapa. In particular, sustainability, conservation and community development. Frankie has previously worked as a volunteer for Forest and Bird, SPCA and Zealandia. In her spare time, Frankie can be found in the garden or immersed in a good book.
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Info coming soon! Watch this space :)
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Kristie is a new member to the Common Unity board (since July 2023). She is a long-term public servant who has always had a focus on equity and improving the lives of New Zealanders. Kristie first came across Common Unity when she was doing work around food insecurity and saw it as a great community led solution.
Kristie mainly spends her spare time hanging out with her chihuahua Louis. She also has a keen interest in cooking and patisserie.