Manukura | Jessica Apanui
Published:
July 31, 2024
Te manu kai miro, nōna te ngahere; te manu kai mātauranga, nōna te ao.
The bird that eats the miro berries, theirs is the forest; the bird that consumes knowledge, the world is theirs.
Te manu kai miro, nōna te ngahere; te manu kai mātauranga, nōna te ao.
The bird that eats the miro berries, theirs is the forest; the bird that consumes knowledge, the world is theirs.
Ko Whetumatarau tōku maunga
Ko Horouta tōku waka
Ko Awatere tōku awa
Ko Tūwhakairiora tōku hapū
Ko Hinerupe tōku marae
Ko Ngāti Porou tōku iwi
Ko Jessica Apanui tōku ingoa.
He tangata kai taru kino, inu waipiro, kai warawara ahau. Jess is a 43-year-old mother of two children ages 22 and 17. Her passion is to advocate for whānau that are suffering in addiction and show them that there is another way and by doing so she leaves a legacy and a blueprint behind as a way forward for her tamariki and whānau.
Jess is a passionate advocate for transforming the approach to addiction in Aotearoa. With a bold voice and a deliberate mission, she has made it her life’s work to reshape the narrative surrounding addiction, using her own experiences as a powerful catalyst for change. Through her openness and authenticity, Jess empowers individuals to thrive, fostering resilience and encouraging cultural reconnection.
As a dedicated leader, Jess is widely recognised for her unwavering commitment to the addiction workforce and recovery community in Aotearoa. Since beginning her career in health in 2021, she has quickly ascended to key roles within central government, where she continues to influence the national health sector.
Jess brings a wealth of expertise to her work, including public speaking, networking, relational engagement, project management, procurement, program design, and facilitation. Her knowledge extends to areas such as methamphetamine education, gambling harm prevention, research and evaluation, governance, and culturally grounded pathways that prioritize the wellbeing of Māori whānau.
Outside of her professional endeavours, Jess cherishes time spent with her whānau, watching the mokopuna in her whanau grow, and enjoying quality moments with her Tamariki. Her commitment to both community and family is at the heart of everything she does.
