Mate Heitia, Executive Chairperson, REKA Whakatane, New Zealand

Mate Heitia, is a New Zealand Maori born and raised in a Maori community. Mate was raised in Te Ao Maori (the Maori World) in the 1960s, 70s and 80s. Mate and her family lives off grid with solar power and are fully involved in their community.

Mate created and founded REKA (Charitable Trust) in 2008 in response to many of her whanau (family) dying prematurely of degenerative diseases like cancer, diabetes, heart disease and obesity. All these diseases have reached epidemic levels across the Maori Communities in Aotearoa New Zealand and all these diseases can be linked to inadequate nutrition.