Community Champion Spotlight: Bella Paenga
Each month, Healthy Families East Cape like to put the spotlight on a community champion, someone working within our Tairāwhiti community who is supporting, creating positive and transformational change towards the wellbeing of all people in our rohe.
This month, we are putting the spotlight on Bella Paenga
Read more below as George, our Healthy Families East Cape Practice Lead gets to know Bella.
Kei te aha?
Kei te pai awau.
How did you get your name and what does it mean?
I am named after my nanny, it means beautiful in another reo. She was from Tokomaru, the Chatham Islands and Flores Island off the coast of Portugal.
What was your favourite story, book or movie growing up?
I liked the story Charlotte’s Web, the friendship, loyalty and sacrifice between Wilbur the pig and Charlotte the spider.
What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
If we are true to ourselves, the happier and healthier we will be.
What is something everyone should know about your community?
How fortunate we are in Rangitukia for our taiao, marae, and spaces where we can come and connect, share and be involved in things like wānanga kai.
What's one of the most special or memorable moments in your mahi, and why does it stand out to you?
My first time up Hikurangi – I had expectations of green whenua, busy bird life, a flourishing site to behold but what I was greeted with seemed quite the opposite. Baron like almost. This was a tohu for me and made me think deeply about giving back to the whenua in my own way.
What legacy do you want to leave behind?
I would love my tamariki and mokopuna to know that they belong to this whenua in Te Tairāwhiti. They are connected to this place through me and that is important to know because this place has been supporting many people and things for a very long time.
Who is a community champion you know that is awesome for their community?
I always talk about Frazer Taiapa. He opened my eyes to holistic growth and wellbeing. Growing kai, people, connections, minds, kaupapa the list is endless. He has helped me recognise what mana motuhake looks like in practice and understand that everyone is different and that is kei te pai.