Nōku te Ao Symposium

Free one-day Symposium | Wednesday, 14 May 2025 | Te Mahurehure Marae, Tāmaki Makaurau/Auckland

Almost half of us in Aotearoa will experience mental distress in our lifetimes. That's a lot of people – it could be you, your whānau, colleagues or friends.

Despite this, people with mental distress are often judged and discriminated against in their communities and workplaces, as well as in Aotearoa’s institutions, legislation, services and the media.

The Nōku te Ao Symposium: He reo tini, he wawata kotahi – Many voices, one goal to end mental distress discrimination presents a pivotal opportunity to collectively end mental distress prejudice and discrimination, by uniting voices from across the sector to drive meaningful change.

This free-of-charge event, MC-ed by Jase Te Patu, is designed for anyone working in policy, mental health and wider health services, as well as lived experience advocates and community leaders.

With keynote addresses from Jehan Casinader, Dr Karlo Mila, and Egan Bidois, plus an interactive workshop by Te Kete Pounamu and an insightful panel discussion, this event will challenge misconceptions and deepen understanding of the experiences of people with mental distress. Moreover, it will explore how to create truly inclusive, culturally embedded environments where tāngata whaiora/people seeking wellness can thrive. There will also be several opportunities for whanaungatanga – building connections with others who share the same vision of a fairer Aotearoa.

Join us for a powerful day of kōrero, learning, and action as we come together to increase social inclusion, for good.

🔹 Free to attend – registration essential
🔹Morning tea, lunch, and afternoon tea provided free of charge

Secure your spot now!

• Full agenda to be released soon

Speaker bios

MC - Jase Te Patu

Jase Te Patu is a renowned keynote speaker, thought leader, and award-winning master facilitator with over 32 years in the wellbeing industry. As a TED Talk speaker, Mental Health First Aid Trainer of Trainers, and Edmund Hillary Fellow, Jase has led national conversations on wellbeing, including spearheading Mental Health Awareness Week in 2023.

He is the Founder and CEO of Hauora Aotearoa, an Indigenous mental health initiative that transforms lives in schools and workplaces through Māori-informed, science-backed wellbeing practices.

Egan Bidois

Egan Bidois is a dedicated advocate for tāngata whaiora (people seeking wellness), with over 30 years of experience in the mental health sector. His career spans roles as a support worker, team leader, service manager, and cultural facilitator, always driven by his belief that true leadership begins with service.

Currently, Egan is the National Manager of Lived Experience within the Hauora Māori Service Directorate at Health NZ | Te Whatu Ora, where he ensures that Māori voices and lived experience perspectives shape mental health services and policies. Deeply committed to tikanga Māori, he champions a culturally grounded approach to mental health, challenging hospital-centred models to create more inclusive and effective support systems.

Jehan Casinader

Jehan Casinader is an award-winning journalist, speaker, and mental health advocate. He was named “Reporter of the Year” at the New Zealand Television Awards, and “Best Political Columnist” at the Voyager Media Awards. Now, he’s one of the country’s most-booked personal development speakers. Jehan teaches audiences about the power of storytelling and is a respected thought leader in the areas of mental health, leadership and workplace culture.

In 2020, Jehan opened up about his journey through depression and suicidal thoughts, in a book called “This Is Not How It Ends: How rewriting your story can save your life” (HarperCollins). He is an official ambassador for Men’s Health Week.

Jehan has a degree in public policy, and is passionate about leading courageous conversations about the future of Aotearoa.

Dr Karlo Mila

Dr. Karlo Mila (MNZM) is an award-winning poet, writer, activist, and researcher of Tongan and Pākehā descent, with ancestral ties to Samoa. Her poetry explores Pasifika identity, love, and the politics of relationships, and her acclaimed works—including Dream Fish Floating and Goddess Muscle—are widely taught in Aotearoa and the Pacific.

A Fulbright Fellow and winner of the CNZ Contemporary Pacific Artist Award, Karlo has performed internationally, including at the 2012 Cultural Olympiad and the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. She is the founder of Mana Moana, an indigenous leadership program rooted in Pacific ancestral knowledge.

Karlo’s poetic meditations, created during the Covid-19 pandemic, can be found on Insight Timer.