Partners Porirua Staff
Our team are committed to helping young people develop their talents and achieve every success they want by working alongside them and providing opportunities to grow through education and training.
Michelle Robinson
Michelle has been active in supporting youth in Porirua since the formation of Partners Porirua in January 2000. As executive director her key role is building strong relationships with stakeholders to help promote the relevance of the working world to young people. Michelle also enjoys being the scholarship convenor for both the Porirua Youth Awards and the Zonta Club of Mana, which enables her to meet some of the city’s most outstanding young talent.
Michelle lives by the beautiful Pauatahanui inlet and in her spare time likes being outdoors, walking and gardening. She frequently visits Australia to catch-up with her two adult children and a cute blue staffy called Oscar.
e: michelle@partnersporirua.org.nz
t: 04 237 1097
Arlyta Huriwai
Arlyta is Operations and Service Support Manager at Partners Porirua. She is very experienced in both the corporate and community sectors and the skills she gained working with young jobseekers as Manager of the Porirua Employment Hub are a great asset. Arlyta’s efficient and amenable manner helps keep the busy Partners team on track.
Having family and close friends scattered through the North Island, Arlyta travels regularly on her days off and the rest of her spare time is taken up completing her Kawai Raupapa/Certificate in Maori Visual Arts (Raranga) Level 4.
e: arlyta@partnersporirua.org.nz
t: 04 237 1097
04 237 1099
Rachel Scott
Rachel Scott is the educational partnership facilitator. This role includes; profiling businesses in schools to give the students ideas for possible careers in the future and to facilitate projects which allow Porirua’s children and young people’s voices to be heard.
Her background is in teaching, spanning across a range of schools – Primary, Intermediate and Secondary. Rachel lives locally in Porirua East with her two teenage children and in her spare time enjoys adventures in the great outdoors with her family and friends. She is also passionate about art, often visiting galleries and will try anything creative; painting, weaving, pottery and floristry.
e: rachel@partnersporirua.org.nz
t: 04 237 1097
Henry Samia
Henry is the Project Leader at Partners Porirua and has been with the organisation for nine years. His wealth of experience has seen him work on a wide range of Partners Porirua’s projects with key responsibility being for driving programmes, Youth Service and linking young job seekers with the Youth 2 Work Movement.
Henry studied at Porirua College, has a degree in Education from Victoria University and has background in Industry Training with the Primary ITO. He is married with two children, lives in Cannons Creek and attends the Samoan Methodist Church in Porirua.
e: henry@partnersporirua.org.nz
t: 04 237 1097
Rose Flavell
Rose has worked for Partners Porirua for nine years in various roles and is currently a youth service coach. She has a nursing background and is a qualified careers coach, with a passion for helping young people succeed and achieve their goals.
In her spare time she loves spending time with family and friends. She also enjoys camping, bushwalking, kayaking and the odd game of table tennis. “Anyone up for a lunch time table tennis challenge at the centre? Come and see me!”
e: rose@partnersporirua.org.nz
t: 04 237 1097
Ollie Adams
Ollie is a youth service coach at Partner Porirua. Ollie was inspired to pursue a career working with youth after working at Mana College where her great organisational skills and her natural flair with young people was evident. Prior to this Ollie held a wide range of business and administration roles.
Ollie is born and breed in Porirua and currently resides in Titahi Bay with her husband and 2 teenage children. In her spare time she is an active supporter of her sons’ sports, and sports clubs in Porirua, which over the years have included: Rowing, Rugby, Golf and Motor X.
e: ollie@partnersporirua.org.nz
t: 04 237 1097
Jacqui Edwards
Jacqui is the Workforce Development Manager for Partners Porirua. She’s focused on engaging with businesses so they can benefit from being involved with the Porirua Youth 2 Work Movement.
Taranaki born, Jacqui has lived in Porirua for 16 years and spent many years helping local people enter the workforce through her previous employment at Work and Income. Jacqui relishes the opportunity to work on the personal development of young Porirua people through further education or employment.
Jacqui lives with her family in Cannons Creek and loves being part this awesome City, Porirua. Jacqui spends her time outside of work attending the Hosanna Baptist Church in Cannons Creek and supporting her kids’ sport and other activities.
e: jacqui@partnersporirua.org.nz
t: 04 237 1097
Fala Tavita
Fala is a Youth Service Coach at Partners Porirua. With a diploma in Youth and Community Development, Fala is currently studying towards his Bachelor in Youth Development at Weltec. With strengths in mentoring individuals and groups, he has experience working in schools across the Wellington region facilitating performing arts, resilience, health and wellness and learner licence workshops.
Fala was born in Dunedin, is the youngest of 9 children, and a Highlanders fan. He is a keen musician and NZ barbershop quartet national champion. Faith, family, friends and culture are of great significance in his life along with being a caring father and loving fiancé.
e: fala@partnersporirua.org.nz
t: 04 237 1097
Brittany Hobcraft
Brittany is Youth Engagement & Service Support at Partners Porirua. A newly qualified social worker, with experience in elder abuse prevention and youth work. Brittany is ‘front of house’ and adds a vibrant and youthful energy to the team.
Brittany lives in the Kāpiti Coast with her best pals John (blue-tongue lizard), Titch (yorkshire terrior), Awhi (PNZ foster german shepherd), Elmo (cat), Snowy and Dusk (mice), Smurf (parrot), 4 chinchillas and various fish. Brittany is on a journey of piecing together her tuakiri and whakapapa; takatāpui, Māori, NZ & British. Brittany has a passion for Māoritanga, New Zealand Sign Language and is dedicated to youth work and her work in the rainbow community.
e: reception@partnersporirua.org.nz
t: 04 237 1097