Henare
O'Keefe

Speaker Profile

A humble, loving, caring man of the people proactively working against violence. Henare’s creation of self-driven, hands-on approaches are spearheading practical initiatives to build community, especially in disadvantaged areas; reversing negative stereotypes; all with a can-do energy and a solid belief in the goodness of people.

Henare O'Keefe brings together warmth and drive in a combination that supports people to make positive change in their own lives. From his social housing discussions at a central government level to his late-night operation of mobile BBQ Tunu Tunu battling family violence head on, Henare ticks all the boxes when it comes to empowering individuals, building communities and championing social growth.

Growing up in a low socio-economic household in Ruatoria, but influenced by the strong core values that lie at the heart of his large family, Henare has a deep commitment to uplift and inspire his community, his people and his country. He has a thirst to reverse negative social statistics and is dedicated in both thoughts and actions to combating family violence, mentoring youth and assisting in the reintegration of prisoners.

Henare and wife Pam have fostered more than 200 children over a period of 17 years. Although world renowned opera singer Phillip Rhodes is perhaps the O'Keefes' most famous foster child many of their 'kids' have achieved their own goals and aspirations.

For many years Henare has worked across New Zealand against violence in the family and community. This has entailed fronting the New Zealand Police Keeping Ourselves safe programme (KOS) in tandem with the Police Youth Education Service (YES). In 2008 Henare responded to violence in his own community in a very personal way by organising the Enough is Enough hikoi with the purpose of galvanising public concern and action. Over four thousand people joined that momentous march. The hikoi sparked a number of community-generated projects and Henare has worked at the centre of most of them.

Achievements
2010 awarded the Lloyd Morgan Lions Clubs Charitable Trust Honoured Membership. Only the second time in its 30 year history it has been awarded to someone outside of Lions.
2011 awarded the Queen's Service Medal.
2012 named New Zealand's Community Hero of the Year.
2013 presented with the Paul Harris Fellow award by Rotary International.

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