He rongoā te whanaungatanga. Connection is where we discover solutions.
Dr Hinemoa Elder MNZM is a leading Māori child and adolescent psychiatrist, storyteller, and cultural advocate, celebrated for her unique ability to weave indigenous wisdom into contemporary conversations about mental health and wellbeing. Hinemoa is Te Aupōuri, Ngāti Kurī, Te Rarawa, Ngāi Takoto and Ngāpuhi nui tonu and brings authenticity and depth to every engagement, grounded in her cultural identity and decades of clinical experience.
With over 20 years as a specialist psychiatrist, Hinemoa has worked at the sharp edge of mental health care, supporting some of the most vulnerable tamariki and whānau in Aotearoa. Her insights span career transitions, leadership with purpose, and navigating the pressures of modern life in an era of climate uncertainty. She challenges conventional thinking about time and wellbeing, drawing on the Māori lunar calendar and ancestral wisdom to offer practical strategies for resilience and balance.
An award-winning author and expert storyteller, Hinemoa shares powerful truths from Māori perspectives with global relevance. Her best-selling books, including those recognised by Oprah’s Book Club, sit alongside her scientific publications and contributions to psychiatry.
In 2019, she was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to psychiatry and Māori. Her influence extends beyond medicine into governance and advocacy, as a member of the NZ Human Rights Review Tribunal, Kaiārahi Oranga Hinengaro at Te Hiku Hauora, and through leadership roles in national and iwi organisations.
Hinemoa’s career reflects a commitment to creating meaningful change - whether through research that bridges cultural gaps in healthcare, or through her work with global initiatives such as the Rockefeller Foundation Bellagio Residency, the Busara Circle for women in STEM leadership programme and as an alumni of Common Purpose UK. Her storytelling style is rich, relatable, and transformative, offering audiences fresh perspectives and practical tools for navigating complexity and stress.
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Hinemoa Elder is one of those very rare individuals who has both intensely rich lived experience that informs what she says, together with the progressive building of unquestionable knowledg ... keep reading Dattner Group
There’s no doubt that she is an expert in her field, but what truly stands out is how effectively she communicates and challenges—always without judgement and with an abundance of empathy and cultural intelligence. This creates a safe environment in which audiences feel able to reflect, ask questions and genuinely learn. Her style cuts across boundaries—whether sector, age or belief—and her storytelling, grounded in evidence, makes her both compelling and a pleasure to listen to.
