Ginny Ellis-Kirifi

Kia ora, Tālofa lava!

Ko Ginny tōku ingoa. My role within the BLAKE whānau is to support the BLAKE Inspire and NZ-VR programmes. I grew up in the West (is best) of Tāmaki Makaurau and also had my fair share of fun in Te Waipounamu while I studied Politics and Statistics at the University of Otago. Surrounded by the very best of the South Island’s taiao treasures, I grew to love working in the environmental space and became passionate about indigenous self-determination and youth voice and inclusion in environmental decision-making.

While studying, I dedicated my Master’s research to understanding what environmental change means for indigenous Peoples in Aotearoa and the Pacific, specifically exploring the relationship between a changing climate and decolonisation. I am of Sāmoan and English whakapapa, descending from the villages of Falelima and Satitoa, which pushes me to strive for change, for my people, for future generations, and for all of Aotearoa.

The taiao will always be a driving motive in my mahi, and it is a privilege to share this purpose with our rangatahi of Aotearoa.

E vave taunu’u le malaga pe a tatou alo va’a fa’atasi.

Our destiny is in sight when we paddle our canoe together.