Ko Kaa-rin Kaumavae ahau
Rooted in whenua and whānau
Though born disconnected from my whenua, returning home to Takahiwai as a youth shaped the very foundation of who I am. Watching my māmā and pāpā serve our marae, while my sister and I set tables and offered manaakitanga to manuhiri, taught me early on the sacred power of Manaaki and service.
Today, I share my life with my loving Tongan husband, Roy Kaumavae from Afa Tongatapu, and together we raise our brave, clever son who lives with a rare disorder. Our home has been my greatest university, teaching me patience, advocacy, and grace every single day.
As a kaiārahi, mother, and social worker, my heart is dedicated to walking alongside wāhine, tamariki, and whānau. Grounded in manaakitanga and whanaungatanga, I offer a reflective supervision space where you can rediscover your innate strength, reconnect to tupuna wisdom, and stand tall in your own mana.
From lived experience to social practice
My journey began in early childhood education and Kōhanga Reo before life called me to step back and care for our son full-time. Navigating clinical barriers and systemic coldness ignited a deep passion within me to pursue social work. Since then, I have worked across family harm, mental health, residential care, and Manawa Ora support. As a provider, mother, and community advocate, I understand the emotional rollercoaster wāhine often carry. When you sit with me, you will be met with deep empathy, sisterhood, and unconditional respect.
Reclaiming confidence and sacred mana
Through the five-stage Poumanawa framework, we journey together to align your mānawa, the feelings held within your heart, with whatumānawa, the ancestral wisdom and emotional depth that lives within you. I see every wahine who sits before me as a queen, carrying the strength of those who came before her and lighting the way for those yet to come.
My ultimate goal is for you to leave deeply grounded in who you are, moving forward with unwavering confidence as a pillar of strength, a true Poumanawa for your whānau and community.
When I sit with a wahine, I sit with a sister and a queen. I see the mana and wairua of those who came before her, reflected in her presence, and the profound light she will bring to everyone she touches along her journey.
Kaa-rin Kaumavae, kaiārahi and founder of Poumanawa