kia ora, nau mai, welcome to my site.
Ko Aoraki te mauka
Ko Waitaki te awa
ko Tahu Pōtiki te tupuna
Ko Uenuku te whare kei Moeraki
Ko Tahu Pōtiki te whare kei Awarua
Ko Kāti Rakiamoa, ko Kāti Waewae, ko Kāti Ruahikihiki ōku hapū
Ko Kera Sherwood-O’Regan āhau.
I hail from the beautiful Te Waipounamu, the South Island of Aotearoa (New Zealand) and these days am based in the sunny Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland) on Ngāti Whatua and Ngāti Paoa land. I am an interdisciplinary storyteller and changemaker working at the intersections of Indigenous & Disability Rights, hauora (health), and climate change.
Having lived experience of disability and a diagnosis of Fibromyalgia, and growing up surrounded by empowering Māori changemakers, I am passionate about making social change movements accessible and equitable for all. Alongside my partner, I am the co-director of social impact and creative agency, Activate, and I am also the Founder of Fibromyalgia Aotearoa NZ- a network providing support and advocacy for people living with chronic pain conditions.
I have worked at United Nations Climate Conferences – COP23 Bonn, COP24 Katowice, and COP25 Madrid supporting the International Indigenous Peoples Forum on Climate Change, specifically working to ensure that indigenous voices and narratives are centred in the negotiations and the media that surrounds them, and doing so in a way that challenges dominant narratives to tell stories of indigenous expertise, resilience, and excellence.
abbreviated resume
current projects
Activate Agency | Communications & Engagement
Fibromyalgia Aotearoa NZ | Founder & Director
International Indigenous Peoples’ Forum on Climate Change | Communications
ActionStation | Campaign Review Panellist
Freelance | Climate and Indigenous Rights Writer & Video Producer
past projects
University of Auckland | Bachelor of Medicine & Bachelor of Surgery (Stage 3 deferred 2020)
Hāpai Te Hauora | Campaign Manager, Fizz Free Whānau
Hāpai Te Hauora | Community Engagement Advisor
Hāpai Te Hauora | Kaiwhiriwhiri Māori Public Health
AYLI | Delegate to UN COP 23 Climate Negotiations
NZMSA | Climate Change Co-Convenor
NZMSA/ Te Oranga | #LetUsFinish Campaign Spokesperson, & Campaign Committee
For a more detailed work and volunteer history, please see my LinkedIn Profile.
keraoregan.wordpress.com 