Our People

Our organisation is structured to be collaborative and inclusive and we’re committed to parallel development

Meet our CE,
Naomi Ogg

 

Naomi, a descendant of Ngāti Kauwhata, has worked within the National Collective of Independent Women’s Refuges (NCIWR) for over a decade and in the wider family violence sector for 13 years.  She has spent her career working alongside whānau, communities, and the family violence sector, driven by a commitment to safety, dignity, and intergenerational wellbeing. Raised in the Horowhenua and Manawatū in a single parent whānau with five siblings, she brings lived experience, grounded leadership, and a deep understanding of the realities faced by wāhine, tamariki, mokopuna and whānau.

Before moving into leadership roles, she worked across a range of community and social sector kaupapa, gaining experience in frontline support, service development, and cross-agency collaboration. Her work has consistently centred on strengthening whānau, improving system responses, and building communities where safety and belonging are a given.

Throughout her time in the family violence sector, she has contributed to initiatives focused on breaking cycles of harm, improving outcomes for tamariki and mokopuna, and supporting sustainable, community-led solutions. Her leadership is guided by courage, compassion, and long-term thinking values shaped by the strong wāhine who raised her.

She is committed to building organisations that live their values, work in genuine partnership with communities, and lead change that will benefit the generations to come.

Te Taumata o
Te Kōwhai Core Group

These eight women, supported by our kuia, form an overarching governing board that makes strategic decisions about how the National Collective of Independent Women’s Refuges operates. It guides our organisation and is responsible for setting our strategic direction based on the views and needs of refuge members.

The group ensures that Women’s Refuge operates as a truly ‘bottom-up’ organisation. One tangata whenua Māori representative and one tauiwi non-Māori representative from each of the Women’s Refuge’s four regions are represented on Te Taumata o Te Kōwhai Core Group.

Pictured left to right are:

  • Jodie Harris, Northern Region Tauiwi Representative
  • Louise Waterworth, Lower North Tauiwi Representative
  • Ashleigh Olsen, Central Region Māori Representative
  • Zona May Heta, Northern Region Māori Representative
  • Rachel Black, Southern Region Tauiwi Representative
  • Naomi Ogg, Lower North Māori Representative
  • Hana Kakoi, Southern Region Māori Representative
  • Leannah Kaye, Central Region Tauiwi Representative
  • Te Inupō Farrar, Kuia

Need help now?

Crisisline: 0800 REFUGE or 0800 733 843

Phone us toll free from anywhere in New Zealand for information, advice and support about domestic violence as well as help in a crisis. We’re here to help you on this phone number 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Follow the simple steps to be put through to your local refuge on your touchtone or mobile phone. You will be automatically redirected to a female advocate in your region.

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