Paora Moyle

Champion for Māori Whānau and Survivors of Abuse in Care

Paora Moyle is a remarkable Māori leader, activist, and researcher whose life has been shaped by both lived experience and a deep commitment to whānau wellbeing. Of Ngāti Porou descent, Paora spent part of her childhood in state care. That experience, painful as it was, became the foundation of her life’s work — a steadfast mission to ensure that no tamaiti loses connection to their whakapapa, identity, or whānau.

Over the years, Paora has walked many paths: frontline social work, leading kaupapa-Māori research, and advocating for survivors at the highest levels. She brings a rare combination of personal insight, professional expertise, and visionary thinking that allows her to challenge systems from the inside while inspiring those around her to see what is possible.

Paora has shared her voice widely, including through publications such as “As a Kid, I Always Knew Who I Was”, amplifying the stories of takatāpui, rainbow, and MVPFAFF+ survivors, and “The Smiling Assassin”, which exposes the hidden harm in family group conferences. Her work consistently centers survivor voices and Māori ways of knowing, offering a pathway for healing and justice.

Her decades of dedication have been recognised nationally with the King’s Service Order in 2025, yet it is Paora’s quiet strength and unwavering presence that make her truly invaluable. She teaches by example — that real change comes from listening, from courage, and from a vision rooted in culture, whakapapa, and compassion.

Paora Moyle continues to shape how Aotearoa cares for its children and whānau, ensuring that systems uphold dignity, nurture identity, and honour te ao Māori. Those who work with her often say that her insight is priceless, her guidance profound, and her heart unshakable.