Caroline Herewini MNZM

In Aotearoa, few leaders have woven their whakapapa (ancestral heritage) so deeply into their life’s mahi as Caroline Herewini, a wāhine of immense mana, vision and compassion whose leadership has transformed the landscape of support for women and whānau affected by violence.

Caroline (Ko Kararaina Herewini) identifies with multiple iwi: Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Pahauwera, Ngāpuhi‑nui‑tonu and Ngāi Tūhoe and carries the legacy of her tūpuna into every space she leads.

As Kaiwhakahaere (Chief Executive) of Te Whare Tiaki Wāhine Refuge Charitable Trust in Porirua, Caroline has spent more than three decades championing the rights, safety and wellbeing of women and children in Aotearoa. She was one of the driving forces behind the establishment of Te Whare Tiaki a refuge that stands out for being deeply grounded in Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles of protection, participation and partnership, and reflective of a uniquely Māori approach to healing and justice. 

A Life of Service, Advocacy and Global Influence

Caroline’s commitment to ending all forms of violence against women and children spans more than 30 years and her influence reaches far beyond Porirua. She has represented Women’s Refuge Aotearoa at numerous international forums, including conferences in Mexico, Washington DC, New York and Australia, bringing an indigenous voice and kaupapa Māori perspective to the global stage. (TWTWR)

Her advocacy includes being a founding member of the Every Woman Treaty Global coalition a movement aiming for an international treaty to end violence against women and girls as well as her role in the International Network to End Violence Against Women and Girls, and Breaking Silent Codes, a movement of indigenous women working across Australia, the Pacific and Aotearoa. 

Caroline’s mahi has also been acknowledged formally: she was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) for her services to women, a recognition not just of her leadership but of her lifelong commitment to uplifting wāhine, tamariki and whānau. 

A Heart Led by Whānau, Community and Te Tiriti

Caroline’s leadership is deeply relational rooted in aroha, manaakitanga and an understanding of how colonial and systemic inequities intersect with the lives of Māori women. Her work at Te Whare Tiaki is informed by whakapapa, cultural values, and a deep respect for the voices and experiences of those she serves. Each wānanga, conference, hui and community discussion she leads reflects her unwavering belief that whānau wellbeing is interlinked with cultural identity and collective dignity. 

In 2023 Caroline along with her team, launched Te Whare Tiaki  Rongomātane Men’s Centre then in 2025  welcomed partners, supporters and community leaders to open a new Training and Community Hub at Te Whare Tiaki in Porirua, reinforcing a bold vision for long‑term prevention and support in the community. 

Legacy of Leadership and Hope

Caroline Herewini’s life and leadership remind us that transformative change is both community‑driven and heart‑centered. and in 2025 she stands as an exemplar of what it means to lead with integrity, whakapapa and deep commitment whose influence lifts up not just individuals, but whole generations of tāngata in Porirua, across Aotearoa and across the world.

Taonga Tuku Iho

Me aro koe ki te ha o Hineahuone - Pay heed to the dignity of Maori women

Caroline Herewini MNZM
Whakapunaki te maunga

Waiau te awa

Takitimu te waka

Whetumarama te marae

Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Kahungungu, Ngāti Pahauwera, Ngāpuhi-nui-tonu, Ngai Tūhoe ngā iwi

Ko Kararaina Herewini tēnei

Caroline Herewini is the Kaiwhakahaere (Chief Executive) of Te Whare Tiaki Wahine Refuge Charitable Trust, Porirua where she has worked for over thirty years at the frontline of Kaitiakitanga (guardianship) and the protection of whakapapa (genealogy), whānau (family) and whenua (land) impacted by Mahi Tukino (Sexual Violence and Family Violence).

Caroline is responsible for protecting and saving the lives of women and children and whānau experiencing Mahi Tukino. Whilst, also mentoring, training, educating, supervising, leading, and inspiring women like me who work in the Refuge kaupapa (Womens Refuge). Her life’s work is one of bravery, courage, sacrifice and inspiration.