Kia ora, I’m Deane and I lead Uia Te Kura, an urban Māori consultancy. I help people and communities bring their ideas to life and create change that makes a difference. 

I whakapapa to Ngāti Porou and Waikato-Tainui and grew up in Tāmaki Makaurau. I’ve spent over a decade working in both community and government spaces and understand how challenging it can be to navigate systems. I focus on creating spaces that grow relationships and collaboration. My mahi centres whānau voices, helping organisations and communities to reflect, learn, and do better for the future. 

Uia Te Kura means asking questions to find clarity and insight. It’s about discovery—working together to understand what matters most and how we can create positive, lasting change. 

At its heart, my mahi is about strengthening kaupapa to grow people and communities. Whether it’s planning, research, or designing new ways of working, I walk alongside others to make sense of their ideas and find practical steps forward. 

What drives me is seeing communities thrive, reconnecting to what matters, and building a better future for generations to come.