Pania Coote - Ngai Tahu, Ngati Kauwhata

Pania has served on the Community Sector Taskforce since August 2004, and was originally part of the Working Group since 2003. She is a member of the Southland Regional Group and has participated in social, health, education and sport groups locally for the past 20 years starting from being on the Plunket and Rugby Committees to being the Deputy Chairperson for the Bluff School Board of Trustees for ten years and president of the Child Cancer Foundation Southland Branch for three years.

Pania has a degree in Social Work and is a member of the New Zealand Association of Social Workers. She is currently completing her Masters in Social Work - Social Policy and Community Development. She has a background in Health, Social and Education.

Pania brings a balance of working from the grass roots and working at a national policy development level. She has been working to improve the well-being of Maori and relationships between government and community organisations.