Ko wai au / Who am I
Brief introduction
My ancestral connections extend from Aotearoa New Zealand to India and Europe. I was born in and spent the first ten years of my life in Melbourne, Australia. In 2010, my father (Kevin Johnson), mother (Vanessa Eldridge), younger brother (Lewis Johnson) and myself relocated to Te Whanganui-ā-Tara (Wellington), Aotearoa (New Zealand).
Since arriving in Aotearoa, our whānau have been on a journey of cultural reconnection and revitalisation. This has transformed our lives and sparked a hunger to learn more about and further immerse ourselves in Te Ao Māori. We are collectively striving for a better future for our tamariki and mokopuna.
I aim to serve my communities through education. I believe education in its various forms can transform communities and uplift collective wellbeing. One of my hopes is to create tools and resources that can be wielded and distributed to create positive change.
Educational background
Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (2021-present)
Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington
Post-Graduate Diploma in Clinical Psychology (2022-present)
Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington
BSc Honours (First class) in Psychology (2020-2021)
Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington
Bachelor of Arts majoring in Māori Resource Management and Psychology (2017-2019)
Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington
Ko Kahurānaki me Tairea ōku maunga
Ko Ngaruroro me Whangawehi ōku awa
Ko Takitimu me Kurahaupō ōku waka
Ko Ngāti Kahungunu ki Heretaunga me Rongomaiwahine ōku iwi
Ko Ngāti Hinemanu me Ngāi Tū ōku hapū
Ko Ōmāhu me Tuahuru ōku marae
Ko Te Rito te whānau
Ko Finley Ngarangi Johnson tōku ingoa