LJ Apaipo

LJ was born and bred in Ōtepoti with his siblings Te Reo, Brandon and Tamara. He has been involved in the Ōtepoti hāpori and has worked in Community Development and advocacy, locally and nationally, with vast experience in Youth Work, Social Services, Health, Mental Health and Addictions, and Disability as well as in both Mainstream and Local Government, as well as the NGO sector, in Otago and nationally. 

His current role is as a Consumer Engagement Advisor, Pacific, within He Hoa Tiaki at Te Tāhū Hauora, as well as supporting the Mental Health and Addictions programme. LJ Was the Secretary for Te Waipounamu Māori Rugby Board for their most successful years, creating opportunities for rangatahi. An incumbent Board member of the Dunedin Night Shelter Trust, Mana Pasefika (a National Pacific DPO for Mental Health Addictions & Disability) and of course THETA. 

He has been heavily involved in the haapori in all corners of the motu and continues to support kaupapa that empower equity for all in all systems for Māori, Pacific and Disability.