Representative for Waihao

Juliette Stevenson 

Juliette is of Kāi Tahu descent on her mother’s side and holds whakapapa connections to Te Rūnanga o Waihao. As a child, she spent many hours at the marae, surrounded by whānau and watching her older family members serve the rūnaka — experiences that shaped her sense of identity and belonging from an early age. In her mid‑twenties, Juliette began serving her rūnanga herself. Over the years, she has contributed in a range of roles, including serving on the Executive Committee, the Waihao Holding Company, and as the Hauora Lead for Waihao.

Grounded in her Kāi Tahu whakapapa, Juliette brings a strengths‑based, people‑first approach to her mahi. She blends cultural values with practical, grounded leadership to support better outcomes for whānau across the region. Her commitment to equitable, culturally anchored hauora pathways continues to shape her work and advocacy.

Juliette is married to Jason, and together they have two sons, Thomas and George. They live in Tihi o Maru, where Juliette remains closely connected to both her community and her cultural identity.

In November 2016, Juliette was appointed as the Alternate Waihao Representative to Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, stepping into the full Representative role in February 2026.

Alongside her rūnanga responsibilities, Juliette is strongly involved in community leadership. She serves on the board of Aukaha and on the board of Victoria Trust. She is also the Chairperson of Food Rescue Aoraki and is actively involved in several sporting clubs throughout the region.

Professionally, Juliette is a Registered Nurse with 20 years’ experience across health and social services, working in both frontline and management roles. Her career spans District Health Boards, Primary Care, and the Māori Health sector — reflecting a lifelong dedication to community wellbeing and mana‑enhancing practice.