Kāpō Māori Aotearoa CEO Chrissie Cowan Named Among 100 Māori Leaders
Posted: 27 April 2025
5 min read
Chrissie Cowan, CEO of Kāpō Māori Aotearoa, has been recognised as one of Aotearoa's 100 Māori Leaders for her transformative work in the disability sector and advocacy for tāngata kāpō Māori.
We are proud to announce that our Chief Executive, Christina (Chrissie) Cowan (Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Kahungunu ki Rangitāne, Ngāti Porou), has been recognised as one of Aotearoa's 100 Māori Leaders, celebrating her transformative work in the disability sector and advocacy for tāngata kāpō Māori.
Since joining Kāpō Māori Aotearoa in 2011, Chrissie has dedicated herself to building culturally affirming services for tāngata whaikaha (people determined to do well) and their whānau. Her leadership has been guided by Māori values and Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles, emphasising self-advocacy, equity, and whānau ora, especially for tāngata kāpō Māori.
"This recognition reflects the collective mahi of our entire organisation and the tāngata kāpō Māori community. Our work has always focused on ensuring that Māori who are blind, deafblind, or have low vision can access services that honour their identity as Māori while addressing their unique needs."
In 2022, Chrissie spearheaded a landmark partnership between Kāpō Māori Aotearoa and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists (RANZCO) to address disparities in Māori eye health. This collaboration has created pathways for more culturally appropriate eye health services and education initiatives.
She has also been deeply involved in hauora research, partnering with Professor Bridgette Masters-Awatere and Dr. Rebekah Graham to document tangata whaikaha Māori experiences during Covid and advocate for cultural competence in healthcare.
In 2023, Chrissie was appointed as co-chair of Eye Health Aotearoa (EHA) alongside John Mulka, the former CEO of Blind and Low Vision New Zealand. This leadership position has further strengthened the voice of tāngata kāpō Māori in national eye health initiatives.
Her current research initiative, a Health Research Council Ngā Kanohi Kitea project titled "Ahakoa kahore mātou i te kite kei te kite" (We may be blind, but we have vision), further demonstrates her commitment to knowledge mobilisation and empowerment for Māori in the disability sector.
Under Chrissie's leadership, Kāpō Māori Aotearoa continues to advocate for equitable, culturally anchored healthcare for tāngata whaikaha across Aotearoa. Our organisation remains focused on our strategic priorities of:
"There is still much work to be done to ensure equitable outcomes for tāngata kāpō Māori. But with strong partnerships and a commitment to our kaupapa, we are making meaningful progress toward a future where being Māori and being kāpō are both honoured and supported."
The 100 Māori Leaders project celebrates influential Māori who are making significant contributions to their communities and to Aotearoa New Zealand. The leaders come from diverse fields including business, arts, education, health, science, and community development.
To learn more about Chrissie's recognition, visit 100 Māori Leaders.
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