Flock is all about high-quality community arts

Flock creates projects that express the richness of our communities through a variety of creative activity.

We believe that the sharing of a creative process supports inclusivity and equity, contributes to good health and wellbeing, helps to build strong and resilient communities and results in a creative outcome that is fresh, unexpected and marvellous.

We know that everyone has creative talents and stories worth sharing.

Our Board Members

Wilf HoltWilf has over 40 years’ experience in the NGO Social Work sector specialising in Conflict Resolution and Anger Management group work and has worked with youth, sex offenders and for the past 25 years, homeless people. Wilf is also a family therapist and counsellor and is an ordained Minister in the Anglican Church. He has served on numerous community organisations including the Auckland Refugee Council and the National Coalition to End Homelessness. After 30 years as Team Leader of the Homeless Community Service Auckland City Mission, Wilf retired in April 2023.

Angela GourdieAngela (Ange) is the General Manager Marketing and Ticketing at Auckland Live. She has worked with most of Auckland Live's promoters and presenters over the years providing insights and consultation on the New Zealand/Aotearoa marketing and ticketing landscape as well as managing campaigns and building audience networks in her role as Marketing and Audience Development Manager for Auckland Live. Ange comes to the role with in-depth knowledge and understanding of commercial and performing arts events. Prior to her time at Auckland Live, she worked for a variety of arts and entertainment companies including Auckland Arts Festival, Black Grace, Inside out Productions and Oceania Audio and Lighting.

Dr Shiloh Groot(Ngāti Uenukukōpako, Ngāti Pikiao). Shiloh is a Senior Lecturer in Social Psychology at the University of Auckland; prior to this she has held research and teaching appointments at Massey University and Waikato University. She completed her PhD in 2011 at Waikato University where she explored the nature of resilience through the lived experiences of Maori, Pacific Island and New Zealand European homeless people. She is also a member of the New Zealand Coalition to End Homelessness (NZCEH) Māori Caucus. Her research adopts an Indigenous, community, critical and societal approach to psychology; her research places emphasis on action-oriented social science, where not only does theory and research inform practice, but practice also shapes the refinement of theory and research.

Dr. Rand HazouRand is theatre academic and facilitator with experience working across a variety of creative and community contexts. In 2004, he was commissioned by the UNDP to travel to the Occupied Territories in Palestine to run workshops for Palestinian youths. His research explores theatre that engages with issues of social justice. His research on Asylum Seeker and Refugee Theatre has been published in a series of international journal articles. In Aotearoa he has led teaching and creative projects engaging with both prison and aged-care communities. He is currently a Senior Lecturer in Theatre at Massey University.

Chloe HarwoodChloe has twenty years’ experience of working in the philanthropic sector. Chloe was Strategy & Innovation Manager at Foundation North. In this role she had responsibility for strategy and innovation development, while also managing policy development, communications and planning. Chloe brings professional skills and experience across strategy development and innovation approaches, facilitation, research, organisational learning and reflective practice. A graduate of Canterbury University, Chloe has previously worked for Britain’s National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA), where she awarded funding to innovative and pioneering learning projects.

Naomi SingerNaomi is a senior communications and engagement advisor at Workwise, part of the Wise Group. As well as experience working in the social services sector, Naomi’s background includes working in local government – using arts and culture as a tool for community wellbeing, expression and resilience. She has been part of projects including Auckland UNESCO City of Music, Ronnie van Hout’s Boy Walking public artwork and has been the driver for Māori, Aboriginal and First Nations writers on tour around New Zealand/Aotearoa. She was the foundation manager of Māngere Arts Centre – Ngā Tohu o Uenuku, the first purpose-built arts centre in South Auckland.

Our Staff

Sally BarnettCHIEF EXECUTIVE: Sally has over 20 years’ experience in the arts, hospitality and event management fields, including significant community engagement, outdoor theatre, site specific, and festival programming expertise. Previous roles include: Co-Director of the Hamilton Gardens Arts Festival; Community Arts Broker for the Franklin, Albert Eden and Māngere Ōtāhuhu Local Boards in Auckland; General Manager for The Conch Theatre Company; and Producer, Development Programmes for Auckland Live where she was also Director of the Auckland Fringe. Sally has also worked internationally at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Big in Falkirk, Hong Kong Fringe Club and on major New Zealand/Aotearoa arts and cultural events including The New Zealand International Arts Festival, World of Wearable Arts and Cuba Street Carnival.

Joeli ThackerEDUCATION COORDINATOR: Joeli has been a performing member of the Hobson Street Theatre Company since 2018. In 2022 Joeli accepted the role as Flock’s Outreach and Education Coordinator. Joeli is also an experienced professional chef and a fervent West Ham United Football Club fan.

Ariana Williams PROJECT CO-LEADER/ KAIWHAKAHAERE: Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Tūwharetoa Ariana is an actor, a teacher of Māori Performing arts and an emerging producer. Raised in the ethos of Kura Kaupapa Māori, this environment set her tūāpapa (foundation) of tikanga, storytelling and community. Her passion is to serve others through the diverse mediums of the whare tapere (house of entertainment). Ariana is a graduate of Ngā Mana Whakairo a Toi, Bachelor in Māori Performing Arts from Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi. Her introduction to theatre was in 2016 as a performer and production assistant for Hawaiki TŪ. Since then, she has worked hybrid-like in the industry.

Cheng GohTHE TOROA PROJECT MANAGER: Cheng is a community development practitioner who works through cross-cultural boundaries, fostering ‘catalytic space’ to improve access and collaboration to realise potential of talent and skills within the ecosystem. She has strong appreciation of cross-cultural and intercultural communications and has been involved in multiple levels with a background in settlement support (supporting newcomers, refugees and organisations), employment arena (mentoring with jobseekers and businesses), placemaking and event management.

Durga RayTHE TOROA PROJECT COORDINATOR: Durga has been working in the community sector for more than twenty years in Auckland; she is energised to serve the community through work in the settlement area with older adults. Her experience includes management and administrative roles at the Citizens Advice Bureau and Human Rights Commission, alongside others, but her main joy is to work for the community voluntarily. Currently, she also works with Age Concern and English Language Partners.

Teiaro TaikatoPROJECT CO-LEADER/ KAIWHAKAHAERE: Ngati Whakaue | Tauranga Moana | Ngati Raukawa. Teiaro is an early career Toi Māori Practitioner, Creative Producer, Production and Stage Manager. Previously, an educator, youth worker and tiaki taiao advocate, a one-off opportunity as a director for the 2019 Unitec Graduation Show began the shift toward Te Ao Toi. Their passion is in connection and merging creative arts with social justice, so that undervalued communities have a means of expression and opportunities to play and create. Teiaro has a BA in Event Management and Criminology and works predominantly in kaupapa Māori works.

Workshop Facilitators:

Amelia Yiakmis, Ariana Williams, Barnie Duncan, Romy Hooper, Sean Riviera, Tanya Corpuz, Teiaro Taikato