Pati Umaga ’s life has moved through several distinct phases — community worker, professional musician, spinal injury survivor, and now disability arts advocate. What connects them isn’t a single career path, but a consistent focus on people and relationships. Early Life: Community and Culture Born in Wellington to Samoan parents, Pati grew up surrounded by church life, family responsibility, and cultural expectations. From a young age he gravitated toward helping others. That interest led...

He never planned to lead — but when no one else stepped up, Lee Timutimu did. In this powerful kōrero, Lee shares how a quiet call to action became a trailblazing journey through Māori tech, data sovereignty, and kaupapa-driven leadership. Read the full story of reluctant leadership turned purposeful impact.

After a year of conversations with purpose-led people, one pattern kept showing up. It wasn’t lack of vision. It wasn’t lack of passion. It was something quieter — and harder to name. This Season One reflection explains what we learned.