Based in the heart of Te Arawa, Te Oha Training & Employment are proudly 100% Māori owned and operated.

TE OHA was founded by Ariana Smith (Rongomaiwahine, Ngāti Whakaue, Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngati Porou) who saw an opportunity to use her skills and experience to empower others to reach their potential.

Aptly named after her youngest child, the creation of Te Oha was a way for her to create her own legacy, whilst the kaupapa of Te Oha represents a culmination of lived experiences both personally and professionally.

For over 20 years, Ariana worked across the Social and Employment sectors in both Aotearoa and Australia, and it was in Australia that her passion for Recruitment was born. Throughout her time in this space Ariana established a reputation for being able to understand the needs of a business and used this skill to provide not only the best candidate but a service that is second to none. She also thrived working with Indigenous whānau which became a driving force for her to bring this Kaupapa home to create a space of inclusion, diversity and equality for Whānau Māori.

In her spare time, Ariana is usually spending QT with her children, being a makeup model for her Mokopuna or buried in thought trying to think up innovative ways to build grow her own capacity.

Outside of Whānau and Māhī her greatest loves in the world is music, shoes, good coffee and the Mighty Vodafone Warriors!