Eparaima Paratene

Founder | Director | Leadership Coach
Te Rarawa, Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Pāoa, Ngāti Awa

Ko Eparaima Paratene ahau, he uri nō ngā hau e whā o te Tai Tokerau me Hauraki. I’m the proud founder of Mana Tū Training Ltd, a kaupapa Māori-driven organisation dedicated to empowering rangatahi to stand tall in their identity, develop real-world leadership skills, and live with purpose.

With over a decade of experience in the youth development and education sectors, I’ve worked alongside schools, kura kaupapa, and community organisations across Aotearoa to deliver high-impact wānanga and leadership programmes rooted in te ao Māori.

My leadership journey began in the New Zealand Army, where I served for 8 years, building the foundations of discipline, resilience, and teamwork. After leaving the military, I spent two years teaching at Papakura High School, where I saw first-hand the need for culturally grounded, strength-based approaches to uplift our rangatahi.

Through Mana Tū, I now combine kaupapa Māori, physical training, mindset coaching, and real-world mentoring to help young people become confident in who they are, connected to their whakapapa, and equipped to lead in whatever space they choose to enter.

I believe in the power of identity, purpose, and wairua — and I’m committed to helping the next generation of leaders thrive.

“Mauri tū, mauri ora.”