Auckland

Tom Caukwell

Tom Caukwell has a background in mental health – with six years working in the mental health sector – and has worked for LinkPeople since 2013. He has led the Housing First service delivery in South Auckland since 2017. Tom is studying towards a conjoint Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Business at Massey University, majoring in social policy and management. With a passion for people and influencing positive systems change, Tom was appointed as the regional manager for LinkPeople Auckland in January 2020.

Belinda Heta

Belinda has a Bachelor of Social Work degree and is a registered social worker almost 20 years’ experience. She has worked in Child and Adolescent Mental Health, Infant Mental Health and as Māori Community Liaison with Counties Manukau Health (DHB) for 10 years, as well as an initiative with Counties Manukau Police and Women’s Refuge on addressing family violence in South Auckland. Belinda is of Tainui and Ngāpuhi descent.

Leonie Kaipo

Leonie is one of two team leaders for the Auckland Housing First team, she has a Bachelor of Social Work (Biculturalism in Practice) degree at the Wananga O Aotearoa and is currently registered with the Social Workers Registration Board, Aotearoa. She joined with LinkPeople in March 2017, starting as a community support worker, building relationships with homeless whānau who were rough sleeping on the streets in South Auckland. She then moved into her current role and shares the team leader position. Her team of 9 continues to support and house homeless whānau in South Auckland. Before joining LinkPeople, Leonie spent 14 years working for the Wise Group in South Auckland, starting as a cleaner in 2003 and working her way into leadership roles. She has worked in community-based mental health and addictions support services, working across residential services, mobile community services, youth respite and crisis respite services, finishing as an afterhours on call leader in 2017.

“I am of Ngapuhi decent, my whakapapa links are to Te Aupouri, through my Father and Ngati Toki through my mother, I have no birth children, but have had for the past 5 years, two whaingai boys ages 12 and 9 who I consider as my own. I was born and raised on my Marae surround by great leaders who showed what Whangaungatanga is and what it looks like, they showed me how to Manaaki, awhi and support and taught me how to uphold my Rangatiratanga, it is because of those Kaumatua and Kuia that I was moulded into the person I am today.”

Lizel Jeptha

Property team lead for Auckland, Lizel has been part of the LinkPeople team since early 2019. She has a strong property background and operational management skills that she has been able to transfer to the property team. Since joining LinkPeople, Lizel has grown a strong, driven, and resilient team of tenancy specialists who have huge care for their roles and the people we manage, helping them to sustain and look after their tenancies.

Naomi Faasapini

Naomi Faasapini has a background in Business Administration ranging from a Government agency (MSD), to the education sector (PTE), local government (Auckland Transport) and a Non-Government Organisation (tribal development).

She has joined LinkPeople from Ngāti Whātua ŌrākeI – Whai Māia, with 8 years’ wealth of experience in leading teams and operations within the Whānau Ora arena, working with individuals and their whānau to break down barriers that prevent our whānau from achieving their whānau plan.

Her passion is in developing staff and whanau to reach their goals and aspirations in life (self-determination).