Jolene Busby-Cole - Kaiako Te Tai Tokerau

Joelene Busby-Cole is obsessed with all things Waka and has been active in the field of Waka Kaupapa since childhood, gaining knowledge passed down from her great grand uncle Sir Hector Busby KNZM MBE, (also known as Heke-nuku-mai-nga-iwi Puhipi ) a Māori navigator and traditional waka builder in New Zealand and a leading figure in the revival of traditional Polynesian navigation and ocean voyaging using wayfinding techniques.

Joelene has been paddling waka Māori and has been captaining for the last 15 years. She is one of the selected few females to captain waka at the Waitangi celebrations and also the first wahine from Ngapuhi to do so.

Joelene established Kohatu Development Ltd in 2014, (also widely known as Kohatu Childcare). She tailors programmes for tamariki that incorporate all things Waka, Maramataka, Te Reo amongst other educational programmes.