Meet The Team

Mandy Patmore has worked in the arts industry for over 20 years.  In 2013 Mandy was the Arts Education Manager at Corban Estate Arts Centre. After receiving one too many phone calls from a Police Officer asking if they had any programmes available for a young person in the Youth Justice system who loved art, she got tired of saying no and created one. Starting with 5 rangatahi in a 9 week pilot programme, Kākano was born.

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She quickly worked out that something very, very special was happening. She gradually grew the programme, adding more tutors and rangatahi. She quit her job and got REALLY good at funding applications. Kākano got a new 12 seater van, and a fabulous Driver. Then a Youth Support Coordinator joined the whānau. In the last 11 years it has grown from strength to strength. In 2019 Mandy was awarded a New Zealander of the Year Local Hero Award for her work with Kākano. It continues to be her proudest achievement and her biggest passion.

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‘ I love my Kākano babies like they are my own. I feel so blessed to be able to walk alongside them; to laugh with them, encourage them, celebrate their successes, and also give them a damn good kick up the arse when they need it’

Jermaine Reihana was raised in West Auckland, attending Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Hoani Waititi Marae where Te Aho Matua is the guiding principals, which underpins his unwavering commitment to his community. With a passion to support and advocate for rangatahi, Reihana harnesses his tertiary education graduating with honours in Māori Visual Arts from Massey University to engage rangatahi with a strong emphasis on identity and whanaungatanga (relationships).

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Jermaine has been an Educator and Mentor at Kākano for 8 years, since he popped his head out of his studio, where he was working as a Resident Artist, and attended one of the Kākano end of year exhibitions. He was instantly drawn to our kaupapa and our rangatahi, and has been an integral part of our whānau ever since.

Kākano collected Sarah Bulleid into the fold in May 2023. She has a degree in Architectural Studies from the Wellington School of Architecture and Design, and is a NZ Registered Secondary Teacher. Prior to joining the crew at Studio 6, She taught Visual Arts for 10 years in Mangere, followed by time dedicated to raising her 4 tamariki.

 

“There is a dynamism in the Kākano studio that feels unique. We show up in support of each other and find inspiration in the variety of directions the mahi toi takes. There are some absolute highs: Moments of discovery, new medium breakthroughs, personal breakthroughs, reunions with past students (who are always welcome here). We’re a taha whānau.”

Sarah has been the Youth Support Coordinator at Kakano Youth Arts Collective for five and a
half years. Coming originally from Wales, Sarah has always worked with young people; from
running a Behaviour Support Department in mainstream education to supporting Refugees with settlement needs. Her training in Restorative Practice and the use of art as a tool to engage youth, enables her to advocate for and support our rangatahi through the difficulties they may face.

“Being part of this special little whanau who walk beside our rangatahi on their journeys, has been the most fulfilling role I’ve undertaken, and the trust fostered with our youth, the most valued part of this role.”

Jaime is our Transport Coordinator. Shes been with Kākano for 7 years now, ever since the real need for transport arose, as many of our rangatahi were not able to get to us without support. Her role includes picking up and dropping home our rangatahi from our studio, in our beautiful 12 seater van, and also take us on trips and adventures to Galleries and learning opportunites outside of the Studio.

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‘I love working with the kids, they always brighten my day. We're like a big family and genuinely care about each other. I’m a hobby cake maker in my spare time, so I try to make sure on birthdays our rangatahi all get a cake and are made to feel special’

Originally from Waiheke Island, he grew up having a love for drawing, and architectural plans. In recent years however, he found a new love for painting and mixed media.

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After studying for a few years at Whitecliffe School of Arts, he didnt like the structured approach they had taken towards making art. So he began painting at home- some would say religiously.

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Ever since then painting has been part of his day to day life, and always will be.

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‘I’ve been a part of the Kākano crew coming up 2 years, and have loved every minute with them! Working mostly with paint and collage now, its been awesome to try out new things with our rangatahi, and explore new ways to create masterpieces.

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One of the reasons I love being part of Kākano, is the care and kindness everyone shows on a day to day basis - always having each other’s back and bringing good vibes to class.

Lucie is a passionate and multi-talented creative professional dedicated to cultivating creativity and supporting young artists. As an art tutor, graphic designer, artist, and dancer, Lucie brings a rich and diverse set of skills to her work. She is also the founder of Born to Create, a vibrant platform that seeks to redefine traditional views on creativity, encouraging individuals to explore and express themselves without limits.

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In March 2024, Lucie joined Kākano to use her expertise in social media and marketing. She is deeply aligned with Kākano's mission and aims to amplify the voices of young artists, ensuring their work reaches a wider audience. Through her role, Lucie is committed to increasing awareness of Kākano's impact within the community and beyond.