Katie Perkins

Katie brings a lifetime of service, sport, and community to her role with I AM Māngere. A former White Fern and Auckland’s most-capped cricketer, Katie has carried her elite sporting experience into a life dedicated to uplifting others — championing rangatahi, whānau, and community-driven change.

After years serving as a Police officer in Counties Manukau, Katie now works in education and kaupapa Māori spaces, leading quality assurance and kaiako development at Te Wānanga Ihorangi as Manutaki Mātauranga. She is also the Chair of JustSpeak, a national voice for justice reform, and volunteers with Karuwhā, strengthening Te Tiriti-based relationships across Aotearoa.

At I AM Māngere, Katie brings a deep love for the community. Katie has helped drive local responses, including food support for vulnerable whānau and access to digital tools during lockdowns, always bringing steadiness, heart, and commitment to the kaupapa she’s involved in. Here’s what Katie had to say about joining the I Am Māngere team:

Who are you and what drives you?

Kia ora. Ko Katie tōku ingoa. I hope to inspire and tautoko people to believe that they are capable of pursuing the goals and dreams they have for themselves and their whānau. My heart is for the people of South Auckland.

Why did you join I AM Māngere?

There are so many incredible people within Māngere who have a desire to serve their community. I love that I AM Māngere is an additional layer of support and guidance for those who know what they want to do but just might not know how to begin! By being part of I AM Māngere I get to support this amazing community in a whole other way.

What is missing from our community that you would like to see?

Having had the privilege of serving in governance roles for kaupapa I’m passionate about, I’ve seen a big opportunity to grow governance skills and capability at the community level. Governance is something I’m constantly learning and developing in myself, and I’d love to see more community members upskilling, putting their hands up, and stepping into this form of leadership.

email: connect@iamhapori.co.nz