Our Board

My name is Kevin Tiernan. I am a Detective Senior Sergeant with the New Zealand Police and have been a Police Officer since 1985. I have worked in Auckland City (17 yrs), Nelson (7 years) and currently in Counties Manukau. I am the Officer in Charge of Adult Sexual Assault for the Counties Manukau Police District. In this role I work closely and collaboratively with staff from Counselling Service Centre (CSC) to achieve the best possible outcomes for victims of sexual abuse. I have seen first-hand the practical support provided to victims of sexual abuse in the initial acute crisis stage of reporting the incident to the police. I am also aware of the longer term benefits of providing ongoing counselling.

As a result of my role with the Police I was invited to join the board of CSC in April 2013 which I was very happy to accept. I became the Chairman of the Board in August 2015.

I feel privileged to be a part of a team that provides such an important service to the people of South Auckland.

On a personal note I have been married to Rose for 39 years and we have 3 adult children and 3 young grandsons. In my spare time I enjoy walking the Great Walks of New Zealand, boating and spending time with my grandchildren.

I have worked in training, capacity building and community development for the Ministry of Justice, Auckland Council and the Order of St John. I studied Communication at MIT and enjoy working with people. I have been involved with the Board of CSC since 2004 having been invited when I was working at Papakura District Court. In more recent years I have fulfilled the Board Secretary role. I also sit on governance committee for St John, at both a local and national level.

The work CSC does in our local area is invaluable and I am pleased to contribute to this. The staff are compassionate, professional and make a real difference in the lives of people in our community.I have been brought up to give back through volunteering, and I also learn a lot from my involvement. I am close to my extended family who all live in the local area and I enjoy gardening, reading, walking, movies and travel.

Rachel is a Chartered Accountant (CA), member of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ), and holds a current certificate of public practice. She completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree at Auckland University and post graduate diploma in Professional Accounting at Manukau Institute of Technology.

Rachel began her accounting career in the corporate arena and worked for merchant banking firm Bankers Trust for ten years. She later joined an accounting practice in 1999 where she  became practice manager. In February 2008, she joined Business Like Chartered Accountants where she was subsequently made partner.  Rachel has been diligently supporting and serving  local South Auckland businesses ever since.

Rachel lives on a lifestyle block in Ardmore; when she’s not working in the office she can most likely be found in her vegetable garden or orchard at home.

I am the principal of Law & Associates, which is a law practice based in Manukau.  The firm, which was established in 2010, focuses on all aspects of property, commercial and family law.  Prior to that I was a partner of Wood Ruck Manukau.  In the course of working in the Manukau community for 18 years, I have worked with victims of domestic and other abuse and am very aware of the need for organisations such as Counselling Services Centre.

I feel it is important to give back to the community which is why I was happy to accept an invitation to be a member of the Board. I have a grown up family and live in Karaka along with a number of dogs, horses and alpacas.

I am Miriama R. Scott of Ngāti Kahungunu and Rangitāne, Scottish and English descent and I was born in the Cook Islands.  I was educated at Queen Margaret College in Wellington and under the auspices of a government department I have lived and worked in India and Belgium. I am currently a kaiako with the social work programme at Te Whare Takiura o Manukau / Manukau Institute of Technology and prior to that I worked at Whirinaki, the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service attached to Counties Manukau District Health Board. I am a registered Social Worker.