Who is Stop
Our team is committed and passionate about helping our clients to live better lives and get the help and support they need.
We began our work and journey back in 1988 with an Adult Service, and from there, our service has grown as we’ve increased our knowledge of how we can work with our clients to reduce sexual harm in our community. We now operate across Te Wai Pounamu, with clinics in Nelson, Blenheim, Christchurch, Timaru, Dunedin, Invercargill, and the West Coast.
Stop became a charitable trust in 1995 and is governed by a Trust Board, with a CEO responsible for our operations.
Uara | Our values
Expression of Rangatiratanga
Expression of Kaitaiakitanga
Expression of Manaakitanga
Expression of Kotahitanga
Expression of Whanaungatanga
Our highly specialised team of clinicians operates across Te Waipounamu, South Island.
All of our clinical staff are qualified counsellors, social workers, family therapists and psychologists. They are generally required to have had prior experience in other areas of health or social services before coming to Stop.
We have a diverse clinical and social work team to ensure we meet our clients’ cultural needs. All of our team have Taha Māori training and understand the principles of working within Ti Tiriti o Waitangi.
Executive Team
Maania Farrar (Pare Waikato, Pare Hauraki)
I was born and raised in Ōtautahi (Christchurch), I am humbled and privileged to lead the amazing team at Stop. Appointed as Chief Executive Officer in September 2022, my working life began in the shearing sheds alongside my mum, dad and my sisters, which created a strong work ethic from a young age.
Surrounded by the Māori community our home became a safe haven for many whānau, a legacy my mum continued from her parents. My passion to serve whānau and the community is intergenerational and has led me to Stop, an organisation with over 30 years of service, highly regarded in its work and vision “He hapori wātea taitōkai - A community free from sexual harm.”
I am proud to serve the Board and to lead the work undertaken at Stop. I have a particular focus on prevention and raising awareness and responsiveness to concerning and harmful sexual behaviour in our communities. I have an unrelenting desire to protect children, to strengthen whānau and communities by drawing on te ao Māori values.
I have worked at Oranga Tamariki, the Royal Commission of Inquiry Abuse in Care, Te Pūtahitanga o Te Waipounamu (South Island Whānau Ora Commissioning Agency), He Oranga Pounamu and the Ministry of Social Development and regardless of my roles, I continue to maintain a line of sight to whānau.
Let us now unite in an expression of kotahitanga to achieve the dream of “He hapori wātea taitōkai - A community free from sexual harm.”
Mehemea ka moemoeā ahau, ko ahau anake
Mehemea ka moemoeā tātou, ka taea e tātou
If I dream, I dream alone
If we dream together, we shall achieve
Nā Te Puea Herangi (9 November 1883 - 12 October 1952)
Kia ora koutou,
Ko Adrienne Noonan ahau.
I am a Chartered Accountant with over 25 years of experience in financial and management accounting.
I started my career at Ernst & Young in New Zealand, before living in the United Kingdom for over 10 years and working in the insurance and financial services sectors.
Since returning to New Zealand I have worked in senior finance roles in tourism and the public sector before joining Stop in 2022 as the Finance & Operations Director.
Kia ora koutou,
Ko Bryan O'Neill ahau.
I have worked with adolescents and adults who have engaged in harmful sexual behaviour in both community and residential settings.
I joined Stop in 2015 and am currently lead manager for our clinical service.
I have a Masters in Education (Counselling) and am a member of the NZAC.
I am committed to the work Stop does to support clients and their whānau to build good lives and work toward a community free from sexual harm.
I am privileged to work with a highly skilled team who are passionate about the work we do across the South Island.
Kia ora koutou,
Ko Nikki Friar ahau.
I previously worked for Ara Poutama in a variety of different roles, including with high-risk adults who have engaged in harmful sexual behaviour and providing best practice guidance to practitioners around their management. More recently, I worked for Barnardos within a therapeutic residence for rangatahi who have engaged in harmful sexual behaviour, in an Operational Team Leader and Audit and Compliance capacity.
I am excited to have recently joined the Stop Team as the Clinical Quality Manager. It is a privilege to be able to support achieving our collective vision - He hapori wātea taitōkai – A community free from sexual harm.
Tēnā koutou, Ko te Poho Tamatea te maunga Ko Whangaraupo te moana Ko Ngāti Wheke te hapū Ko Rāpaki te marae Ko Ngāi Tahu, ko Ngāti Kahungunu ngā iwi Ko June rāua ko Gerry ōku mātua Ko Luana Swindells ahau My journey with Stop began in early 2021 as a Specialist Clinician with the Adult Service. Since then I have been humbled to assume the role as Pou Ārahi for our organisation. As a clinician, I am privileged to tautoko (support), awhi (care), and help facilitate positive outcomes for kiritaki (clients) and their whānau on their hikoi (journey) through our services. As Pou Ārahi, my role is to support our bicultural focus and adherence to the values and principles enshrined under Te Tiriti o Waitangi and to support and grow a culturally responsive practice that honours and values kiritaki, whānau, hapū and iwi. Tēnā koutou katoa |
Leadership Team
Kia ora koutou,
Ko Vance Moore ahau.
I joined the Stop Team in 2012 as a Specialist Clinician with the adolescent service in Nelson. In 2016 I started working across both the adolescent and adult services. In 2020 I took on the role of Regional Lead for the Tasman Area and in 2023 I hold the position of Adolescent service manager for Te Wai Pounamu.
My time with Stop has been a real privilege, both in terms of working with our clients and seeing them accomplish their goals and achieving a life free from harming others. The broadening of our reach and services across te tau ihu has been a highlight so far of my career and I am excited to continue this mahi to achieve our vision. He hapori wātea taitōkai – A community free from sexual harm.
Kia ora koutou,
Ko Betty Gallagher ahau.
I have been at Stop since March 2016. I am originally from the USA but have lived in New Zealand since 2008 and am a NZ citizen.
My background training is in Social Work, and I have worked in the fields of care and protection across both countries as a family therapist and now as the Manager for the Stop Tamariki Children's Service.
I love being part of the Stop team and am passionate about working with tamariki, whānau, and the systems around them to keep the community safe from sexual harm.
Kia ora koutou,
Ko Lara Beskeen ahau.
I joined the Stop Team as a Specialist Clinician and have since moved into a management role with the Adolescent Service.
I am a Registered Social Worker and previously had experience working within the field of harmful sexual behaviour in the UK. Prior to joining Stop, I facilitated group rehabilitation programmes with the Department of Corrections.
I feel privileged being part of a committed and dedicated therapeutic team at Stop that supports young people, and their family/whanau to get life back on track, whilst also contributing to the wider goal of community safety.
Kia ora koutou,
Ko Lyn Jansen toku ingoa.
I was born and grew up in Tāmaki Makaurau where my whānau have lived for many years. I moved to Ōtautahi 22 years ago with my husband and two children and have been involved with the mahi that the Stop provides over the last 20 years.
I am currently the Prevention Education Lead for our Prevention Education Team who sit alongside our amazing Clinical team and provide training, support and consultation in the prevention space.
It is a privilege to equip and support families, whānau, professionals and schools in the kaupapa that Stop offers and contribute to minimising and preventing incidents of sexualised behaviour from escalating in our community.
Te Poari | The board
Trisha is the Head of Advisory Distribution Funds, ANZ Investments, based in Christchurch and is highly experienced in the financial services industry, having held many senior roles in various organisations since 1990. Trisha is a Justice of the Peace, a member of the Financial Services Council Distribution Committee, a facilitator for the Financial Capability Commission, a senior mentor to selected business colleagues and a member of the Wealth Leadership team within ANZ Investments. Trisha joined the Stop board in November 2017 and became Chair in November 2018.
Christine is a Chartered Accountant and Partner at Nexia Christchurch Ltd. Christine is a Partner in both Business Services and Restructuring and Insolvency and works closely with a diverse client base with a focus on business growth and development, restructuring, liquidations and receiverships. Christine’s governance experience includes strategic and business planning and strategic restructuring. Christine became Deputy Chair in November 2018.
Scott is a Finance Business Partner at Bathurst Resources Ltd, New Zealand’s largest specialist coal company. Scott is a Chartered Accountant and gained his Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Canterbury. Growing up in a small New Zealand town has given Scott a strong sense of community and he has contributed to various sports clubs and groups. Scott joined the Stop board in October 2016 and became Chair of the Stop Audit and Investment Committee in December 2017.
Emma is a Partner at Duncan Cotterill and brings over 15 years of legal experience to the Stop board. Emma is part of the Duncan Cotterill general commercial team advising on commercial (business structuring, sale and purchase, financing, leasing), property (residential, commercial and rural, sale and purchase, leasing, subdivisions/developments), and private practice (trusts, charitable trusts, succession planning/structuring, wills, etc). Core parts of Emma’s role include advising clients on strategy and identifying and mitigating risk. Emma joined the Stop board in November 2018.
Lisa is the Operations Manager at Pegasus Health Ltd and is responsible for leadership of service areas that support strong General Practices in Canterbury. This includes clinical, educational, financial, account management and programme support. Lisa has developed skills during previous positions in health management, both in the secondary and primary care sectors. Lisa works closely with the Board of Pegasus Health where she has gained unique insight into governance level operations and strategic planning. Lisa joined the Stop board in May 2017.
Ko Aoraki tōku mauka
Ko Arahura tōku awa
Ko Kāi Tahu tōku Iwi
Ko Andrea tōku ikoa
Andrea is a family-orientated mother to six tamariki who is passionate about Te Reo Māori, community and connection. Andrea is very involved in her local Playcentre and by extension the wider community whānau and is a governance delegate. Andrea loves giving her time and aroha to a good cause and is a Member of Mana Reo for Purapura Whetu Trust/Te Oriori Service and an approved Caregiver/Guardian for Oranga Tamariki. Originally from the West Coast, whakapapa and whānau are very important to Andrea. Andrea joined the Stop board in August 2020.
Fakaalofa lahi atu kia mutolu oti
Ko e higoa haaku ko Darren Folau, oue tulou
On my father’s side I am Niuean, from the village of Hakupu and on my mother’s side I am English, from the city of Liverpool and like many early immigrant Pacific families we grew up in Central Auckland. For me, growing up Pacific enabled me to identify my core values very early and service to community was instilled from a young age.
My Public Service career began as police officer in 1991, spanning 28 years, based in Counties-Manukau, Canterbury and also the wider Pacific region. I very quickly realised that at the core of my ethos was to protect those who were unable to provide protective factors for themselves and loved ones. The majority of my career was in the Criminal Investigation Branch and I specialised in child protection, national security, family harm and organised crime. I now have a career with other Government agencies providing advice across key social risk factors for Pacific people.
I te taha o tōku pōua ko Hori Briggs.
Ko Te Poho o Tamatea Pokai Whenua tōku maunga
Ko Whakaraupo tōku moana
Ko Te Omaru tōku awa
Ko Tākitimu rātou ko Uruao ko Makawhiu ōku waka
Ko Ngāi Tahu tōku Iwi
Ko Ngāti Wheke tōku hapu
Ko Rapaki tōku marae
I te taha o tōku tāua ko Mekura Tuatini-Taiaroa
Ko Aoraki raua ko Ruapehu ōku maunga
Ko Te Kete Ika o Rakaihautū tōku moana
Ko Te Omaru raua ko Wanganui ōku awa
Ko Tākitimu raua ko Aotea ōku waka
Ko Ngāi Tahu rātou ko Te Atihaunui-A-Paparangi ko Ngāti Rangi ōku Iwi
Ko Ngāti Moki raua ko Ngāti Uenukumanawawiri ōku hapu
Ko Ngāti Moki raua ko Te Whakaaro Tahi ki te Whakapono ōku Wharenui
Ko Pani Maumahara Briggs raua ko Graham Tyro ōku matua
Ko Ninon Kirchner tōku whaiāipo
Ko Mekura raua ko Malia āku tamariki
I tipu ake āhau ki Ohinehou
Ko Joseph Tyro tōku ingoa
In 2022 we updated our brand to better reflect the organisation we have become. To learn more about our new brand watch this video.