From the Frontline: Kelly Maipi

Published: July 22, 2026

In this week’s From the Frontline video, we interview Kelly Maipi, a passionate leader at Korowai Manaaki Youth Justice Residence.

From the Frontline is a new series to celebrate our frontline workers across the motu who go above and beyond every day for tamariki and rangatahi. This week we profile Kelly Maipi, a passionate leader at Korowai Manaaki who brings her whole self to her mahi.

Transcript

I put my head to something, I'm going to do it at 100% and nothing less.
Kia ora! Ko Kelly Maipi toku ingoa. He uri tēnei nō Ngāpuhi, Tainui me Ngāti Whātua.
My name is Kelly. I am a Team Lead Operations here at Korowai Manaaki.
Most of my life I have been involved with youth, which has naturally led me into this line of mahi.
Who I am today is built up of my whānau, a bit of my sports and obviously the community that I work in.
I have two young boys, seven and nine. They really drive me to want to continue this mahi.
I've grown up in a very sporty family, and I naturally had to become sporty myself, too.
Dad coached rugby league as well and I was almost, let's say, his “son”.
I played from grassroots rugby league and touch, tag and all of those sorts of things as well.
Eventually Counties Manukau reps. And then that led me to playing for the Kiwi Ferns and representing my country.
We see it on the daily, the talent that's in this space as well.
For your average person, we always start at the start line.
Unfortunately for a lot of these young people that I work with now, they are still trying to get to that start line at this age and ... it's unfair.
For a lot of them as well, they've never been asked what their dreams are.
Speaker 2: 15 second star jumps. Ready - three, two, one. Come on let’s go! And split squats!
This sports academy is sort of a way or a path to see their potential.
Speaker 1: And uppercuts!
They're going to get into a routine, and when they leave this space, hopefully that routine sticks. Change!
Hopefully they're motivated to look (Change!) at more positive engagement out there in the community.
Speaker 1: A little bit sharper, a little bit sharper. One-two. Very good.
Speaker 1: One-two.
Speaker 1: Yep, perfect.
Speaker 1: One-two.
I love this space here at Korowai Manaaki.
I like to bring ... spark into the space too, and my own personality in this space and create a supportive and caring structure for these young people.
We're now their caregivers, or we're now looking after them so, we want to do that to the best of our ability.
So I give my all to these young people and hopefully they can go away from this space and remember all those kaimahi here that have supported them and work with them every single day to be a better version of themselves.
I wish that people understood these young people and that they are not their mistakes and their circumstances.
Speaker 1: Everyone’s moving, okay, so you got to be sharp with your feet as well, not with just your hands.

Putting in the work

When Kelly Maipi puts her mind to something, she gives it her everything. 100 percent, no less.

As a Team Lead Operations at Korowai Manaaki Youth Justice Residence, that mindset shapes the way she shows up every day for the young people in her care.

Who I am today is built up of my whānau, sports and the community that I work in.

Kelly Maipi

For Kelly, the journey into the youth justice space was a natural progression, having spent most of her working life involved with young people.

At home, Kelly is a proud mum of 2 young boys. She says they inspire her daily, motivating her to show up and give her all. “They really push me to continue this mahi.”

Sport has always been a huge part of her life. Kelly grew up in a sporty whānau, with a dad who coached rugby league, leading her to the game herself too.

Kelly followed her passion from grassroots competitions through to representing New Zealand as a Kiwi Fern. With three World Cups, ANZAC tests, and games at Eden Park under her belt, she knows firsthand the discipline, resilience and confidence that sport can build.

Positive engagement

It’s this belief in the power of sport that underpins the Sports Academy at Korowai Manaaki. The 12-week pilot programme focused on fitness, nutrition, and routine, with some sporting talents to inspire the young people along the way.

Kelly sees incredible talent in the young people she works with and says that talent that often hasn’t been recognised or nurtured.

“For a lot of them, they’ve never been asked what their dreams are,” she says.

The sports academy aims to give the young people a pathway to explore their potential and build confidence in themselves.

Each morning starts early, with 6am wake-ups and training sessions from 6:30. It’s challenging, and there are “a few achy bodies,” Kelly laughs, but it’s about more than fitness.

It’s about building habits, resilience, and belief, she says.

Kelly and the team hope they can motivate young people toward more positive engagement in their communities.

Getting to the start line

Kelly recognises the importance of providing care and support for young people involved in the justice system.

“For your average person, we always start at the starting line,” she explains. “But a lot of these young people are still trying to get there...and that’s unfair.”

That understanding drives her commitment to creating a space that is not only safe, but filled with care, structure, and belief.

She brings her energy and personality into her work, helping to create an environment where young people feel supported by the kaimahi around them.

“We’re now their caregivers,” she says. “We’re looking after them, so we want to do that to the best of our ability.”

Working alongside her team, Kelly is focused on giving these young people every opportunity to succeed, helping them to become better versions of themselves and to carry those lessons beyond their time in residence.

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