Jeremy Nikora
2023 Cohort
Pronouns: he/him
Recognising that all change and healing starts within yourself, Jeremy is using his own cultural healing journey to help others find their own pathway, rippling out to the world, inspiring one person at a time.
Born in 1972 in rural Aotearoa, Jeremy was fortunate to grow up through the early civil and land rights demonstration movements of the 1970s and 1980s and to see pivotal moments that have helped to shape his world today, such as the launch of "Kohanga Reo" and "Kura Kaupapa Māori" (full immersion Māori language kindergartens and schools in the mid to late 1980s).
Jeremy’s life has taken him far and wide. He has lived in both France and England and travelled around various countries. He now lives in Naarm (Melbourne), Australia and works voluntarily within the Māori community as a cultural mentor and youth, mental health and wellbeing advocate, helping members of his community reconnect to their cultural identity through cultural and performing arts. Jeremy is passionate about mental health from a cultural perspective and has led many groups on journeys of physical, mental and spiritual reawakening.
Jeremy also work closely with First Peoples of the Kulin Nations, walking side by side on their journey towards their own healing and cultural revitalisation. He advocates strongly for his and their communities to work together.
Jeremy has three children – two in their twenties, living in Aotearoa, whilst his youngest is about to start high school and is very culturally aware of who he is.
“I aspire to “inspire” and to nurture in every interaction with others the “Mana” (personal authority), Dignity and Light that exists within us all.”
Social change work
Jeremy’s social change project is to create a yarning and creative space for forging deeper connections between Māori living on these Aboriginal lands, and its First Nations traditional owners.
He is using a culturally interactive methodology and other artistic forms of expression to connect and uplift both communities, and to reawaken language. He aims to build a culturally safe space and leave a legacy that future generations can adapt as they reshape the world that they themselves will live in, with both cultures thriving stronger together.