Team

Our amazing team

Neda Espie, Managing Director
Krista Dixon, Executive Director
Megan Leigh, General Manager
Josh Blandford, Clinical Manager
Taupaki Walker, Office Manager
Jared Dixon, Programme Lead
Joshua Aranas, Youth Navigator
Rachel Blakely, Youth Clinician
Matt Toetoe, Youth Champion

Neda Espie, Managing Director

Ko Tauhara te maunga
Ko Taupō-nui-a-tia te awa
Ko Te Arawa te waka
He uri ahau nō Ngatī Tūwharetoa me Ngāpuhi i te taha ō tōku māmā.
Nō Hapani ahau i te taha ō tōku pāpā.
Ko Oruanui me Waipahihi me Waitahanui te marae
Ko Neda Espie tōku ingoa

Neda is one of the newest member of the Live for More whānau. As Managing Director, she will help steady the Live for More waka through to September 2027.

A South Auckland girl at heart, Neda spent much of her teenage and adult life in Papatoetoe. She has dedicated her career to the community sector, spending many years working alongside young people in South Auckland through mentoring and residential care. Before relocating to Tauranga, she served as the Director of a youth trust, leading programmes that supported young people and their whānau.

Since making Tauranga home, Neda has continued to champion the community sector through her work with TECT Community Trust, involvement in the local football community, and support of youth-focused initiatives.

Outside of mahi, you’ll likely find Neda on or beside a football pitch, in the surf, playing cricket with her son, or enthusiastically calling out, “Up the Wahs!” to anyone within earshot.

Krista Dixon, Executive Director

Krista is the founder of Live for More, but on a day-to-day basis she is now a mum as well as the Executive Director part-time. She is passionate about seeing Live for More thrive and grow as an organisation. Krista was previously the Youth Clinician at Live for More for six years and thoroughly enjoyed doing the 1-1 clinical work with the young men, supporting them to become the best versions of themselves. Krista has been surfing since she was 14 years old and is a passionate surfer. She loves and believes in the power of surf therapy as she has seen so many lives transformed and saved over the years. She also sees the benefits of rangatahi building healthy relationships and rapport outside of the four walls of an office. She is passionate about seeing people find freedom in life. Krista has a degree in Psychology from UCSB and a post-graduate certificate in Drug and Alcohol Studies from the Auckland University. She has been a registered DAPAANZ Drug and Alcohol Clinician since 2010. Krista has previously worked at a residential youth rehab, as well as a drug and alcohol counsellor. She is a founding member of Surf Therapy Aotearoa, which was established in 2021. Krista lives in Arataki with her husband Jared and their daughter Praise.

Megan Leigh, General Manager

Megan joined the Live for More team after spending over six years as a leader in the retail sector. In the past few years, Megan has developed a huge passion for advocating the importance of mental health and wellbeing. This passion saw her spearhead several wellbeing projects in her previous retail-based roles and has ultimately drawn her away from retail and into to working at Live for More. She is a very detail-oriented person and is fuelled by a passion to see continuous improvement in herself and those around her.

When she’s not at work, Megan can be found spending time with her husband Shannon and her dog Coda, going for hikes, playing and watching sports, or working on her veggie garden. Megan was born in Hamilton but has called the Bay of Plenty home for most of her life. She lives in Te Puke and thinks it’s the best town on earth.

Josh Blandford, Clinical Manager

Tehei Mauri Ora,

Ko Tongariro te Maunga
Ko Taupo-nui-a-tia te Moana
Ko Te Arawa te Waka
Ko Ngāti Tuwharetoa te Iwi
Ko Ngāti Manunui te Hapu
Ko Kākahi te Marae
Ko Taumaihiorongo te Whare Tupuna
Ko Te Heuheu te Tangata
Ko Josh Blandford toku ingoa.

Josh is the Clinical Manager at Live For More charitable Trust.

Josh is of Māori Niue decent with whakapapa connections to Ngāti Tuwharetoa and the village of Tuapa in Niue.

Raised in Otara, South Auckland, Josh eventually moved over to Sydney, Australia with his whānau and completed his schooling.

While living in Australia, Josh faced significant challenges with anger and alcohol. This period became an important turning point in his journey toward healing, accountability and wanting positive change.

Josh and his whānau have lived in Tauranga for 20 years. With the support of his wife, whānau and influential members within the community, Josh was able to make significant changes in his life and complete a Bachelor of Social Work degree. Josh is a qualified social worker in the community and is committed to doing things differently to achieve successful outcomes for our tamariki, rangatahi and whānau.

Josh values genuine connection and has a heart to serve and support the community. Drawing on his lived experience, healing journey and professional skills, he walks alongside tamariki, rangatahi and whānau with empathy, hope and respect.

Outside of mahi, Josh loves spending time with whānau and friends, watching sport – “Up the Wahs!” – exploring mahi toi, listening to music and sharing good food. These are some of the simple things that help him build genuine connections and bring warmth, humour and aroha to the Live For More community.

Taupaki Walker, Office Manager

Ko Matiti toku maunga

Ko Waioeka toku awa

Ko Mataatua toku waka

Ko Whakatohea toku iwi

Ko Ngati Ira toku hapu

Ko Opeke toku marae

Ko Taupaki toku ingoa.

Born and bred in Tauranga Moana, Taupaki started her first years of life right here in Arataki. She is the youngest of 8, of both Maori and Australian descent.

Taupaki has worked in many fields including retail, the funeral industry and has spent over 15 years working in administration mostly with Charitable Trusts who provided positive and empowering services for rangatahi in Drug & Alcohol services and also Restorative Justice services.

Taupaki has 4 wonderful tamariki: two sons, daughter and a daughter in law and she feels so blessed that they all live and work here in Tauranga Moana.

When not at mahi, Taupaki enjoys all nature, reading, science fiction movies, music, and hanging out with her rescue fur babies – Nebula and Gamora (two cats) and Zeena (dog)

Jared Dixon, Programme Lead

Ko Mauao te maunga
Ko Tauranga te moana
Ko Takitimu te waka
Ko Ngāti Ranginui te iwi
Ko Ngai te Ahi te hapu
Ko Hairini te marae
Ko Jared Whakatana Dixon toku ingoa

Jared is the youth mentor at Live for More Charitable Trust. He is of Māori decent, born in Tauranga and raised in Otahuhu, South Auckland. He is the second eldest sibling in his family, with one older sister and four younger brothers. Jared went through the Tai Wātea surf therapy programme at Live for More in 2018 and has completely turned his life around since. Before joining the programme at Live for More, Jared spent six years in prison and was heavily caught up in crime, drugs and gangs. Jared now has a big heart for helping the young men at Live for More who have been brought up in the same lifestyle as he was. He now loves surfing and helping others break away from the negative lifestyle he once knew, using his own life experiences and past to motivate others, showing them that change IS possible. He works alongside Live for More participants and supports them to work towards their goals. Jared loves all sorts of sports, physical education, being active and keeping fit. Jared lives in Arataki, Mount Maunganui with his wife Krista and daughter Praise.

Joshua Aranas, Youth Navigator

Kia ora and kumusta,

Joshua is Filipino, Māori, and Irish. He has spent his life living in Tauranga and Palmerston North, but now calls Tauranga Moana home.

Joshua has completed a degree in Health, Sports, and Human Performance, where he was first exposed to surf therapy programmes in Aotearoa. Seeing how sports could help individuals learn important life skills, Joshua embarked on his journey to use his skills to help other people. He has come from working in a youth mentoring role and is excited to journey alongside young men to help them find freedom.

Joshua is married to Hayley, and they have a cat called Finn. Joshua loves connecting with people in his church, doing photography, writing and performing poetry, cooking (specifically cooking on his charcoal BBQ), he loves training in mixed martial arts and jiu jitsu.

Rachel Blakely, Youth Clinician

Rachel is a youth clinician at Live for More, working with the Tai Wātea programme.

Born and raised in Ranfurly, Central Otago, Rachel has called Tauranga Moana home for the last 11 years. Having staffed for seven years with Youth With A Mission, and mentoring youth since 2020, Rachel carries a passion for walking alongside young people; supporting and celebrating the growth and potential of every individual. This passion saw her recently complete a Bachelor of Counselling degree, with the hope of offering spaces that support healing and ignite purpose among our city’s rangatahi.

When she’s not at work, Rachel can be found spending time with her friends, hiking the Mount, playing tennis, painting, jamming on the guitar, and long-boarding as she prepares to take on the surf with our team!

Matt Toetoe, Youth Champion

Ko Tainui te waka
Ko hauturoa te tangata
Ko Ngāti ahuru te hapu
Ko Ngāti Raukawa te iwi
Ko Te Aroha te maunga
Ko Waikato te awa
Ko Paeahi te marae
Ko Matt Toetoe Toku ingoa

Matt is the Youth Champion at Live for More. Of Māori descent, he was born in Auckland and raised in Ōtara, South Auckland. As the eldest of six children, family and community have always played an important role in his life.

Growing up in a large sporting whānau, Matt developed a passion for rugby and had aspirations of pursuing the sport at the highest level. His life eventually took a different path, and he experienced many of the challenges that the young people he now works with face today.

After overcoming addiction and rebuilding his life, Matt found hope, purpose, and freedom. His personal journey gives him a unique ability to connect with young people, offering understanding, authenticity, and encouragement as they navigate their own challenges.

Today, Matt is happily married, reunited with his family, and passionate about helping young people discover their potential. He is committed to walking alongside the rangatahi who come through Live for More, supporting them to build positive futures and find lasting change in their lives.