Our People and Contacts
The NZDSA is a family-driven organisation with members and regional branches throughout New Zealand. Governance is administered by an elected committee, including a member of STRIVE (our self-advocacy leadership group), and supported by a national team of five part-time staff
National Committee
![President](https://nzdsa.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/kim-porthouse.jpg)
![Vice President/Zone 2 Representative](https://nzdsa.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/gwen-matchitt.jpg)
![Treasurer](https://nzdsa.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/shelley-waters.jpg)
![Zone 1 Northland Representative](https://nzdsa.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Bev-Smith.jpg)
![Zone 1 Auckland Representative](https://nzdsa.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Maia-Faulkner.jpg)
![Zone 5 Representative](https://nzdsa.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Angelique.jpg)
Our Staff
![National Executive Officer](https://nzdsa.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/zandra-vaccarino.jpg)
![National Administrator](https://nzdsa.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/linda-te-kaat.jpg)
![Social Media and Information Officer](https://nzdsa.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/jessica-waters.jpg)
![Chat 21 Editor](https://nzdsa.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/sarah-patterson.jpg)
![Designer](https://nzdsa.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/dan-te-kaat.jpg)
![Administration Support Officer](https://nzdsa.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Siobhan.jpg)
STRIVE Members
STRIVE is a team of people with Down syndrome who are a members’ advisory and leadership group. We advise and support the NZDSA and act as ambassadors and advocates for others with Down syndrome
![Erin Smith](https://nzdsa.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/erin.png)
Erin Smith
Northland Zone 1
![Mohit Chand](https://nzdsa.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Mohit2.png)
Mohit Chand
Auckland Zone 1
![Abigail Knight](https://nzdsa.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/abigail.png)
Abigail Knight
Auckland zone 1
![Vincenzo Vaccarino](https://nzdsa.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/vinnie.png)
Vincenzo Vaccarino
Manawatū zone 3
![Duncan Armstrong](https://nzdsa.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Duncan.png)
Duncan Armstrong
Wellington Zone 4
![Peter Rees](https://nzdsa.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Peter.png)
Peter Rees
Canterbury Zone 6
![Rochelle Waters](https://nzdsa.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Rochelle-2.png)
Rochelle Waters
Canterbury Zone 5
New Zealand Down Syndrome Association Regional Contacts
![](https://nzdsa.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/NZDSA_Zone_Map.png)
Zone 1
Zone 2
Zone 3
Zone 4
Zone 5
Zone 6