Self Control and Social Skills

Tim Tipene was adopted into the Waitai-Tipene whanau as a toddler. He was raised in two cultures, NZ Maori and NZ European. Tim's immediate family were abusive and violent, and it was only with the extended whanau that he felt loved. Tim overcame his abusive and violent childhood, broke the cycle, and has spent his life transforming the lives of others, often without any form of payment.

For 25 years Tim has been changing the lives of thousands through his acclaimed Warrior Kids program, his award winning books and his inspirational talks.

Tim has featured on television, radio and in various magazines and newspapers.

          Warrior Kids.

In 1994 at the age of 22 Tim was estranged from the whanau, homeless and jobless. Yet without any formal qualifications or funding, Tim set out to help kids just like him by creating his own program to empower Children and Youth. He named it Warrior Kids.

Tim went on to provide Warrior Kids to communities and schools for over 25 years, taking referrals from community and government agencies, and changing the lives of thousands of children and their families. For 24 of the 25 years Tim ran his program without any form of funding or financial support. Tim kept the costs to families low and many in hardship got to do it for free.

In 2006, Tim's 'Warrior Kids' novel for children was published.

It was re-released in 2012 as 'Bullies and Warriors'.

In 2011, Tim's Manual 'Warrior Kids, Warrior Training for Children' was published allowing Warrior Kids to be taught nationally and internationally. Tim became a trained counsellor and gained a graduate certificate in Child and Adolescent Mental Health in 2000.

            Author.

Tim was first published in 1996. He is the author of ten books, five of which have won awards, including the picture books for children - Maui - Sun Catcher, Hinemoa te toa, Taming the Taniwha, Haere and The Wooden Fish. Tim's other books include Rewa finds his Wings, and the novels, Kura Toa Warrior School and Patu.

          Inspirational Speaker.

For two decades Tim has been sharing his inspirational story

of overcoming a violent and abusive childhood and breaking the cycle with audiences both young and old.

Tim speaks in schools through Duffy Books in Homes, Storylines, the NZ Book Council and Getting Kids into Books. Tim was a speaker at the 2017 Auckland Writers Festival and has been a part of the Sir Peter Blake Dream Team of Leaders.

More facts about Tim

Tim's tribal affiliations are Ngati Kuri and Ngati Whatua.

• In 2013 Tim was inducted into the New Zealand Martial Arts Hall of Fame.
• In 2014 and 2015 Tim was recognised as a Kiwibank Local Hero and received a Medal in recognition of his contribution to the lives of others.
• In 1994 Tim created Toatoi, a personal development and therapeutic art of de-escalation and restraint; and his own school 'Kura Toa Warrior School' to house his classes. 
• Tim started martial arts at the age of 12 and over 30 years accumulated a total of 12 Black Belt Dan ranks and various teaching titles.
• Tim started working in the community at the age of 18 when he became a live in support person for adults with special needs for Mt Tabor Trust.
• Tim has also been an advocate for adults with special needs, a self-defence instructor for women and a facilitator of Anger Management and Living Without Violence programs for men.

Visit www.timtipene.com for more information