Denise Fowler has done the hard yards navigating her own way through challenging times, turning down support when she needed it the most.

Now she’s renowned for helping others navigate their challenging times, using those life lessons learned the hard way.

Born and bred in Alexandra, Denise, 51, is a navigator for Uruuruwhenua - a non-profit health and wellness organisation, known for using Te Whare Tapa Wha framework.

She’s passionate about her role in “a beautiful Māori kaupapa” walking alongside and helping whānau through difficult times. Her clients are sometimes self-referred, or referred by police, hospitals or doctors.

“We’re able to be an advocate and support to people, someone to walk with them when dealing with justice departments, hospitals and the health system, schools and Oranga Tamariki.”

It’s a far cry from Denise’s original occupation as a hair stylist in Alexandra where she opened her own business at the tender age of 19, taking out a mortgage to fund it, her mum coming along to accountant’s meetings for support.

Denise’s dad was a local Post Office linesman and her mum worked for a rental car company. She was the youngest of four in what was a typical Kiwi upbringing. 

“This is my home. I’m proud to still be here,” she says.

Her wonderful childhood memories include long hot Central Otago summers, spending countless hours at the Alexandra Pool, delicious stone fruit, and summer holiday campers pouring into town.

Winters were cold and she “walked everywhere and knew everybody”.

“We’d have barbecues by the river bottle digging – Mum and Dad loved collecting old bottles and we’d spend time on our grandparents’ farm at Slopehill, near Queenstown. Mum was one of ten Queenstown Dennisons.”

At 15 Denise was offered a hairdressing apprenticeship by Janet Fennessy at Fleur Hair Design. 

“We were real apprentices back in the day. We had to complete 8,000 hours,” she says. “The young ones now want to start at the top.” 

Denise “stood in the corner for two years” before being allowed on the floor. 

“I’d be washing hair, making coffees and sweeping the floor. There was a lot of paperwork to complete my apprenticeship.”

Friday mornings were entertaining, with a regular group of ladies coming in each week for their ‘shampoo and set’. 

“They were quite socially competitive and would argue with each other, or couldn’t hear each other seated under the hair dryers,” Denise chuckles. 

“If one got invited to a dinner or wedding and the other one didn’t the competition would begin. They’d even knit under there. It was a real weekly outing, so fun.”

Denise enjoys working in “a beautiful Māori kaupapa”.

Buying the business at 19 was tough for Denise. 

“I wasn’t a very confident person, and I’d become the boss for the staff who’d trained me. But because of my personality I just carried on being their ‘girl’,” she says. 

Her family was very supportive, and a brother-in-law, who was a successful businessman, helped her get into business.

After meeting her now husband (of 24 years) Matt Fowler - Bluff born, Palmerston North raised - Denise worked as a hairdresser from home for 20 years while raising their four children.

“My eldest daughter is neurodiverse and so I had to be very available while working through that,” she says.

Denise became her own ‘navigator’. 

“She had other health issues, and I attended numerous meetings. I fought the health system to get special needs funding until she was 11,” she says. 

“It was really challenging so I struggled a lot in those years. That’s why I enjoy my current job so much as I wish I’d had someone walking alongside to help me.”

Now 23, Keeley is well immersed into the community, a beautiful, confident young woman, and thriving. 

“We’re extremely proud of her and of her three siblings and how they’ve dealt with what’s been a real journey for us all.”

That journey means Denise is “very passionate about children and families being heard”. 

“Some professionals can overpower vulnerable people. I was that person for some time so [appreciate] having someone to advocate for you, whether that’s at school or transitioning a special needs child into the next stage of school, making sure the parents are heard, as it can be frightening for them.”

The navigator’s job is to guide people to the right services like the Ministry of Social Development to ensure they’re getting all the funding they need and are eligible for, she says. 

“We just sit beside them and make sure they’re heard. We’re the hui before the hui, ensuring the whānau get what they want out of every meeting.”

Denise says nobody is a bad person. People just make bad choices.

“There’s good in everyone. Sometimes you just have to realise that and prop them up. It’s lonely out there and we get a lot of whānau coming in who have no family support. Their whānau may be up north.” 

With Matt and her children being Kai Tahu, Denise is well equipped to help Māori families, many of whom use the service. Everyone, however, is welcome.

Renowned for going above and beyond the call of duty in her job, which she started three years ago, Denise says she is driven by her passion for the cause. 

“I love, and get so much pleasure from, my job. You have so many awesome success stories and people are always so grateful. It’s just so rewarding.” 

With referrals it’s about breaking down the walls and being part of their journey. 

“It’s a privilege,” she says.

“We all need help, and I never asked for enough help. I wasn’t fine at times but pretended I was when family offered to help. I don’t want to see other people struggle like I did,” she says.

Denise says her greatest life achievements are her husband and four kids.

Active in all aspects of the community, Denise was always on the Alexandra Primary School PTA, and only recently resigned from the Puna Rangatahi Trust Board. She’s been a strong supporter of the Alexandra Musical Society, doing the hair for their shows since her

hairdressing teens, and was recently awarded a special award.

Denise also runs an annual fundraising fashion show for the local Riding For The Disabled group which she’s been involved with since Keeley was six. The next one is in the pipeline for next year. The last show, featuring plenty of Riding For The Disabled models, raised about $8,000 and included a handbag auction packed with prizes.

While Matt and their daughters are very involved in Otago Country Māori Rugby, Denise recently joined the local gym, Soul Fitness, and is already feeling huge benefits despite the very early start to fit it in.

Besides, you can’t sit back and relax: 

“I’d get very bored,” she says.

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Photos: Supplied