Paora is of Te Arawa, Ngāti Awa and Ngāti Tūwharetoa descent. He is the Chief Executive of Te Arawa Whānau Ora, an iwi mandated trust working within the sport, health and social sectors, based in Rotorua.

Paora is a successful kapa haka performer and cultural ambassador. He’s travelled the world and has performed in six Te Matatini finals. In 1996, he won a national title in alongside Ngāti Rangiwewehi.

Paora believes traditional use of sites of significance provide authentic connections for positive individual and collective transformation and the notion of whakapapa as pathways to optimum health and wellbeing working interdependently with Te Taiao.