​Kataraina is of Ngāti Porou/ Ngāti Hine descent, lives in Auckland, has two children and is Director of FEM (2006) Ltd.
She has over 25 years experience in the facilitation of hui (meetings), conferences and training events and also works alongside other Māori colleagues as an Evaluator/Researcher.

​Kataraina has over 15 years experience as an Evaluator within Māori communities particularly in the health, social services and education sectors and is a member of Mā te Rae (Maori Evaluators Association), the Aotearoa New Zealand Evaluation Association (ANZEA) and the American Evaluation Association (AEA).

Kataraina graduated from Massey University with a Post Graduate Diploma in Social Sector Evaluation Research in May 2010.