Te Tai Tokerau Collective

Eight Te Tai Tokerau organisations are collaborating to create strong, resilient communities that support their whānau to live violence free. The collaboration is focused on solving complex whānau problems while building a shared healing and recovery vision of Whānau Resilience for the North. 

The eight organisations who are part of Northland’s Whānau Resilience movement are: Mauri Social Service (Kaitaia), Te Whare Timatatanga Hou Ora (Kaitaia), Te Hauora o Ngāpuhi (Mid North), Te Uri o Hau Tangata (Kaipara), The Fono Trust (Te Taitokerau), Te Whare Ruruhau o Meri (Mid/Far North), Te Hau Āwhiowhio ō Otangarei (Whangarei), Nga Manga Puriri (Te Taitokerau).

Whānau voice 

During their design phase, the Te Tai Tokerau collective gathered the voices and aspirations of whānau, who say they want to ‘feel safe in sharing our stories’, ‘confident to look for help’ and ‘secure and supported’ to raise their families.

The collective’s design process reinforced early on that regional responses by those closest to their communities works best in meeting local needs, including through the challenges of COVID-19.

“We believe this collaborative approach is more likely to solve complex problems than if each single organisation were to approach whānau resilience on its own.”

Service Concept

The partners deliver a wide range of supports, from one-on-one sessions, to weekly kai and cooking sessions, advocacy, hui facilitation, reconnecting to whānau and whakapapa, hapu and iwi, addiction recovery support, community connection, gardening, parenting, cultural activities, non-violence support, traditional Māori healing, workshops on coping and triggers, and risk assessment and safety planning.

The partners focus is on what the whānau needs are and they increasingly access the collective knowledge and talents of the group in responding. Working together is shaping common values, language and a shared narrative.

The mahi reflects the aroha, tika and pono of an indigenous healing, recovery and wellbeing approach that is local and specific to Te Tai Tokerau communities.