Our Kaupapa

At Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Rēhia, we are committed to strengthening whānau through holistic, culturally grounded support. Te Whare Toko i te Ora o Ngāti Rēhia provides services that empower whānau to achieve well-being, stability, and self-determination.

Within this portfolio sit two key kaupapa:

• Whānau Ora – Supporting whānau to lead their own pathways to success through holistic, wraparound services.
• Hutia Te Rito – A dedicated kaupapa providing tailored support during the first 1,000 days of pēpī’s life.

Each kaupapa operates independently while working together to achieve long-term outcomes for whānau.

Vision

To create a supportive and inclusive community where all members have access to the resources and services they need to thrive. This might involve providing direct assistance and support to individuals and whānau facing challenges such as poverty, homelessness, or discrimination, as well as working to address systemic issues that contribute to social inequalities.

Objective Statement

Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Rēhia strives to promote social justice and advocate for policies and practices that promote the wellbeing and dignity of all hapū & community members. Ultimately, the goal of the group would be to help create a more equitable and sustainable community for all its members.

Whānau Ora Support

About Us

Empowering Whānau Through a Kaupapa Māori Lens

Whānau Ora is a kaupapa Māori approach that places whānau at the center of decision-making. At Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Rēhia, we work alongside whānau to develop practical solutions that support their aspirations, strengthen their resilience, and improve their wellbeing. Whānau Ora focuses on: – Supporting self-determination by empowering whānau to create and lead their own solutions. – Holistic well-being across all aspects of life, including health, housing, education, and financial stability. – Strengthening whānau connections and ensuring access to cultural, social, and economic opportunities.

Our Service Process

Enabling Self-Determination and Collective Success

We work with whānau to develop personalized plans based on their needs and goals. This includes:

• Comprehensive assessments to identify opportunities for growth and development.
• Tailored support services, from housing and budgeting to employment and education pathways.
• Ongoing guidance and mentorship to ensure long-term success.

Whānau Ora is open to all whānau seeking support, whether they need assistance with immediate challenges or long-term planning for their future.

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Hutia Te Rito

About Us

Hutia Te Rito provides practical, whānau-led support for māmā, pēpi, tamariki and their wider whānau. Our Kaiwhiriwhiri take time to understand what is happening for your whānau, what matters to you and what you would like to change or achieve. Together, we identify immediate needs, agree on priorities and develop a plan that reflects the strengths and aspirations of your whānau. You do not need to have everything worked out before contacting us. We will begin with a kōrero.

How We Support Whānau

Hutia Te Rito may be able to support whānau who:

• are preparing for the arrival of a pēpi
• have pēpi or young tamariki
• would benefit from additional whānau support
• are experiencing pressure relating to housing, health, income, safety or family wellbeing
• would like help connecting with services and community support
• have goals they would like to work towards as a whānau.

How does it work?

1. Kōrero

Meet with a Kaiwhiriwhiri and talk about what is happening for your whānau.

2. Understand

Identify the strengths, needs, pressures and aspirations across different parts of whānau life.

3. Plan

Agree on the priorities and actions that will form your whānau plan.

4. Mahi tahi

Work together, connect with appropriate services and review progress as circumstances change.

The plan belongs to your whānau. You decide what matters and what you are ready to work on.

Referrals

Whānau can contact us directly. A trusted person, health provider, school, early learning service or community organisation may also make a referral with the knowledge and agreement of the whānau.

We will treat whānau information with care and explain how it will be used before support begins.

Kai Manaak (Food Support)

Kai manaaki is short-term support for whānau experiencing genuine food hardship.

Please note: We are not a food bank. Kai manaaki is provided in genuine short-term crisis situations and sits within our Whānau Ora engagement process.

To request kai manaaki, you will need to:

• complete the form below
• consent to a needs assessment with our Whānau Ora Kaiwhiriwhiri (Navigator)
• participate in a home visit (unless exceptional circumstances apply)
• provide receipts for any vouchers issued

What kai manaaki may include:

• supermarket voucher (essential food and household groceries)
• support with connecting to other providers (MSD food grants, budgeting support)

Read the full Kai Manaaki Policy here.

If you are in immediate danger or unsafe, call 111. If you need urgent after-hours health support, call Healthline on 0800 611 116.