Whānau Ora Stories
Stories of our whānau in the community.
Te Arawa Whānau Ora ensures whānau are able to determine their own goals and are given positive support to achieve them. Te Arawa Whānau Ora will work with groups, whānau and individuals to support them to become successful. We share some success stories here…
Te Arawa Whānau Ora ensures whānau are able to determine their own goals and are given positive support to achieve them. Te Arawa Whānau Ora will work with groups, whānau and individuals to support them to become successful. We share some success stories here…
A new business and a better headspace for Melissa
"There’s just something about being home and connecting your art, particularly your Māori art, to the whenua."
Read more I want to inspire young people who have no licence to go for it.
Forty-nine-year-old, Robert Hodge, says he enrolled on Te Arawa Whānau Ora’s learner licence course, delivered by Maketu Health & Social Services, because of the opportunities it would give him with his job and further prospects to upskill himself.
Read more Kataraina Ormsby created her first Whānau Ora plan as a 10-year-old with aspirations of becoming a Silver Fern.
And if her netball achievements to date are anything to go by, her childhood dream is well within reach.
Read more “There’s a need in our community for a programme like this, where everything is based around whānau”
Patrick Mohi is a paeārahi for Rotorua Police offender advocate programme, Hāpai Huānga, delivered through Te Arawa Whānau Ora.
Read more “When you’re given the opportunity to do things differently, take it.”
'Wiremu' has spent a long time behind bars. “I’ve been in and out of jail most of my days. I’m not proud of it but things happen. I’ve got three kids. My oldest will be five next month and my twins are three.
Read more “I feel like my confidence is higher, I feel like I can do more.”
'Arapeta' went from being stuck in his bedroom all day, to being honoured as ‘top warrior’ at a wānanga mau taiaha.
Read more “It’s given me a confidence that I’ve been able to take back to my family.”
Joining a gang was the likely next step for 19-year-old, Rawiri. The new father was living in a small Waikato town and says he was a bit lost and getting himself into trouble.
Read more “I used to have to use my inhaler and I’d feel vulnerable. But now, the more exercise I do the better my breathing is becoming. I feel more confident to go out and do things.”
While being asthmatic brought Nicola Best to the Whaimua programme, overcoming acute shyness was an unexpected and positive outcome.
Read more “When I first came to Korowai Aroha, I didn’t think they’d welcome me because I wasn’t Māori. But I can’t tell you how lovely it is to come to this place for my treatment.”
Last year, Kathleen Tapsell didn’t expect to make it to Christmas.
Read more