NEWS!

A New Chairman for Te Tuinga Whanau Trust Board 

Dr. Bruce Bryant, the new chairman of Tauranga social services agency Te Tuinga Whanau Support Services Trust brings to the position not only an impressive list of academic qualifications but also years of experience with Maori educational institutions and social service-oriented trusts. In addition to a Master of Business Administration, a Master of Taxation Studies (both 1993) capped with a Doctorate in Business Administration (2009) he has held a Certificate of Public Practice in the accountancy profession for 40 years.

Dr. Bryant has held advisory and governance positions, or executive or trustee appointments with  Te Wananga o Aotearoa (TWOA) Tertiary Educational Institute, the Aotearoa Institute (AI) Charitable Trust, and the Government created Maori Employment and Training Commission. While involved in the many assignments and roles that these required, his Auckland-based practice, in the care of the Practice Manager, from the year 2000 has held the contract to the Waipareira Trust to control its finances and financial reporting.

Having worked extensively over the past 15 years primarily with Maori organisations at a governance level Dr. Bryant is now keen to apply his experience to the presently expanding services of Te Tuinga Whanau. As chairman he now heads up an experienced

Board comprising Beth Bowden (deputy chair), Don Brebner,  Robyn Cooper, Kaa O’Brien and Tommy Wilson. General Manager is Lloyd Davies.

It is timely to announce that Te Tuinga Whanau has recently signed a “High Trust” agreement with the Ministry of Social Development for an extended three year period – a sign of the department’s respect for the 17 year history of the agency and the credibility that it has earned in its field.

We are now able to offer budgeting advice!

Supported by Tauranga Budget Advisory Service, Te Tuinga Whanau is now able to offer budgeting advice.  Unlike our social work service where an appointment is not necessary, potential budgeting clients need to phone 571 0875, 9am to 4pm weekdays to arrange an appointment for an initial interview.

 

What else do we do? 

Social Work

Te Tuinga Whanau offers a free social work, advocacy, information and support service to everyone regardless of ethnicity. People generally do not have to make an appointment to meet with a social worker atthe office between the hours of 9:00am to 4:00pm, Monday to Friday. Home visits are by appointment only.

Social workers work alongside clients to help them move towards their goals. Trained in the rights of beneficiaries they offer advocacy in a variety of matters and situations; support with legal issues such as access and protection orders; custody issues; bridging the gap between legislative process and client understanding through heightened awareness and support.

More specifically help offered by the social work team includes:

• WINZ issues

• Child Youth and Family advocacy

• Family Court/custody issues

• Advocacy on domestic violence

• IRD/Child Support

• Housing NZ advocacy

• Youth/parenting issues

Agencies wishing to make client referrals to the social work team please click here

NEW!  Budgeting advice now available!

Youth Education

Te Tuinga Whanau offers alternative education for “at risk” youth aged between 13 and 16 years who are experiencing a range of difficulties in the standard classroom setting and at home. There are two units, one in Tauranga and one in Te Puke.

The tutors design and deliver a programme customized to meet the specific needs of the students, with the objectives of either assisting each student to move back into the mainstream secondary education system, transition into tertiary education, pathway programmes or employment.  All students are also enrolled with the New Zealand Correspondence School and academic activities are combined with fi eld visits and physical activities throughout the programme. Students observe normal secondary term times and attend 9:00am to 2:30pm Monday to Friday.

While placements are made with the prior approval of the managing schools, Otumoetai College (Tauranga Unit) and Te Puke High School (Te Puke Unit) initial enquiries may be made directly to Te Tuinga Whanau.

Youth Development

Te Tuinga Whanau’s youth development programmes address two distinct “areas”, youth justice and youth mentoring.

Youth Justice

Through the Child Youth and Family Youth Justice system our Youth Worker managers the Supported Bail programme as ordered by the Youth Court. Also, Te Tuinga Whanau is also approved to deliver mentoring services to youth who are the subject of a Youth Court Mentoring order supported by the Ringa Tohu Youth Mentoring programme (seebelow).

Ringa Tohu Youth Mentoring Programme

Te Tuinga Whanau provide a generic youth mentoring programme which is open to all. Referral onto the programme may be made by social service, health, schools or specialist education agencies; parents or care givers; or by self referral. With the exception of Court Order Mentoring all referrals require the written consent of the young person.

Mentors undergo a thorough and rigorous selection process and after initial acceptance attend comprehensive and compulsory training before final approval. Their staus is reviewed annually. Each mentor/mentee “match” is supervised by an experienced and qualified supervisor.

Fees for the youth mentoring service may apply.