Since 1987, Te Tuinga Whanau has been strengthening families, supporting at-risk youth, and responding to community need.
Our mission
To promote the well being of individuals and families to enable them to reach their full
potential.
Our HISTORY
Te Tuinga Whanau was established in 1987 in direct response to the revision of the
Children and Young Persons Act 1987. With the return of many children to their whanau
and hapu the service was created to provide support to the families through the process
of being reunited.
Initial management of Te Tuinga Whanau was carried out by both Te Awanui Maori
Women’s Welfare League, and Whaioranga Trust. In 1993 Te Tuinga Whanau became
independent, contracting directly to the Community Funding Agency (now Ministry for
Vulnerable Children Oranga Tamariki) and governed by trustees appointed from the
community.
Te Tuinga Whanau is a community non-profit trust registered with the Registrar of Trusts
and the Charities Commission. Today, Te Tuinga Whanau continues, as our name states,
to weave families and the wider community together.
What We Achieved in the year ending june 2018
Provided social support SERVICES to over 2700 individuals and whAnau
Provided free counselling services to over 50 people IN THE COMMUNITY
provided supported bail to at-risk youth in our community
Piloted a preventative mentoring programme
for young people staying with their families in our Transitional Housing. Our mentors provided support and pathways to re-engage in school, participate in pro-social activities and improve whānau relationships. This included one on one mentoring as well as after school and holiday programmes.
Started “The Happy Puku Catering & Events”
A TTW Social Enterprise, providing catering services within the Bay. The Happy Puku gives opportunities for training, work experience and/or employment to people engaged in our Transitional Housing programmes, with the goal of providing pathways to long-term employment.
increased our transitional housing CAPACITY to 12 houses AND 12 motel units, providing service for up to 37 whanau AT ONCE
TRANSITIONED 56 WHANAU AND INDIVIDUALS FROM HOMELESSNESS INTO THEIR OWN SECURE ACCOMODATION
SAW 28 WOMEN ENGAGE IN OUR WHARE 4 WHANAU PROGRAMME, AND TRANSITION TO MAHI, EDUCATION AND/OR THEIR OWN HOME
Hosted “Reconnecting the Disconnected”
A forum on housing and homelessness, which aimed to provide a platform for discussion and information sharing around homelessness within our community. We invited government and social agencies, community leaders and those working at a grassroots level to join in the conversation, with guest speakers Ricky Houghton from He Korowai Trust in Kaitaia and representatives from Te Puea Marae in Auckland - both innovative leaders in addressing homelessness in their communities.
Held a Community Christmas Whanau Day
for over 50 whānau within our Whare 4 Whanau Transitional houses and the community, thanks to the generosity of local philanthropists Paul and Cheryl Adams, Barbara Hogg and Angela. Families enjoyed a day filled with Christmas spirit, beautiful kai, music, activities for the kids and whānau, and amazing gifts for everyone to take home!
What We Achieved in the year ending june 2017
Provided support services to over 4,000 individuals and whanau.
That's an average of 80 interventions a week!
Provided mentoring and supported bail to 30
at-risk youth,
with over 85% of them transitioning to an offending-free lifestyle and gaining employment or re-engaging in education.
Raised donations for 100 bikes to give to kids for Christmas
as a part of our annual Community Christmas Kai, sponsored by Carrus.
Opened our first emergency house for women and children
in response to the overwhelming homeless crisis in our community.
Transitioned 40 families from homelessness into secure accomodation
by providing wrap around services within our whare and the community.
Collaborated with government and local organisations to have 10 emergency houses open by the end of winter!
This gives us the capacity to house up to 30 families at one time.
“ME MAHI TAHI TATOU - MO TE ORANGA O TE KATOA”