Whānau standing in front of a waka on the lakeside, with another waka behind it

Te Hono O Ngā Waka is a kaupapa Māori organisation supporting whānau and meeting need in Te Tai o Poutini

Our Kaupapa

Our mission is to address the needs and create positive outcomes for Māori within Te Tai o Poutini through a focus on Māori lead and designed social, health and educational services. This will allow whānau and hapū to achieve their aspirations and develop capability thereby enhancing community wellbeing, safety, and quality of life.

We aim to normalise being Māori and being proud to be Māori in Hokitika and Te Tai o Poutini. Te Hono o Ngā Waka has a team of committed kaimahi providing tautoko to meet a wide range of Māori needs.

Māori are systematically disadvantaged and isolated in Te Tai o Poutini and Te Hono aims to break that cycle by developing a way of working that connects individuals and communities through partnerships that allow increased capacity so Māori achieve success as Māori.

We believe in our purpose and are inspired to create a community in Te Tai o Poutini within which Māori are thriving in alignment with te ao Māori.

Te Hono is innovative and collaborative in how it can adapt and respond to challenges within Te Tai o Poutini and has as its guiding principles Whānaungatanga (shared relationships), Manaakitanga (support, respect, care for others), Rangatiratanga (self-determination/ self-management), Kotahitanga (unity, collaboration).

Now well established, Te Hono actively pursues its purpose to address the needs of, and create positive outcomes for, Māori in Te Tai o Poutini through a focus on Māori-designed and led social, health and educational services.

Four Māori children play on a seesaw in a playground with their māmā

Our Services

Drawing on the lived experience our team of kaimahi, at Te Hono we are innovative and collaborative in how we adapt and respond to challenges.

Mokopuna Ora and He Kura Whatu group parenting programme. Parenting and support services for whānau with tamariki 0-5 years.
Holistic support for whānau with complex needs.
Support and provision of education regarding health services, social services, vaccinations and other matters specific to individual whānau needs. Includes Healthy Homes, Bowel Screening and Immunisations.
Support and provision of education regarding health services, social services, vaccinations and other matters specific to individual whānau needs.
Supporting whānau with service trauma and reintegrating them into these services.
Collaborating with Kura to address barriers that prevent attendance (i.e transport, uniforms, kai, cultural exclusion etc).
Promoting Māori knowledge, Te Reo and Te Ao Māori in everything that we do. Connecting whānau to their whakapapa.
Tūhuru Tāne group to build confidence and connection with Te Ao Māori, kia tangata whenua te tū. Learn about who you are, the tikanga that guides you through rites of passage, behaviour, ngā kau māhaki, humility and manaakitanga.
We provide the Youth Pathways and Ministry of Youth Development programmes to support rangatahi to success.

Our Values

Drawing on the lived experience our team of kaimahi, at Te Hono we are innovative and collaborative in how we adapt and respond to challenges.

A place where you can find your people and just be. Connection with Te Reo and Te Ao Māori.
Learning opportunities for people of all ages. Promoting a love of learning.
Help whānau thrive and become their best selves.
Strengths are recognised, built on, and validated. Uplift whānau to have confidence in themselves.
Respect, generosity, compassion, and empathy