Whānau First- Reclaiming Support on Te Tai o Poutini

For a long time, we’ve known what our whānau on Te Tai o Poutini have needed. Better access, earlier understanding, and the right support when it comes to neurodiversity and trauma.

What has been harder is actually getting those services here. So, this moment feels significant.

With ACFB returning, Devon Kollar coming, alongside the return of Elen Natan for LEGO® therapy, we are finally seeing real movement. Not just one-off events, but the beginning of something more consistent, more accessible, and more grounded in what our whānau actually need.

It’s about helping people understand themselves and their tamariki in a way that shifts everything.
It’s about moving from confusion and frustration to clarity and direction.

It’s about recognising that what has often been labelled as “problem behaviour” is actually communication, adaptation, and survival. And most importantly it’s about doing this in a way that is safe, whānau-centred.

Why This Matters for Our Coast

We work every day with whānau navigating complex layers ADHD, autism, trauma, intergenerational harm, and systems that were designed to not work well for our whānau.

Too often, access to proper assessments and support has meant:

• Travelling out of region

• Sitting on long waitlists

• Or simply going without

That creates inequity. And over time, it creates bigger challenges across education, health, justice, and wellbeing. The life expectancy of our neurodiverse is 54 yrs of age! Sit with that for a moment.

Bringing these services to Te Tai o Poutini is about breaking that cycle. It means:

• Earlier understanding

• Better pathways

• Stronger outcomes for our tamariki, rangatahi, and whānau

It takes a village — and we are intentionally building that village here on the Coast.

This hasn’t happened overnight. It has taken a long time, a lot of pushing, relationship-building, advocating, and holding the line on what our community deserves.

To everyone who has supported this to happen. To the services willing to travel, to show up, and to work alongside us in a way that respects our people and our place, ngā mihi nui .

To our whānau who continue to trust us, share their journeys, and keep showing up, this is for you.

This is just the beginning of our journey.