We have just uploaded a Whānau Ora survey to help whānau think about the six areas Professor Sir Mason Durie has suggested are required for healthy, happy, sustainable whānau… have a go and let us know what you reckon: Click here to take the 5min. survey

Te Ora Hou Aotearoa has been working in Māori and Pacific communities around New Zealand for more than 30 years. Over this time we have partnered with organisations working in urban slums and poor rural communities in South East Asia and the Pacific Islands.

Te Ora Hou is encouraging whānau to join the Live Below the Line challenge (22-26 August 2011) to show solidarity with our Pacific cousins and communities around the world who do not have access to the fresh water and fertile soils that have always sustained us in Aotearoa.

We also know the grinding hardship thousands of families face in New Zealand and with escalating food, transport and housing costs – want this project to challenge those in power to act to reduce the growing inequalities here at home.

The gap between rich and poor is growing around the world, it is not right and we must do more to reverse the trend which has tragic consequences for everyone.

'Stone Soup' gathering in Whanganui

A new Te Ora Hou project based in neighbourhoods of three cities has been underway since the start of 2011. Focused on encouraging neighbours to take more interest in each other and provide support that leads to safer communities for children, the project is already demonstrating positive outcomes.

We’re grateful for the project support provided by JR McKenzie Trust, the Todd Foundation and the Centre for Social Research & Evaluation. Stay posted for more detailed updates!

Waka Huia 2010 brought together over 40 Te Ora Hou kaimahi, rangatahi and their whānau. Held at Ohinemutu, Rotorua, the weekend focused on sharing insights from the recently completed Hei Tikitiki Māori Rites of Passage Research Project. There was also time for skill-sharing and valuable networking between Te Ora Hou centres.

Waka Hui was a national ‘Toolshare’ event for volunteer and paid kaimahi involved with Te Ora Hou centres around the country. Thanks to a generous grant from the Todd Foundation, Te Ora Hou Aotearoa was able to subsidise the costs of bringing 90 people together at Orakei Marae in Tamaki-Makaurau over Queens Birthday Weekend 2009.

Vicki Campbell from Te Ora Hou Otautahi recently summonsed the Prime Minister and her good friend Annette King to a high level meeting at the TOH offices. 

The PM was caught reading Vicki’s speech on how the NZ economy should be restructured to ensure we move to become a ‘weightless’ exporter, lifting our OECD ranking and improving our chances of surviving global meltdown.  

Well, OK, so they happened to be at the same youth forum… but Helen does seem to be checking out the speech (or is it a stain on the table cloth?).

The bi-annual national Te Ora Hou gathering of 250 rangatahi is on again. Registrations have almost closed and plans are locked in place to make it the best Tautoko since Ruatoki in 1976.

Contact your local centre for more information.