Whānau Centre
The Whānau Centre continues to be a welcoming place where whānau come to find practical support, advocacy, and connection during times of pressure and uncertainty, as kaimahi play an important role in walking alongside whānau facing complex and often urgent challenges.
Rayanna, Whānau Centre Team Leader (Kaiarahi Whānau) outside the Whānau Centre
As a culturally inclusive, whānau-facing service, the Whānau Centre team walks alongside whānau to navigate gaps often created by systemic barriers to eligibility for, or access to, available support. The work of the team reflects the heart of the Whānau Centre:
Listening carefully, responding quickly, and helping whānau navigate systems that can often feel difficult, impersonal, or overwhelming.
The impact of the Community Connector approach has continued past the end of its contract back in August 2025 through the wider work of the Whānau Centre. One highlight was the journey of a volunteer who began supporting the team in May 2025 and is now being supported into full-time employment through the Flexi-Wage partnership with MSD. This reflects the Whānau Centre’s role not only in supporting whānau in the community, but also in creating pathways for people to grow in confidence, capability, and meaningful work.
Practical assistance has helped whānau move towards greater stability, safety, and wellbeing. Support has included help to sustain tenancies, access healthcare, counselling and therapy, reduce debt, continue study, meet education-related costs, secure essential household items, cover moving or emergency accommodation expenses, and access transport. Assistance also included clothing and school uniforms for tamariki, essential items for pēpi (babies), emergency kai vouchers, replacement identification, and security equipment for whānau affected by family harm.
The year also highlighted the increasing pressure many whānau are under, including rising living costs, housing insecurity, relationship breakdown, employment challenges, and barriers created by digital systems.
In summary, the Whānau Centre continued to strengthen relationships and work collaboratively so whānau could receive the right support at the right time.
He waka eke noa — we’re all in this together.
