PĀNUI
NEWS
Open Group Spotlight: Whānau Tautoko
19 / 09 / 2025
At the centre of every community are the ties that hold people together. For Māori, those ties are our whānau, the place where aroha, guidance and belonging are first learned. Whānau Tautoko was created to strengthen those bonds, giving parents and caregivers a space to connect, share experiences, and grow alongside one another.
Whānau centrered, kaimhai driven.
Rather than being a classroom, this group feels more like a circle. Everyone brings their own kōrero, their own challenges, and their own strengths. Over six weeks, whānau sit together, swap ideas & experiences around parenting, and support each other through the ups and downs of raising Tamariki. It’s both real & practical, deeply grounded in the belief that the answers we need are often found within the walls of our home and the hearts of our whānau.
Sometimes that looks like reconnecting with long lost relatives. Other times it’s finding ways to spend more intentional time with Tamariki, learning about whakapapa, or sharing kōrero tuku iho. However, it plays out, Whānau Tautoko is about building confidence, restoring mana, and creating space for whānau to thrive.
"The great thing about whānau tautoko is its a safe space and open forum for our tangata to share there own experiences, this has been crucial in the long term impact & outcomes for our whānau"
Karena Waretini - Whānau Tautoko Co-facilitator.
Growth from the ground up.
Life can be busy, and we get that. If someone misses a session, they’re welcome to return later and complete the program, no one gets left behind. The focus isn’t on perfect attendance, but on building strong foundations for the future of whānau.
This rōpū reaches wider than the immediate household. Kaumātua, cousins, neighbours and community are all part of the net of care that keeps the waka steady, emotionally, spiritually and practically. It’s a reminder of the strength that comes from whanaungatanga, mauri and mana when they are lived out every day.
Our Whānau tautoko open group operates at both our Ōtautahi and Hakatere sites, click the link below to find our more info!
