Mātanga Oranga

Referrals have come through lawyers and word of mouth, often involving clients seeking to leave gang affiliations behind. Some have served prison terms exceeding 20 years, yet their motivation is clear, “I want my kids’ lives to be better than mine.” This shift from a focus on money and drugs to whānau wellbeing has led several clients to begin university studies and embrace new futures.

A major milestone this year has been our work with historic claims for abuse in care – a deeply complex area requiring sensitive, trauma-informed practice.
Mana Tiaki has also successfully applied Mātanga Oranga principles to address elder abuse and neglect, expanding our reach and impact, and holding the mana of kaumatua and kuia.

Our newly established Black Rain workshops found immediate popularity, providing training to a diverse audience including students, practitioners, and psychologists. Participants have included organisations such as Housing First and Laidlaw College, reflecting the broad relevance of our kaupapa.

To support our specialist practice, we’ve developed Niho Taniwha – a Te Ao Māori framework for policies, procedures, and PDRs, set to launch next year. Meanwhile, our physical space has been challenged by growth, with staff now operating across our two Glen Eden sites: Glendale Road, and Koru Paihere on Glengarry Road. Growth comes with challenges, but we remain committed to maintaining strong collaboration and providing an outstanding Māori-focused therapy service.

The past year has seen a rise in engagement with tamariki, often children of past clients who recognise the value of our support. Encouragingly, we’ve witnessed a decline in addiction rates and an increase in children being safely reunited with their whānau.