Te Huringa ō te Ao Whānau Voice (2025)

Project Lead - Julie Radford-Poupard

Te Huringa o te Ao, a nationwide initiative funded by the Ministry of Social Development (MSD), is reimagining how we support men’s behaviour change and restore whānau wellbeing - by listening deeply to those most impacted. Te Ārai Roa Manaaki has been awarded multi-year funding to develop a flexible, proactive and culturally responsive service concept for the Waiheke Island community. The Whānau Voice Project, led by Point, is supporting this service design through honouring lived experience, uplifting community aspirations, and embedding cultural integrity at every step.

From February to November 2025, the team is engaging with tāne, whānau, rangatahi, and community stakeholders through interviews and wānanga. These kōrero explore:

• Aspirations for mauri ora and sustainable change

• Whānau needs for healing and restoration

• Local values and worldviews that shape harm and healing

• What long-term transformation could truly look like on Waiheke

The inclusion of diverse voices—Māori, Latina, LGBTQIA+, disabled whānau, and others—ensures that the service reflects the richness and complexity of the community it serves.

The Kaitiaki Steering Group, which includes representatives from Ngāti Pāoa, the Māori Women’s Welfare League, and Te Ārai Roa Manaaki, will ensure the research is culturally grounded and ethically robust.