“Kia tū tika ai te whare tapu o Ngāpuhi”
Ka Tika te Kōrero
Tēnā koutou katoa,
This will be a monthly pānui to share with you what we do to serve Ngāpuhi whānau and the wider community within the boundaries of Te Whare Tapu o Ngāpuhi and beyond.
You will find the following in this pānui:
- Team updates
- Service updates
- Upcoming kaupapa
- General updates
We would love to receive your feedback on the future of local hauora services. Do you have any suggestions on how Te Hau Ora o Ngāpuhi can work alongside other services to better provide for the community?
Whānau voice is important to us! Do you have any feedback you can share? Please make sure to scroll down to the end, subscribe to this pānui, share your whakaaro, and/or submit feedback.
We look forward to staying connected with you.
Team Updates
❤️ Ka maumahara tonu tātou ki a rātou
This month, we acknowledge ANZAC Day, a time to honour our tūpuna who served, and all servicemen and women past and present. We remember those who left their whenua to fight for a country that didn’t always fight for them in return. Those who never came home, and those who did, forever changed.
As our CEO Tia Ashby, former Royal New Zealand Navy medic, reminded us, the sacrifices of service extend far beyond the battlefield. For many veterans, the return to civilian life brings unseen struggles, isolation, grief, or the quiet burden of starting over. Her message is clear: remembrance alone is not enough. True honour comes in how we care for our veterans every day. Their legacy lives not just in wreaths laid, but in the mahi we do to uplift and support them.
He toa nō mua, he ara mō āpōpō.
The courage of the past must light the path for the future.
👋🏽 Meet Our New Team Members
Earlier this year, we were thrilled to welcome Emily to Te Hau Ora O Ngāpuhi as our new People & Capability Administrator.
Raised in Te Tai Tokerau, Emily brings with her a deep connection to the whenua and community. Growing up on her whānau’s farm and orchard nurtured a lifelong passion for growing kai and sharing that knowledge with others, especially rangatahi.
Emily is surrounded by her whānau every day and is also kept on her toes by two mischievous cats! With a genuine heart for supporting others and making everyday moments easier, she’s already making a positive impact across the organisation.
We also welcomed Te Arohanoa to Te Hau Ora O Ngāpuhi earlier this year, joining our Employment Placement Services (EPS) team.
Te Arohanoa lives locally with her partner and their five beautiful children, in a place they’ve chosen as home, where they plan to raise their whānau and remain rooted in the community. The aroha and wairua of our people have been a guiding force in their journey.
As Kaiārahi, Te Arohanoa supports whānau through their employment journey, acting as both mentor and advocate. Her role involves developing personalised employment plans, assisting with CV and cover letter writing, facilitating workshops, providing work readiness coaching, and helping participants overcome any barriers to successful placement.
She works closely with whānau, employers, and support services to ensure each person is job-ready and set up for long-term success. With a passion for helping others and a deep commitment to community, Te Arohanoa is already making a meaningful impact in her mahi.
We’re excited to have both Emily and Te Arohanoa on board. If you haven’t had the chance to meet them yet, be sure to say kia ora when you see them around! ❤️
🎓 Celebrating Briane – Diploma in Enrolled Nursing Graduate!
We are incredibly proud to celebrate Briane (Bri), one of our dedicated kaimahi, who has recently graduated with a Diploma in Enrolled Nursing from Te Pūkenga!
Since joining our team in 2021, Bri has demonstrated unwavering commitment, a deep passion for hauora, and a strong drive for both personal and professional growth. Her journey has been nothing short of inspiring, and this achievement is a true reflection of her hard work and dedication.
Ka rawe, Bri! We’re so proud of you and excited to see where this next chapter takes you. Here’s to many more milestones ahead!
Service Updates
⚡️ Storm Response: Supporting Whānau Across Te Tai Tokerau
Over the Easter weekend, Ex-Cyclone Tam swept through Te Tai Tokerau, leaving many whānau without power, isolated, and in urgent need of support. In response, our kaimahi from Ngāpuhi Group and the Mid North Hub mobilised quickly to deliver vital hauora and social support where it was needed most.
Thanks to the dedication and aroha of our kaimahi, more than 200 whānau received kai, care packs, and much-needed connection during this difficult time. Many gave up their Easter break with their own whānau to ensure others were cared for, a true reflection of our values in action.
One kuia, moved to tears when the team arrived, shared:
“I thought we had been forgotten. Then you turned up with a smile and kai. Kāore aku kupu – I will never forget this kindness.”
Another whānau, with two tamariki, no power, and no vehicle, said:
“We couldn’t prepare properly, no car, no power, and hardly any money. We felt trapped. Then you turned up. You brought more than kai, you brought hope.”
These voices represent many who felt the power of collective care. Your mahi wasn’t just about delivering supplies — it was about restoring hope, connection, and kotahitanga.
Acknowledgements:
We also wish to acknowledge those who stood alongside us in this response:
❤️ The linesmen and power crews who worked tirelessly to restore power.
❤️ Far North District Council (FNDC) for your coordination and frontline support.
❤️ Civil Defence Emergency Management (CDEM) for your leadership.
❤️ Our fellow community providers, marae, hapū and volunteers who ensured whānau were not alone.
Together, we showed what it means to serve, to manaaki, and to uplift our people in times of need.
Ngā mihi nui ki a koutou katoa, Ngāpuhi Group – Te Rūnanga-Ā-Iwi O Ngāpuhi, Te Hau Ora O Ngāpuhi, and Ngāpuhi Iwi Social Services
✍🏽 Current Job Opportunities:
Kaimanaaki - Mate Wareware:
Support whānau living with mate wareware (dementia) by coordinating services, promoting health literacy, and strengthening hauora outcomes across Te Tai Tokerau.
Registered Nurse - Kaikohe:
Deliver kaupapa Māori-based clinical care, provide outreach support, and work alongside whānau to improve hauora outcomes and access to essential services.
🗓 Upcoming Kaupapa
We're looking forward to a great month ahead! We have a few workshops and events coming up, so come and see the team! Here's a breakdown of what to expect in April, and be sure to check out our Facebook page for more details.
May Event dates:
Whaikaha | Mondays & Fridays | 9:15 AM – 9:45 AM | Waewae Express | Kaikohe
Toi Awhimā | Wednesday May 14th | Kaikohe | 10 AM - 1 PM | 36 Heke Street
Toi Awhimā | Wednesday May 21th | Whangārei | 10 AM - 1 PM | 5 Walton Street
Hokianga Visit | Friday May 9th | 9:30 AM - 3 PM | 163 Parnell Street, Rawene
If you would like more information, please don't hesitate to reach out to our team:
📞 Phone: 0800 484 006
📧 Email: referrals@thoon.org.nz
📍 Address: 113 Broadway, Kaikohe
Stay tuned for more updates! 😊
General Updates
🎉 Whaikaha Survey
Our team wants to hear directly from YOU, our tangata whaikaha and whānau, to help us improve the services we offer!
Many in our community face barriers to achieving ordinary life outcomes, and the Whaikaha service was created in response to the disability community’s call for a Ministry focused on improving the lives of disabled people.
To ensure we’re doing our mahi as effectively as possible, we invite you to share your thoughts through a quick and simple survey. Your feedback will help us shape better, more responsive services for our community.
PLUS by completing the survey, you’ll go in the draw to win a cool Whaikaha prize!
Te Hau Ora O Ngāpuhi: Out & About
Check out these snaps of our team! Do you have any epic photos with our team? Send them through to us on our Facebook page facebook.com/TeHauOraONgapuhi and you could feature in our pānui!
Ana Tairua our Housing Continuum Navigator at the Community Housing Aotearoa Conference.
Our team in Kirikiroa Hamilton at the Āpiti Hono Tātai Hono Ngāpuhi Roadshow.
THOON van spotted in Waitangi enjoying the beautiful scenery!
Some of our awesome Cancer Care team! From left to right: Natasha, Robyn and Mary!
Our team setting up at Waitangi this year!
Our team at our Strategic Planning day!
Your feedback is important to us!
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