Stories That Shape Us
Stories that inspire, connect, and lead us forward - through whānau
voices and community change.
Kaia Potaka-Osborne: Returning Home to Uplift Whānau Through Mokopuna Ora
After studying psychology in Wellington, Kaia Potaka-Osborne returned to Whanganui to support whānau wellbeing through Te Oranganui’s Mokopuna Ora initiative. Her journey highlights the power of coming home, internships and whānau-centred care.
An international internship observation: “Not about us, without us”
Isobel “Izzy” Clawson, a 19-year-old anthropology student from Indiana, reflects on her internship with Healthy Families Whanganui, Rangitīkei, Ruapehu. Immersed in kaupapa Māori and community-led systems change, she shares her learnings about power sharing, cultural connection and designing with communities, not for them.
Whānau-Centred Maternity Care at Te Whare Piringa: A Living Kaupapa Supporting the Hapūtanga Journey
Te Whare Piringa provides whānau-centred maternity care through a living kaupapa that supports hapū māmā with holistic, culturally grounded services. This warm, connected space nurtures relationships, strengthens whānau, and reimagines care on the hapūtanga journey.
How One Māmā Helped Co-Design Te Whare Piringa and Became a Kaimahi for Her Village
Discover how a Whanganui māmā helped co-design Te Whare Piringa - a supportive space for hapū māmā and whānau - and how her journey from participant to kaimahi is creating lasting change for others.
How Tackling Toxic Stress Together Can Transform Whānau Wellbeing and Create Systemic Change
A powerful look at He Waka Eke Noa: The Toxic Stress Symposium, where 124 attendees and 51 organisations came together to address toxic stress, champion whānau-led solutions, and drive collective action for long-term wellbeing across generations.