This Story of Hope highlights Rupene Omahuru’s journey of healing through Runaia, a kaupapa Māori initiative reconnecting whānau to whakapapa, taiao, and holistic wellbeing. His lived experience shows how culturally grounded approaches transform lives, strengthen whānau, and inspire leadership.

Te Oranganui welcomes intern Alyeska Shore, a Global Studies student exploring art therapies for displaced communities. Informed by her own healing, she champions holistic care, draws on Māori symbology, and will help connect cultural knowledge with suicide prevention.

At Whangaehu Marae, HFWRR showed how crisis data aligns with Maramataka phases, affirming tūpuna knowledge. The insight shifts focus from crisis response to prevention, guiding culturally safe interventions grounded in mātauranga Māori and whenua rhythms.

At Te Whare Piringa, whānau share powerful stories of hapūtanga, parenting, and support. These testimonies show how trust, tikanga, and connection are helping parents find confidence and reclaim their mana.

Baillie Chadfield, Kahurangi Simon Jnr, and Keita Puru began as parents in the Hapū Māmā and Pāpā Villages. Today, they’re part of Te Whare Piringa, turning lived experience into leadership and whānau aspirations into reality.

Chy Potaka-Osborne’s blog challenges us to let go of clinical assumptions and centre whānau voice in innovation. True change comes when solutions are co-created with whānau, honouring lived experience and building systems that empower rather than prescribe.

Toxic Stress Symposium #2 examined how toxic stress affects health and wellbeing, with Point Research, community, and kaimahi discussing collective actions to tackle root causes such as poverty, food insecurity, and family violence.

Maramataka, the Māori lunar calendar, guides prevention and wellbeing. In Whanganui, Rangitīkei, and Ruapehu, years of research led by Meretini Bennett-Huxtable have shown how lunar phases influence patterns of distress and resilience.

Jarna’s journey with Healthy Families WRR shows the power of rangatahi leadership, from kaupapa Māori initiatives to her internationally recognised Gambling Harm Insights Report.

The Suicide Prevention Insights Report highlights community-driven strategies, lived experiences, and systems change approaches to support mental wellbeing and prevent suicide across Whanganui, Rangitīkei, and Ruapehu, with practical actions, local voices, and region-specific insights informing future efforts.

Through Rūnāia, whānau share powerful stories of overcoming addiction, mental health struggles, and disconnection. Their testimonies show how this kaupapa is helping people heal, reconnect with te ao Māori, and find pride and hope in their journeys.

Ra-wiri Kereti grew up in Taihape, and now she is raising her children in Whanganui, grounded in the strength of Māoritanga and whakapapa. She is a valued member of our team at Te Oranganui, embodying the true essence of Whānau Ora, that the whānau is at the heart of everything.

A special Māmā’s Day video honours māmā with heartfelt dedications from our kaimahi and community - a celebration of aroha and gratitude.

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.

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.

Te Oranganui kaimahi came together with Dr Veronica Tawhai at the Te Tiriti Symposium, sharing reflections on the deeper truths of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and how this knowledge strengthens cultural resilience today.

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.