Check here for Māori suicide prevention initiatives happening in Te Wai Pounamu (The South Island of NZ).
Reconnecting with Whānau, Tupuna and Whakapapa while Singing, Laughing, and Playing (Greymouth: West Coast).
Pā Wars Whānau Wānanga Mawhera: West Coast Kia rite! He wānanga whakataetae-ā-Pā e haere ake nei. The Pā Wars Whānau Wānanga is a place where both culture and whakapapa thrive. Through singing, laughing, and playing, as their ancestors did before them, the Pā Wars...
Healing Through Tikanga and Te Ao Māori (Murihiku: Southland).
Hāpaitia Murihiku: Southland A whānau centric approach aims to provide support for Māori whānau, hapu, and iwi that experience suicide risks and or are bereaved by suicide. Hāpaitia is a principle-based suicide prevention initiative, that is based at Ngā Hau e Whā...
Every Connection Matters… (Otautahi: Canterbury)
Connect Whā Promotion and Engagement Online Campaign Christchurch: Canterbury Connect Whā is a campaign that acknowledges the importance of connection. This initiative raises awareness around four points of connection when engaging with community and whānau...
Strengthened resilience to make dreams a reality: Building Better Men (Ōtepoti/ Dunedin).
Building Better Men Dunedin: Southland There are various opinions on how men should be. This stigma has played a massive part in how men are living in today’s society. The expectations and labels that have been created have put a lot of pressure on mana tāne....
Teaching Wellness for Ourselves Through Wellness with Nature (Ōtepoti / Dunedin).
Mahinga Kai Dunedin: Southland. E rere ana te karere ki ngā wai riporipo o Te Waipounamu, hei whakapakari i ngā ringaringa o te rangatahi ki te whai oranga mō te whānau. Ōtepoti, situated within a rugged landscape in between loads of natural resources, is the home of...
Building an Inclusive and Resilient Whānau
Te Koti Whānau Hauora Christchurch: Te Wai Pounamu Koti Whānau Hauora is an initiative in Christchurch that has a core vision to build whānau inclusivity and strengthen whānau and individual resilience. They are fundamentally shifting views with the intention...
Understanding brings Resilience in Tāhuna (Queenstown, Te Wai Pounamu)
Mana Tāhuna Whānau, Mental Health Wellness, Resilience and Suicide Prevention Plan. Hoea ngā waka ārai i te taniwha whakamomori ki Tāhuna… Ko Kawarau te mauka Ko Kawarau te awa Ko Whakatipu-wai-māori te roto Ko Tāhuna te papakāika Mana Tāhuna, a whānau focussed...
Boxing for Te Whare Tapa Whā (Dunedin, Southland)
Otepoti Boxing Club : Strength for suicide prevention. Tū mai Te Waipounamu! Right in the heart of Southland, a new suicide prevention initiative is making change with the Dunedin youth. This programme is called Boxing for Te Whare Tapa Whā. The purpose of this...
Mentoring and Practices Passed Down Through Generations (Dunedin)
He Manawa Titi Dunedin He Manawa Titi, founded on long-held Māori traditions, stories and practices passed down through the generations, is an initiative with a strong focus on rangatahi Māori. He Manawa Titi work with rangatahi Māori tane (15-24 years old) in...
Hikoi of Hope takes rangatahi to Dunedin
As the sun peeked over the horizon for the first time on January the 13th 2020, sleeping bags, tents, luggage and supplies piled up, one by one. A special group gathered together on this early Monday morning and although they weren’t sure what was in store for them, they were getting ready to embark on a journey of a lifetime. They were getting ready, for the Hikoi of Hope.
Comprised of a group of over 100 rangatahi & whānau, many of the participants have suffered loss or trauma through suicide or unexpected death, The Hikoi of Hope, organised by Te Taitimu Trust, was established to be a positive event for whānau and Rangatahi. In association with Te Au (of te Rau Ora) and the Police, the focus of the Hikoi of Hope is to promote resilience, caring and to develop leadership skills within rangatahi and their community.
Although Te Taitimu trust runs regular trips and activities for Rangatahi, this year’s Hikoi was a step up from other trips. Five years in the planning, Zack Makoare and his team of whānau and volunteers worked hard to ensure this 10-day journey across the country, travelling from Hastings to Dunedin, by bus and by boat was to be a success. Some of the activities the group did included: Visiting an ancient pā site (Huriawa) in Karitane, hangi at Puketeraki, swimming at Moana Pools in Dunedin and visiting the lookout at Tokata. Rangatahi also learnt key skills around water and were able to go diving in Dunedin. Zack commented that the people who were lucky enough to have been a part of the hikoi will be significantly changed as a result.
The Hikoi of Hope this year was a journey of whanaungatanga, kotahitanga and positivity.
Zack Makoare and his team of whānau and volunteers, says the trip was a huge success and couldn’t have done it without the support of his team and supporting organisations.