Ngāpuhi Iwi Social Services

28/08/2026

A pretty special delivery for Whata Kai ❤️

Our Whata Kai team got quite the surprise this week when a pallet of mystery boxes arrived in Kaikohe, packed with donated products to help stock the shelves of our Social Supermarket.

The donation came through Foodstuffs and the New Zealand Food Network, with Whata Kai selected as one of this round’s recipients.

Every contribution like this helps us keep costs down for whānau accessing Whata Kai and means there is more variety available on the shelves.

A huge mihi to Foodstuffs, NZFN and everyone involved in getting this delivery all the way up to Kaikohe. Your generosity goes straight back into supporting whānau in our community. ❤️

Ngā mihi nui from the Whata Kai team!

26/08/2026

🔥 Kōwhao Bro | Wānanga Tuatahi

Last Friday marked the beginning of Kōwhao Bro, with tāne coming together at Ōkorihi Marae for the kaupapa’s first two-day wānanga.

Led by Eru Kapa-Kingi, Kōwhao Bro is a kaupapa focused on creating positive pathways for tāne through connection, identity, culture, hauora and whakawhanaungatanga, creating a space where tāne can challenge themselves, support one another and strengthen their connection to whānau and whakapapa.

For some of the rōpū, the wānanga was their first time on a marae.

Across the two days, Mutunga Rameka and Arama Tahere shared kōrero around culture, identity and tikanga, including the history of Pākinga Pā before taking the rōpū there together.

Drawing from kōrero shared by the tāne, Mutunga composed a haka for the rōpū, which they learned and practised throughout the wānanga.

Day one finished with a training session at TNT, before an early start on Saturday with a run up Pākinga Pā. Kīngi Rakete-Tane then supported the tāne to learn and deliver their own mihimihi. For some, these were their first steps into te reo Māori and towards a goal they had identified for themselves: being able to stand and speak on the marae.

Feedback from the tāne spoke to stepping outside their comfort zones, connecting with their culture, being positive role models for their whānau and the value of having a rōpū around them offering support and encouragement.

Big mihi to Te Atawhai Tahere who played a big part in getting all the bros there 🙌

Wānanga tuatahi may be finished, but Kōwhao Bro is only getting started. 🔥

Fortnightly catch-ups will keep the connections and momentum moving, with the next wānanga planned for October.

Kia kā tonu te ahi.

25/08/2026

🖤🤍❤️

25/08/2026

Resources, stories and tools to support you on your reo Māori journey.

25/08/2026

Mauri ora e te iwi,

Nau mai, hāere mai.
You are warmly invited to attend the third Charter School conversion of Northland College community hui. This hui follows the previous two community hui and will provide:
-feedback from what was heard across the earlier hui
-information responding to questions raised by the community
-a chance to hear positive Charter School examples

Following this hui, a decision will be made on whether to submit the Charter School application.
This kōrero is about shaping a stronger future for our tamariki and mokopuna. One that reflects their potential, their identity, and the aspirations of our whānau and tauira.
Your voice matters, and your presence is important.
For more information contact: mā[email protected]

14/08/2026

UPDATE: Kia Ora koutou, thank you all for expressing your interest in Māranga Ake. At this stage we have a large number of whānau interested for the time being. Those who have expressed interest so far will be updated with the details as they are confirmed.

Ngā mihi ✨

🌿 MĀRANGA AKE | EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST 🌿

Something exciting is coming these school holidays! 👀

Our Mana Ake team are preparing Māranga Ake, a four-day holiday programme for tamariki aged 11–16 years, running from 5–8 October.

Māranga Ake will bring tamariki together for four days of outdoor adventure, team challenges, leadership activities, creative kaupapa and plenty of whakawhanaungatanga.

The programme is designed to build confidence, resilience, and connection, while giving our tamariki the chance to challenge themselves, learn new skills and most importantly, have a good time together! 🙌🏽

📅 5–8 October
👥 Ages 11–16
📍 Location to be confirmed
🎟️ 30 spaces available

Right now, we’re just looking for expressions of interest from whānau. Formal registrations and full programme details will follow soon.

Think your tamariki would be keen? Let us know below. ❤️💙

12/08/2026

He whetū e ara ake ana ✨

A huge mihi to our very own Erana Park, who was recognised with an Emerging Practitioner Award at the ANZASW Social Work Awards 2026 in Te Whanganui a Tara. ❤️

The award recognises an emerging practitioner who has been in the profession for less than five years and is already showing real potential in their mahi.

For us, it’s pretty special to see one of our own acknowledged so early in her social work journey. Erana represents the next generation of practitioners coming through, bringing their own whakaaro, strengths and commitment to whānau into the profession.

And at the other end of the experience spectrum ➡️ our Tumu Whakarae Dr Moana Eruera, with more than 30 years in the profession, received the Te Ao Māori Rangatiratanga Award for 2026.

From emerging practitioner to more than three decades of mahi, it was a pretty awesome night of recognition for our NISS whānau. 🥰

Our team are back for day two of the ANZASW Conference 2026 today, connecting with social workers from across Aotearoa, sharing whakaaro and reflecting on the mahi we do alongside our whānau and communities.

Ka mau te wehi, Erana me Moana. He tino whakahīhī mātou ki a kōrua! ❤️

22/07/2026

22/05/2026

A significant day for Ngāpuhi as the Enabling Communities kaupapa was formally acknowledged and signed today.

This moment reflects years of kōrero, advocacy and commitment toward iwi led solutions that keep our tamariki connected to whakapapa, whānau and community.

There is still plenty of mahi ahead, though today marked an important step forward in creating pathways shaped by Ngāpuhi, for Ngāpuhi. 🖤🤍❤️