Te Pūtahitanga created a video highlighting the progress and success of our Kōanga Kai project.

Award winning author Marlene J. Bennetts (Te Āti Awa) will release her autobiography Whakaaetanga/Acceptance in June, telling her story of overcoming adversity and disability to become an accomplished writer. She aims to encourage others facing challenges to overcome, and will donate 95% of the proceeds to support disabled Māori through Whānau Ora initiative Hei Whakapiki Mauri.

Paora Poihipi, Te Whānau-ā-Apanui and Ngāti Porou, grew up working the whenua. He is now sharing this mātauranga with whānau in Ōtautahi through the Hei Whakapiki Mauri Kōanga Kai gardening project.

After hearing stories of disabled people being treated unfairly for not wearing masks, Hei Whakapiki Mauri stepped up to raise awareness of mask-wearing and the fact that some whānau are unable to wear a mask. The rōpū have created a tote bag to spread the message in te reo Māori and raise funds to support whānau.

In celebration of Matariki, Hei Whakapiki Mauri whānau came together on 10 July at Christchurch North Methodist Parish to witness performances and hear stories about the whakapapa and life experiences of fellow whānau members.

Hei Whakapiki Mauri was invited as part of a select group of kaupapa to present to the International Initiative for Disability Leadership (IIDL). Kaiwhakahaere Ruth Jones and Navigators Waikura McGregor and Billy Willis shared stories of the power of Whānau Ora and taking a kaupapa Māori approach to supporting whānau with disabilities.

Hei Whakapiki Mauri invited fabric artist Ron (Maungarongo) Te Kawa to facilitate quilt making workshops at New Brighton Stitch-O-Mat with whānau over the course of a week in late March.

The story of how Hei Whakapiki Mauri brings whānau together through mahi aroha.