Āwhina Ora

02/09/2026

02/09/2026

🌿 How to Access Rongoā Māori Services at Āwhina Ora🌿

There are a number of ways you can access our services, depending on your circumstances.

💚 ACC – Rongoā Māori
If you have an ACC-covered injury, you may be eligible for ACC-funded Rongoā Māori services.

You can speak directly with your ACC Recovery Coordinator and request Rongoā Māori with Āwhina Ora as part of your rehabilitation.

Our ACC Vendor Code is VBL648.

Once approved, get in touch with us and we can arrange your appointments.

💼 EAP / Workplace Support
We are registered with selected Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) providers.

If your workplace provides EAP or wellbeing support, check with your employer or EAP provider to see whether you are eligible for funded sessions with us.

🤲 Koha
You don't need ACC or EAP funding to come and see us.

We also offer services on a koha basis, helping make Rongoā Māori accessible to our whānau and community. There is no set koha amount.

🌿 Not sure which option applies to you?
That's okay - reach out to our team and we can help point you in the right direction.

📞 0800 434 241
📧 [email protected]

25/08/2026

📢 COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS DAY – CANCELLED THIS FRIDAY 28 AUGUST

Kia ora whānau,

Just a quick pānui to let you know that this month’s Community Connections Day, scheduled for this Friday, has been cancelled.

It’s a busy time for our Āwhina Ora team, so we’re taking a break this month - but we’ll be back next month! 🌿

Thank you for your understanding and continued support. We look forward to connecting with you all again soon. 💚

Ngā mihi,
Āwhina Ora Charitable Trust

16/08/2026

💚 He mihi nui ki Whangarei District Council 💚

Āwhina Ora Charitable Trust would like to extend our sincere thanks to the Whangārei District Council for their generous funding and support.

This contribution helps us continue the mahi we do within our community, supporting the hauora and wellbeing of our whānau through accessible, culturally grounded services.

We are incredibly grateful for the support and investment in our kaupapa. Funding like this makes a meaningful difference and helps us continue creating positive outcomes for the people and whānau we serve.

Ngā mihi nui ki a koutou, Whangārei District Council, for supporting our mahi and our community. 🌿

22/07/2026

🌿 Good news! We’ve had two appointment spots become available this week.

📅 Thursday 23 July – 4:00pm
📅 Friday 24 July – 10:00am

If you’ve been meaning to book your Mirimiri or Rongoā Māori appointment, now’s your chance! These appointments are available now but are likely to be snapped up quickly.

📞 Call us anytime on 0800 43 42 41 or send us a message to secure your preferred time.

Nau mai, haere mai – we look forward to supporting your hauora. 💙💚

21/07/2026

✨ We’re Fully Booked This Week! ✨

A huge thank you to everyone who has booked in with us this week. We are now fully booked! 💚

If you’ve been thinking about making an appointment, don’t wait too long;
next week’s appointments are already filling fast.

Whether you’re seeking support through ACC, EAP, or a general hauora appointment, we’d love to help.

📞 Call us anytime on 0800 43 42 41 to secure your spot.

Ngā mihi for your ongoing support of Āwhina Ora. We look forward to seeing you soon! 🌿

16/07/2026

🌧Waipuna-ā-Rangi - Te Whetū o te Ua

"Mā te ua ka tupu. Mā te aroha ka ora."

Yesterday, Waitā reminded us of the abundance and wisdom found within the moana.

Today, Waipuna-ā-Rangi turns our thoughts to the skies.

To the clouds that gather.

To the rain that falls.

To the waters that return to Papatūānuku, nourishing all living things.

For our tūpuna, rain was never something to fear or complain about.

It was a blessing.

Without rain, the whenua cannot flourish.

The ngahere cannot grow.

The awa cannot flow.

The kai we depend upon cannot thrive.

Every drop carries the promise of renewal.

Waipuna-ā-Rangi reminds us that growth often begins quietly.

Just as the rain replenishes the earth, there are moments in our own lives that restore us in ways we cannot always see.

Sometimes healing comes gently.

Sometimes it arrives after seasons of challenge.

And sometimes, like the rain, it asks us to simply trust the process.

There is beauty in every season.

The sunshine reminds us to celebrate.

The rain reminds us to grow.

Both are needed.

As we celebrate Matariki, may we welcome every season with gratitude, knowing that each one has something to teach us.

🌱 He Mahi mā te Whānau

The next time it rains, pause for a moment.

Listen to the sound of the rain.

Notice the way it nourishes the whenua.

Take a breath and reflect on something in your own life that has helped you grow, even if it first arrived as a challenge.

🌿 He Pātai māu

What season are you in right now?

What has it been teaching you?

✨ Tomorrow, we continue our journey with Ururangi, the whetū of the winds, reminding us that although we cannot always see the forces around us, we can always feel their presence.

15/07/2026

🌊Waitā - Te Whetū o te Moana

"Tangaroa whakamautai, whakamauta uta."

Yesterday, Waitī reminded us of the precious freshwater that nourishes our whenua.

Today, Waitā draws our eyes to the moana.

To the tides that ebb and flow.

To the waves that have carried our ancestors across vast oceans.

To the abundance gifted to us by Tangaroa.

For our tūpuna, the moana was far more than a source of kai.

It was a highway.

A provider.

A teacher.

A place of adventure, respect, and deep connection.

Its rhythms taught patience.

Its tides taught balance.

Its power taught humility.

Waitā reminds us that the moana continues to sustain us, not only through the food it provides, but through the lessons it shares.

Like the tide, life has seasons.

There are times to push forward.

There are times to rest.

There are times to let go.

And there are times to trust that what is meant for us will return.

As we celebrate Matariki, may we remember our responsibility as kaitiaki of our oceans.

To care for our beaches.

To protect our marine life.

To ensure the gifts of Tangaroa remain for our tamariki and mokopuna.

When we care for the moana, we honour the whakapapa that connects us all.

🌱 He Mahi mā te Whānau

If you're able, spend some time by the moana today.

Listen to the waves.

Feel the breeze on your skin.

Take a moment to appreciate the beauty, strength, and generosity of Tangaroa.

If you can't visit the coast, reflect on the ways the moana has shaped your life and the lives of those who came before you.

🌿 He Pātai māu

What lesson has the moana taught you?

How can you help protect its mauri for future generations?

✨ Tomorrow, we continue our journey with Waipuna-ā-Rangi, the whetū that reminds us of the life-giving gift of rain and the blessings it brings to Papatūānuku.

15/07/2026

💧Waitī - Te Whetū o ngā Wai Māori

"Ko au te awa. Ko te awa ko au."

Yesterday, Tupuārangi invited us into the ngahere.

Today, Waitī draws us to the freshwater that gives life to the whenua.

To the awa that carve their way through the landscape.

To the puna that flow from deep within Papatūānuku.

To the gentle streams that have sustained our people for generations.

Water is more than something we drink.

It is life.

It nourishes our tinana.

It refreshes our hinengaro.

It soothes our wairua.

For our tūpuna, freshwater was treasured and protected. Every awa and every puna carried its own whakapapa, its own stories, and its own mauri. To care for the water was to care for the wellbeing of the people.

Waitī reminds us that, like water, healing is not always hurried.

Sometimes it flows gently.

Sometimes it changes direction.

Sometimes it asks us to slow down, be patient, and trust the journey.

As we celebrate Matariki, may we remember our responsibility as kaitiaki of our freshwater.

To protect it.

To respect it.

And to ensure its mauri remains strong for generations to come.

🌱 He Mahi mā te Whānau

Spend a quiet moment beside an awa, roto, or puna if you are able.

Listen to the sound of the water.

Notice how it moves.

Take a deep breath and give thanks for the wai that sustains all life.

🌿 He Pātai māu

Like the waters that flow through our whenua, where in your life are you being invited to slow down, let go, or simply trust the journey?

✨ Tomorrow, we continue our journey with Waitā, the whetū that honours the abundance of the moana and all that Tangaroa provides.

14/07/2026

🌳Tupuārangi - i – Te Whetū o te Ngāhere, te Auahatanga me te Whāngai i te Wairua

"Ko te wao nui a Tāne, ko te oranga o te tangata."
The great forest of Tāne is the wellbeing of the people.

Yesterday, Tupuānuku reminded us of the gifts that grow from the whenua.

Today, Tupuārangi invites us to lift our gaze.

To the towering trees.

To the birds that greet the dawn.

To the abundance of the ngahere.

For our tūpuna, the forest was more than a source of food and rongoā. It was a place of learning, healing, and deep connection. Every tree, every manu, and every plant held purpose, carrying knowledge passed down through generations.

The ngahere teaches us to live in balance.

To take only what we need.

To give thanks for what has been provided.

And to care for the natural world so that those who follow after us may also receive its gifts.

Today, the ngahere continues to nourish us in many ways.

It provides shelter.

Medicine.

Fresh air.

Birdsong.

A place to find stillness when life feels busy.

When we spend time amongst the trees, we are reminded that healing often begins by slowing down and reconnecting with Te Taiao.

As we celebrate Matariki, may we remember our role as kaitiaki.

To care for the ngahere.

To protect its treasures.

And to ensure its wisdom continues to be shared with future generations.

🌱 He Mahi mā te Whānau

Take a walk through your local ngahere or park today.

Pause.

Listen for the birds.

Notice the strength of the trees around you.

Take a deep breath and give thanks for the many gifts that Tāne continues to provide.

🌿 He Pātai māu

How does spending time in nature nourish your wairua?

✨ Tomorrow, we continue our journey with Waitī, the whetū that reminds us of the life-giving waters that sustain us all.