Te Whare and Brainwave Trust Aotearoa unite to strengthen tamariki and whānau wellbeing

Te Whare and Brainwave Trust are excited to launch a new partnership built on shared kaupapa and a commitment to supporting tamariki and their whānau to thrive.

At the centre of this mahi is a wānanga series based around Te Pā Tū Rangatira, a Brainwave Trust kaupapa and framework designed to strengthen mokopuna and whānau resilience, protection, and potential.

Te Whare CEO Elizabeth Walker says the partnership feels like a natural fit.

“Our mahi is grounded in Te Kawa o te Marae, a kaupapa Māori wellbeing framework that helps whānau understand the roots of harmful behaviours in themselves and others. Working alongside Brainwave Trust, who share a similar focus on supporting tamariki and whānau, just makes sense.”

Brainwave Trust offers educational support to help people understand what shapes tamariki development and wellbeing, weaving together mātauranga Māori, insights from our tūpuna, and modern science. “Combining our strengths means we can build kaimahi capability to address the challenges facing our families and create the kind of environments where tamariki truly flourish,” says Walker.

Through the partnership, Te Whare will team up with Brainwave Trust kaiako to deliver a series of wānanga tailored for kaimahi Māori working closely with tamariki and whānau.

Brainwave Trust Learning Designer, André Ngāpō, says the wānanga draws on the imagery of a pā tū rangatira – a strong, protective pā surrounding and uplifting its people. “We explore what it takes to collectively nurture and protect tamariki. The pā is a symbol of the relationships, values, and environments that help our young ones stand strong in their mana motuhake.”

Participants are encouraged to reflect on the role they play — as whānau, kaimahi, and community — in upholding whakapapa, tapu, mana, and mauri, and standing as the ‘village’ that provides the aroha, rongoā, advocacy and support needed to thrive.

“We look at how relationships, caregiving environments and wider systems can support resilience and wellbeing, and we encourage organisations to reflect on the practical ways they can help create nurturing spaces for tamariki and whānau,” says Ngāpō.

More information on Brainwave Trust https://brainwave.org.nz/