Te Whare Ruruhau o Meri Trust expands services into Whangārei

Left to right: Susanne Abbott, Amelia Peihopa (Kaiārahi Whānau Whangarei), Cecelia Taniwha (Te Whare Manutaki) and Kayla McGilligan (front) who joins the Pouhono team this week in Tāmaki Makaurau.

Te Whare Ruruhau o Meri Trust has expanded its services into Whangārei welcoming two new kaimahi this week.

Susanne Abbott and Amelia Peihopa joined Te Whare this week and will lead our kaupapa Māori Sexual Violence support services as Kaiārahi Whānau in Whangarei.
Chief Executive, Elizabeth Walker says “the appointment of two roles in the Whangarei rohe is a fantastic opportunity to expand our footprint and strengthen the services we offer to the community.”

Susanne brings extensive experience in the Family Harm field, having worked for several years with diverse communities.  She holds degrees in Psychology and Māori studies, equipping her with strong foundations in understanding whānau dynamics and culturally responsive practices.  Her background in facilitating safety plans and building trust with clients will be invaluable in our efforts to support those affected by trauma and sexual violence.

Amelia (Ngāti Hine, Te Orewai, Ngaitai ki Kaikou, Ngāpuhi) is a seasoned practitioner with over 20 years of experience in nursing, community health, leadership roles, and various kaupapa Māori organisations.  Her extensive background in whānau-centred care, along with her commitment to cultural integrity and trauma-informed practice, will greatly enhance our team’s ability to support whānau impacted by sexual violence. Amelia is passionate about empowering individuals and families to reclaim their mana and navigate their healing journeys with dignity and respect.
The two new kaimahi will join Brett Gillett who leads our tane support services and programmes in the area.

About Te Whare Ruruhau o Meri Trust (Te Whare)

Te Whare delivers kaupapa Māori social work services and programmes on behalf of Te Hāhi Mihingare – the Māori Anglican Church. We offer a range of services to support whānau in Te Tai Tokerau and Tāmaki Makaurau, including social work support, safety and non-violence programmes, tamariki hinengaro wellbeing initiatives, and in-school and advocacy services. We walk alongside whānau through every stage of life, supporting them to navigate challenges, overcome family and sexual violence, and restore whānau wellbeing.