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Ā mātou mahi | Our work

Kaupapa oranga hapori

Projects for community wellbeing and social justice

As a kaupapa Māori organisation working at the interface of toi and hauora, we are uniquely positioned to offer creative, healing experiences for communities that most need it.

Performer in The Swing by Helen Pearse-Otene, presented by Te Rākau. Photo by Aneta Pond 2021

The Swing

This Theatre Marae project seeks to unravel the shame and hurt that clouds and distorts the subjects of ngau whiore (sexual abuse) and whakamomori (suicide). 

Te Rākau worked with the original participants and additional communities to present The Swing as a play, as a community based rangahau project, and as a professional development experience.
A performer from Unreel presented by Te Rākau. Photo by Stephen A'Court 2023

Unreel

Unreel tells the story of a community affected by gambling through the larger-than-life launch of the very first A.I. pokie machine. It reveals the legacy of gambling harm and how it impacts the community.

Commissioned by Ora Toa Health Services (Te Runanga o Ngāti Toa Rangatira), Unreel is the result of a collaborative project facilitated by Te Rākau.
A group of men from the Tuanui project smiling with arms corssed

Tuanui

Tuanui is all about fixing up whānau homes to help avoid respiratory and other illnesses that come from living in cold, damp housing.

Te Rākau Kaitohu (Director) Jim Moriarty leads two crews of tāne who provide much-needed renovations for these older homes.

It's an opportunity to retrain and upskill while working with experienced tradespeople.
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Out The Gate

More information about this programme will be available soon.

Other projects

In the past we've worked on community projects to support whānau addressing trauma from abuse, gambling harm, addiction or life in prison.

Nau mai hoki - we would love to hear from you if you are working on similar kaupapa oranga hāpori. If you would like to design a community wellbeing and social justice project with us, please get in touch.

Find out more about related work, such as our Kaupapa rangahau | Research. 

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