Ā mātou mahi | Our work
Kaupapa oranga hapori
Projects for community wellbeing and social justice
As a kaupapa M āori organisation working at the interface of toi and hauora, we are uniquely positioned to offer creative, healing experiences for communities that most need it.
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.
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.
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
This Theatre Marae research project is new play written by Helen Pearse-Otene about cycles of incarceration.
PREMIERE & COMMUNITY TOUR 2025
Directed by Jim Moriarty Out The Gate will premiere in Te Whanganui-a-Tara and tour across the lower North Island.
Performance dates (TBC)
6 - 30 November 2025
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.