Nga Kete Wananga Solutions Ltd, 6 Elm Street, Dairy Flat (2026)

20/07/2026

He Mihi Whakanuia - Celebrating Our Tāne

Yesterday, we had the privilege of celebrating three of our tāne from Ngā Kete Wānanga Solutions Ltd as they graduated from their WRAP (Wellness Recovery Action Plan) course with Ember.

People often think a graduation is about receiving a certificate.

For me, it’s about recognising the commitment it took to get there.

Recovery isn’t a destination. It’s a journey of learning, growing, falling over, getting back up, and choosing-day after day- to keep moving forward.

WRAP equips our tāne with practical tools to understand themselves better, recognise what keeps them well, identify challenges before they become crises, and build a plan that supports their wellbeing. These are tools they can carry not only for themselves, but for their whānau and those who walk alongside them.

Every lesson learned, every honest conversation, every challenge faced, and every step taken adds another kete of knowledge to carry through life.

That deserves to be celebrated.

To our three graduates, congratulations.

Keep believing in who you are becoming. Keep standing in your mana. Keep filling your kete with knowledge, wisdom and hope.

This is not the end of your journey it is another milestone in a much bigger story, and we are honoured to walk alongside you.

A heartfelt mihi to Rob and Whaea Sophie.

Thank you both for your patience, your guidance, your encouragement and the genuine care you’ve shown our tāne. You created a space where learning could happen with dignity, where people felt seen, heard and challenged to keep growing. Your contribution reaches far beyond the classroom, and we are deeply grateful for the aroha and professionalism you bring to this kaupapa.

Our sincere thanks also to the team at Ember for partnering with us in supporting our people. When organisations come together with a shared commitment to strengthening individuals, whānau and communities, everyone benefits.

Finally, I want to extend my warmest congratulations to all of the amazing ākonga from Grace Foundation and He Waka Eke Noa who also graduated yesterday.

It was a privilege to stand together and celebrate each and every one of you. Every certificate represents commitment, perseverance, growth and the courage to keep showing up.

No matter which whare you came from, yesterday reminded us that we are stronger when we stand together, encourage one another and celebrate each other’s successes.

Congratulations to every graduate.

May you continue to walk forward with confidence, humility and mana, carrying what you’ve learned into your homes, your whānau and your communities.

Whānau kotahi. Kotahitanga.

Together we rise.

Mauri ora. ❤️

08/07/2026

Te Whare Hinatore

Yesterday, our girl Isabelle with her Tihei Mauri Ora program and I were blessed to be invited to visit Te Whare Hinatore, a whare that walks alongside wāhine experiencing homelessness.

What a beautiful amazing space.

But what truly makes that place beautiful wasn’t just the whare itself.

It’s the wāhine wairua within it.

It’s Whaea Tui and my girl Narlena and other beautiful staff there , who work tirelessly to walk alongside our wāhine with aroha, compassion and unwavering belief in their worth. Seeing Narlena, who was once part of our Ngā Kete Wānanga Solutions whānau, now giving that same aroha back to others, was something really special and heart warming . It reminded me that healing has a way of coming full circle.And to see who work her magic is priceless .

As I drove there yesterday morning, I found myself thinking about Matariki.

Not just because it’s the season we’re in… But because I kept asking myself… Why did our tūpuna look to the stars?

Out of everything in Te Ao Māorizz the whenua beneath their feet, the moana before them, the ngahere surrounding them…they lifted their eyes to the heavens.

The more I thought about it, the more one whakaaro stayed with me. In many of our traditions, those whetū are spoken of as wāhine.

And that stopped me in my tracks.

Because our tūpuna understood something that I think the world is still trying to catch up with.

The strength of a wahine has never been measured by how loud she is. It has always been measured by what she carries.

She carries whakapapa. She carries generations. She carries hope. She carries the future.

I don’t believe it’s a coincidence that during Matariki, when we honour the wāhine of the heavens…

…I found myself standing in a room full of wāhine . Wāhine carrying stories I may never know. Wāhine carrying strength that often goes unseen.

I didn’t need to know every chapter of their story. Because our tūpuna never introduced people by their hardest chapter.

They introduced them by their whakapapa. By their mana. By who they were born to be.

And that’s exactly how I chose to see every wahine in that room.

Thank you, Whaea Tui, Narlena, and every wahine who welcomed us into your space yesterday.

You reminded me that sometimes the brightest stars aren’t only the ones shining above us. Sometimes they’re the wāhine sitting beside us.

Yesterday, I didn’t just look up at Matariki. I saw it reflected back at me.

Mānawatia a Matariki. 🌟 ⭐️

05/07/2026

Matariki reminds us that when we come together, we grow stronger together. ✨

What an incredible evening representing Ngā Kete Wānanga Solutions Ltd at the Matariki Labour Party Launch Campaign in support of Shanan Halbert MP, MP for Northcote.

It was heartwarming to see so many members of our community gathered in one place, celebrating Matariki through connection, laughter, and whakawhanaungatanga. We were privileged to spend time with our beautiful friend Kerrin Leoni MP, alongside other Labour Party MPs, all coming together to celebrate this special occasion.

The evening was filled with delicious hāngī, plenty of karaoke, smiles, and meaningful conversations. It was a reminder that strong communities are built through relationships, shared experiences, and supporting one another. With Nathaniel Howe as the MC the night flowed with his awesome charisma.

Ngā Kete Wānanga Solutions Ltd & Tihei Mauri Ora Limited are grateful to have been part of such a positive and uplifting event. Thank you to everyone who made the evening so welcoming and memorable.

Matariki is a time to reflect, celebrate, and look forward with hope. Together, we continue to strengthen our communities and create brighter futures for our whānau. ❤️✨

22/06/2026

RA TAITUARA - SENTENCING DAY

JP Kawerau Fight Dog Te Rito

Some outcomes change everything.

Today was one of those days.

After nearly two years of walking this journey together, a brother moved one step closer to returning home to his whānau.

Closer to his children. Closer to his loved ones.
Closer to the place where he belongs.

Today’s outcome did not happen overnight.

It is the result of commitment, perseverance, belief, and the willingness to keep showing up for yourself day after day. It is also a reflection of what can happen when that commitment is met with a kaupapa that believes in the potential of our people and refuses to give up on them.

For me, this is where the true strength of Ngā Kete Wānanga Solutions Ltd lies.

Not in programmes.Not in policies. Not in reports.

But in a belief that our own people are often best placed to help heal our own people.

A belief that healing is strengthened through whanaungatanga.A belief that understanding matters. A belief that culture matters.

A belief that people flourish when they are surrounded by others who understand their journey and can walk alongside them with aroha, mana and genuine belief.

Today’s outcome is not solely a reflection of one man, nor is it solely a reflection of a kaupapa.

It is a reflection of Io/God , and a man who committed himself to change and growth.

And a kaupapa that created a space where that growth could be nurtured and supported.

When those 3 things come together, powerful things can happen.

Families are restored. Relationships are rebuilt.
Hope returns. And people move closer to becoming the very best version of themselves.

For me, Ngā Kete Wānanga Solutions Ltd stands as living proof that when our own people walk alongside our own people, healing can happen in ways that are deeply meaningful, culturally grounded, and lasting.

The greatest proof is not found in what we say.

It is found in outcomes. A man moving closer to home. A father moving closer to his children. A whānau moving closer to being together again.

E te rangatira, we are proud of you.

Your journey is a reflection of what becomes possible when commitment meets opportunity, and when belief is matched by action.

Keep walking forward.

A great outcome today .

He aha te mea nui . He tangata, he tangata, he tangata.

Na Whaea Matilda

20/06/2026

Chief has only been in the Ngā Kete Wānanga whare for a short time, but the impact he has made has been huge. Through his leadership, humility, and willingness to serve, he has helped inspire positive change amongst the tāne and has transformed not only the look of the whare, but also the wairua within it.

Together with the boyz, Chief has poured his time and energy into creating a welcoming space for our whānau visits. Every piece of mahi done has been with one purpose in mind our tamariki. Creating a space where our children can come and feel loved, safe, and proud of their fathers, uncles, and brothers who are doing the work to change their lives.

This is what healing looks like. This is what restoration looks like. Men supporting men, taking pride in their environment, and remembering that everything we do today is for the generations that follow.

"Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, engari he toa takitini."

My strength is not that of an individual, but that of the collective.

Mihi nui ki a koe Chief, and to all the boyz at Ngā Kete Wānanga who put there time and hard work into this Transformation. Your actions speak louder than words, and your commitment to change is creating hope for yourselves, your whānau, and especially your tamariki. Keep leading by example. The best chapters are still ahead.

🖤❤️🤍

20/06/2026

Nga Kete Wananga Solutions Ltd
Graduation Day

Today we celebrate three incredible tāne who have graduated from the whare at Ngā Kete Wānanga Solutions Ltd.

Francis, Muzz, and Chief three men who have shown commitment, resilience, and a willingness to do the mahi required to create change. Their journey hasn't always been easy, but they have stood up, remained accountable, and chosen a different path for themselves and their whānau.

May they continue to walk forward with purpose, guided by their values and strengthened by the support around them. May they lead by example for their tamariki, mokopuna, and whānau, and continue building lives they can be proud of.

The greatest success is not just graduating from the whare, but staying true to the kaupapa and never returning to the cycles that once held them back.

He whakataukī:

Nāu te rourou, nāku te rourou, ka ora ai te iwi.

With your food basket and my food basket, the people will thrive.

Congratulations, Francis, Muzz, and Chief. Your transformation is a testament that change is possible, healing is possible, and a better future is always worth fighting for.

Kia kaha, kia māia, kia manawanui. Keep leading, keep growing, and keep choosing freedom for yourselves and for your whānau.

💚💙❤️

Also the beautiful kakahu our Tane are gifted are made by the talented Tapuwaecreations 🫶

Nga Kete Wananga Solutions Ltd

20/07/2026

08/07/2026

05/07/2026

22/06/2026

20/06/2026

20/06/2026

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