Mātauranga Māori and indigenous perspectives with Rereahu
He uri whakatipu nō Ngāti Tamaterā, Ngāti Porou, nō Rereahu. He rangatahi whakarangatira nā ngā whenua ō Manurewa, Takaanini, Papakura anō hoki. Rereahu Collier (Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Tamaterā) is known for bringing the vibes, the jokes, and his bright smile wherever he goes. Despite only recently joining the Connected Communities team, Collier has swiftly established […]
Nurturing Systems Thinkers: AUT and Healthy Families South Auckland
The partnership between Auckland University of Technology (AUT) and Healthy Families South Auckland (HFSA) has yielded remarkable results yet again. Since its inception in 2016, in collaboration with The Southern Initiative, HFSA has been dedicated to facilitating students to apply their learnings based on real-life projects in South Auckland. This year’s programme was a deep […]
Manurewa locals share their views on alcohol harm
Healthy Families South Auckland (The Cause Collective) have recently held talanoa sessions with Manurewa whānau to hear about their lived experiences with alcohol harm. Parents at Roscommon School and Mangopare (youth programme) in Clendon Park were invited to a talanoa (discussion) session with the HFSA team to talk about the negative effects of alcohol on […]
Si’ata Tavite: Shifting systems in academia and community
Proud Tongan and mother of four, Si’ata Tavite joined Healthy Families (The Cause Collective) in November 2021 as People and Practice Lead and since then has been leading the approach to how we practice systems change and social innovation. A former academic, she is an intelligent, authentic and empathetic leader, and she shares with us […]
Collaborative learning with Tamarack Institute and Healthy Families
Healthy Families South Auckland (The Cause Collective) and Healthy Families Waitakere had a unique opportunity recently to host a leading changemaker in the field of community change – thanks to Inspiring Communities. Sylvia Cheuy (burgundy top, left), Consulting Director of Collective Impact at Tamarack Institute in Canada, facilitated a workshop about social innovation, collective impact, and […]
Feedback walkthrough session brings rangatahi voices to the forefront
Recently, Malaefono (seminar room) was transformed into a cosy safe space, intentionally arranged for a walkthrough session with rangatahi and our Youth Mental Health and Wellbeing (YMHW) team. As rangatahi sauntered in, each with a smile and a hug to give, the soft hum of the air condition gave way to a chilled ambience. As […]
Tracey Walker talks Early Years and Oranga Whakapapa
Tracey (second from left), with Jerome Mika, Mary Roberts of Moana Connect, and fellow Systems Innovator, Ashlynn Ale (far right). Tracey Walker, a cornerstone of our HFSA team, may be petite in stature, but her impact is both commanding and courageous. She exudes confidence, charisma, and beneath her strong exterior lies a heart-warming personality that […]
Manurewa Locals Revive Hautapu Planting and Dawn Ceremony
A special wānanga to revive Hautapu practices in Manurewa has helped dozens of locals reconnect with te taiao (the natural environment), matauranga Māori (traditional Māori knowledge) and their neighbourhood. Despite its densely built urban landscape, Manurewa still has many sites of Māori significance in its surrounding whenua, awa and moana spaces. During the wānanga, the […]
Veisinia talks faith, fitness, and fellowship
In April 2022, Healthy Families South Auckland (HFSA) and Auckland Council joined forces to introduce an initiative called the Church Plant – Exercise Containers in two locations: the Tokaima’ananga Ōtara Tongan Methodist Parish Church and EFKS Samoa East Tamaki. The Church Plant serves as a connector between local government and local Pasifika communities to foster […]
It’s not the thinking, it’s how we’re thinking about alcohol
Ashlynn Ale is a Systems Innovator for Healthy Families South Auckland (The Cause Collective). A Samoan, she was born and raised in Māngere, and has been working on the alcohol harm reduction kaupapa for HFSA for the past two years. This opinion piece is a reflection of the current alcohol harm landscape after attending the […]
