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 […]
Part 1: The MAP Collective come together for a common cause
Above: The Move Auckland Pasifika Collective (MAP) with Hawaiki Hou, and our Movement and Sport team. Having a strong desire to achieve a common goal is what sets a great vision in motion. In fact, it’s an act of service, commitment and collective energy towards bringing the vision to life. The vision of supporting Māori and […]
Armourguard launches staff wellbeing initiative – ‘workplace wellbeing is so important.’
Above: The Armourguard Security team Armourguard Security has recently launched a new focus on workplace wellbeing in their Auckland branches. The national security firm is actively engaging with their staff to encourage them to raise their wellbeing issues and concerns as part of a new wellbeing initiative. “We’ve realized that all staff need to feel […]
Collaborative effort for new community initiative
Kia ora Te Whānau is a new initiative reimagining what a well-being community hub could look like in South Auckland if created in partnership between local government and whānau. A working group of staff from multiple Auckland Council teams and services has spent much of the year talking with whānau and getting an understanding of […]
