Rākau Roroa in Te Tai Tokerau.

As well as being able to offer Rākau Roroa online and in Tāmaki Makaurau, we are so grateful to be able to bring our Rākau Roroa Lived Experience Leadership programme to communities all around the motu in 2024. In February and March our Rākau Roroa Project Lead, Andrea, traveled to Northland to learn with the local community and adapt the Rākau Roroa learning for their needs.

Rākau Roroa Facilitator Vicky-Jean Leading Kōrero in Whangārei

Vicky-Jean outlines the hua (our fruit) - the intention of the workshop/

The Rākau Roroa forest is now growing in Te Tai Tokerau, Northland.

Nine new Tāngata Mātau ā-wheako came together to take part in the programme last week in Whangarei.

The two-day training programme is for people with Lived Experience, to embrace their own journey and address prejudice self-stigma and discrimination.

Facilitator Vicky-Jean Stephens (Ngāti Rangi ki Ngāwhā, Ngāpuhi), opened the day by guiding the group on a journey to understand the significance of rākau in Te ao Māori.

We’re grateful to Nōku te Ao for their support which has allowed us to offer this programme to the local Lived Experience community, fully funded. The workshop will be held again in Te Tai Tokerau, the weekend of 4 & 5 May 2024.

May our ngahere (forest) be as connected and flourishing as the Whangārei Falls!

For any queries feel free to contact the Project Lead, Andrea: a.heffernan@changingminds.org.nz