Healthy Families Far North celebrate expansion of prevention innovation unit this Puanga

As Puanga rises signalling new beginnings in Te Tai Tokerau, we pause to celebrate the collective mahi that has strengthened whānau ora across the region over the past year. From youth-led initiatives to building a community-driven māra hūpara, our community continues to reclaim spaces of identity and connection.

This season also invites us to remember the legacy of our former manager, Kath Wharton. A tireless advocate whose passion and leadership laid strong foundations for equity and prevention, her vision lives on in the expansion of our prevention rōpū, Hikitia.

Hikitia is a community-led initiative funded by ACC as part of Te Aorerekura – the National Strategy to Eliminate Family Violence and Sexual Violence. The project has a direct focus on primary prevention, working to ensure children and young people are safe and flourish in Aotearoa New Zealand.

This Puanga we celebrate the extension of our team, to strengthen our efforts to support safer, thriving futures for whānau across Te Tai Tokerau. We’re looking forward to working closely with the Hikitia team, to share knowledge and practices, to build on each other’s work, and to influence the ‘system’ at both a local and national level.

Watch | Hikitia welcomed to Te Rūnanga o Whaingaroa