Kia ora e te whānau!
Welcome to the final newsletter update for our Te Hekenga Whaiora wellbeing programme. We’ve enjoyed collaborating amongst Early Intervention
Services (EIS) Wellington, Nuku Ora and our research team from Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka/University of Otago and Te Herenga Waka/Victoria University of Wellington. Thanks to everyone who took part! Although this is the 12-week programme done for now, activities at EIS continue and we’ll be looking to put our findings together to prove how awesome
these sorts of programmes are.
Week 8 – Mau Rākau (Youth Week Special)
We had a special session with Tina Bennett, a Mau Rākau expert with 27 years of
experience. Rangatahi and kaimahi gathered at Te Pa о Kapo (Titahi Bay) and
learned about this traditional Māori martial art. We kicked off our shoes and explored ancestral skills, tikanga, and shared pepeha. It was an engaging session
connecting mind, body, spirit, and whakapapa.
Week 9 – Cooking at BGI
Rangatahi got creative in the kitchen at BGI Wellington! Some prepared vegan banana bread, while others made spaghetti bolognese with meatballs, including a vegan option. It was great to share kai and kōrero together, as well as some table tennis skills.
Week 10 – Living with Medication
We created a cozy space at the Sisters of Compassion in Island Bay for a calming
session. Alice from EIS led gentle yoga and breathing exercises, followed by a helpful Q&A with Kat (Pharmacist) and Alex (lived experience speaker). We discussed medication’s role in wellbeing, including myths, side effects, and recovery. The session concluded with breathing exercises and a karakia.
Week 11 – My Story
At Te Tai Ohinga Youth Hub, rangatahi explored the power of their personal stories. Music therapist Liz guided us through creative exercises involving art, music, and movement, providing ways to express our journeys. It was a meaningful session that allowed everyone to reflect and share in a comfortable, supportive environment.
Week 12 – Zealandia
Our final session was at Zealandia, guided by AJ and Olivia. We learned about Zealandia’s history and gained valuable mātauranga about native wildlife and conservation. We embraced the rain to enjoy a memorable walk, and even had an
unexpected encounter with kiwi poo! Of course, we celebrated with heaps of kai with some whānau present.
While this is the last newsletter for the current programme, we will be back with some more in the future as we work behind the scenes to turn our findings into evidence and keep programmes like this to continue into the future.
Ngā mihi,
Tīma ō Te Hekenga Whaiora
Feature Image Photo Credit: Chis Helliwell.
Moving With Psychosis 