About Us
Te Whare Hauora Ōtautahi Women’s Refuge is a kaupapa Māori organisation based in Ōtautahi (Christchurch), established to provide safe, holistic and culturally grounded support for wāhine Māori, their tamariki, rangatahi and wider whānau affected by family and intimate partner violence.
We recognise the unique realities, strengths and challenges that Māori experience in navigating safety, healing and wellbeing. As a refuge led by and for Māori, we centre te ao Māori in everything we do — from the way we welcome whānau into our space to how we support long‑term transformation and reconnection.
Our approach is grounded in tikanga Māori, whakapapa and manaakitanga. We understand that healing from violence is not just about physical safety, but about restoring mana, rebuilding whānau connections, healing intergenerational trauma and reaffirming cultural identity and belonging. We walk alongside each wahine and whānau at their pace, ensuring they are seen, heard, valued and empowered.
Whether someone needs immediate crisis support, a long‑term plan for independence, help navigating the justice system or a space to reconnect with who they are — Te Whare Hauora is here. We are more than a refuge; we are a movement of wāhine Māori rising together, reclaiming our power and restoring our whakapapa.
Mission
To provide wāhine Māori and their whānau with a safe, culturally anchored space for healing, restoration, and empowerment. Through kaupapa Māori models of care, advocacy, education, and support, we uphold the mana of every person and walk with them toward lives that are free from violence, fear, and whakamā.
We are committed to leading change in the way family violence is understood and responded to, from the paepae to the policies, ensuring that Māori solutions are prioritised, resourced, and honoured.
Purpose
Our purpose is to create a future where wāhine Māori, their tamariki and whānau live free from violence, shame and disconnection. We exist to protect, support and strengthen the mauri of every person who enters our whare. Offering a safe place to heal, grow and reclaim their journey.
We do this by responding to immediate crisis needs while also addressing the deeper systemic and historical impacts of colonisation, racism and intergenerational trauma. Our mahi is about both survival and liberation.
Ki te kotahi te kākaho, ka whati: ki te kāpuia, e kore e whati
When we stand alone, we are vulnerable, but together we are unbreakable.
Our Values
Aroha
Love, compassion, and empathy
Aroha is at the heart of everything we do. We care deeply for our people and treat each person with tenderness, dignity, and respect.
Kaitiakitanga
Guardianship and protection
We are protectors of our wāhine, tamariki, mātauranga, land, and future generations. We act with care and responsibility for the people and taonga entrusted to us.
Manaakitanga
Uplifting the mana of others
We honour the inherent mana of each person and ensure that our spaces and services are safe, inclusive, and affirming of identity and culture.
Whanaungatanga
Connection and relationship
We nurture meaningful, reciprocal relationships based on trust, care, and shared whakapapa. We see our whānau not as clients, but as whanaunga on a shared journey.
Tika me te Pono
Integrity and honesty
We operate with transparency, accountability, and truth. We are committed to doing what is right, even when it’s hard, and we hold ourselves to high standards of ethical practice.
Rangatiratanga
Self‑determination and leadership
We support and advocate for the right of Māori to lead their own lives, heal in their own way, and shape their own futures, free from control, coercion, and violence.
Ki te kāhore he whakakitenga, ka ngaro te iwi
Without foresight or vision, the people will be lost
Whakapapa
Te Whare Hauora Ōtautahi Women’s Refuge was established in response to the growing need for kaupapa Māori-led support for wāhine Māori and their whānau affected by family and intimate partner violence in Ōtautahi.
While Māori have long resisted violence and protected their whānau through tikanga, colonisation disrupted these practices and led to generations of disconnection, harm, and systemic injustice. Our founding wāhine — fierce advocates, survivors, and community leaders — recognised that mainstream services often failed to understand or meet the cultural and spiritual needs of Māori women and their tamariki.
The refuge was established during a period of significant social change in Aotearoa, as the feminist and Māori rights movements were gaining momentum. Mainstream women’s refuges were becoming prominent, but wāhine Māori recognized the need for a service tailored specifically to Māori women and their tamariki. They envisioned a place where mana wāhine (the inherent dignity and strength of Māori women) would be upheld, and where healing could occur within a kaupapa Māori framework.
Ōtautahi Women’s Refuge was founded by a collective of wāhine toa (strong women), who pooled their resources, expertise, and connections to create this much-needed sanctuary. These women, rooted in tikanga Māori, were dedicated to providing support not only for physical safety but also for spiritual and cultural healing.
During the 1990s, the refuge grew its capacity and influence, establishing itself as a vital resource in Ōtautahi. This period saw a shift towards embedding kaupapa Māori values into all aspects of its operations. This included:
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Cultural Practices: Introducing pōwhiri to welcome wāhine and tamariki, integrating karakia and waiata into daily routines, and providing rongoā Māori (traditional healing).
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Whānau-Centered Support: Acknowledging the interconnected nature of Māori whānau by extending support to mothers, children, and even wider whānau members when needed.
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Education and Advocacy: Advocating for systemic changes to address the unique challenges faced by wāhine Māori and running community workshops on domestic violence prevention.
The refuge also developed strong relationships with local iwi, hapū, and Māori organizations, ensuring that its services were grounded in the needs and aspirations of the local Māori community.
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In the early 2010s, the leadership of Ōtautahi Women’s Refuge embarked on a journey to expand its vision and services. Recognizing the need to address the root causes of domestic violence and provide more holistic care, the organization rebranded as Te Whare Hauora (The House of Wellbeing).
This change reflected a shift from focusing solely on crisis intervention to a broader approach that emphasized:
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Preventative Services: Education and wānanga for wāhine, rangatahi, and whānau to address generational trauma and promote healthy relationships.
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Healing and Reconnection: Cultural and spiritual reconnection as pathways to restoring mana and wairua.
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Whānau Ora Approach: Supporting the wellbeing of the entire whānau, rather than focusing exclusively on individuals.
The rebranding also emphasized inclusivity, welcoming all wāhine and whānau while remaining steadfast in its kaupapa Māori roots.
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Te Whare Hauora is now a cornerstone of the Ōtautahi community, providing a wide range of services, including:
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Safe Housing: Emergency accommodation for wāhine and tamariki fleeing violence.
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Advocacy and Support: Navigating legal, housing, and financial systems to help wāhine rebuild their lives.
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Education and Wānanga: Workshops on whakapapa, mana wāhine, parenting, and financial literacy.
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Cultural Healing: Rongoā Māori, karakia, and other tikanga-based practices.
The refuge also partners with schools, health providers, and iwi organizations to extend its reach and influence, working toward a vision of safe, thriving whānau across Ōtautahi.
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The matriarchs who founded Ōtautahi Māori Women’s Refuge were guided by the intergenerational wisdom of their tūpuna and the collective strength of wāhine Māori. They came from a range of iwi across Te Waipounamu and Te Ika-a-Māui, each bringing unique skills and perspectives to the kaupapa.
The matriarchs established a legacy of mana wāhine that continues to influence the work of Ōtautahi Māori Women’s Refuge today. Their commitment to kaupapa Māori principles ensured that the refuge was more than a place of safety; it was a place of healing, empowerment, and reconnection to culture.
Matriarchs
Mereana was a fierce advocate for Māori women’s rights and a pivotal figure in the establishment of the refuge. She drew on her whakapapa to Ngāi Tahu and her deep understanding of manaakitanga to ensure that the refuge provided holistic care.
Mereana, a descendant of Ngāi Tahu and Ngāti Māmoe, grew up in the rugged landscapes of Te Waipounamu, shaped by her whānau's stories of resilience and connection to the whenua. Her whakapapa connected her to key sites of significance in the South Island, grounding her sense of responsibility to her people.
As a young wāhine, Mereana witnessed the challenges Māori women faced in a society where systemic racism and sexism often compounded their struggles. She began her advocacy in the 1970s, working with grassroots groups focused on Māori women’s rights, whānau wellbeing, and the revitalization of te reo Māori and tikanga. Her understanding of manaakitanga informed her approach to care, and she was known for saying, “You cannot restore mana without understanding a person’s story.”
At the refuge, Mereana championed the use of culturally appropriate processes such as whakawhanaungatanga (building relationships) and wānanga (learning forums) to empower wāhine. Her ability to navigate both Māori and Pākehā systems made her a powerful advocate in accessing funding and resources for the refuge.
Hinerangi brought expertise in whānau ora and tikanga Māori, ensuring that the refuge operated in a way that upheld the mana of all who sought its services. She worked tirelessly to connect the refuge to local iwi and community networks.
Hinerangi was raised in a large, close-knit whānau where she learned the values of whanaungatanga and kotahitanga. Her upbringing emphasized collective responsibility and the strength found in whakapapa connections.
As a survivor of domestic violence herself, Hinerangi’s personal experiences fueled her passion for change. She believed that breaking cycles of violence required healing intergenerational trauma and empowering whānau through reconnection to tikanga Māori.
Hinerangi's role in the refuge was deeply tied to her knowledge of whānau ora and her ability to build bridges between the refuge and iwi leaders, ensuring the initiative had the support of the wider Māori community. She was also instrumental in developing the refuge's early education programs for wāhine, focusing on building self-esteem, financial literacy, and parenting skills through a kaupapa Māori lens.
Her whakataukī, “Kaua e mate wheke, mate ururoa” (Do not die like an octopus; die like a hammerhead shark), was a rallying cry for wāhine to find strength and courage in the face of adversity.
Wikitoria was instrumental in weaving together the spiritual and cultural practices that became the foundation of the refuge. Her leadership in karakia and rongoā Māori ensured that healing extended beyond physical safety to wairua and hinengaro.
Wikitoria grew up immersed in the spiritual practices of her iwi, Te Arawa and Ngāti Porou. She was trained in karakia, waiata, and the use of rongoā Māori (traditional healing), which became central to her life’s work.
Known for her wisdom and calming presence, Wikitoria often said, “Our ancestors did not leave us lost; they left us a map. We just need to remember how to read it.” This philosophy underpinned her approach at the refuge, where she helped wāhine reconnect with their cultural identity as a source of strength.
Wikitoria introduced practices like dawn karakia to cleanse the refuge’s space, as well as rongoā healing sessions for wāhine and tamariki. She also facilitated wānanga on whakapapa, helping wāhine understand their identity and draw strength from their tūpuna.
Her leadership extended beyond the refuge; she traveled across Aotearoa to share the kaupapa of mana wāhine and encourage other wāhine Māori to establish refuges in their communities.
