Stand Tū Māia
Tamariki and whānau are safe, recover from past trauma, reconnect with each other and create a positive future.
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Our vision
Tāmatatia, Tiakina
Tamariki mokopuna and whānau will have their safety and wellbeing restored and preserved for future generations.
Our mission
Kahukura
Transformative support for tamariki mokopuna (aged 5-12) and their whānau.
We provide specialised support that reduces life stressors, builds responsive relationships, strengthens self-regulation, and develops the brain’s core executive skills.
We focus on tamariki mokopuna and whānau who face persistent adversity, have experienced cumulative harm, and as a result, have complex needs and require intensive support.
Ngā Tikangā o te Kaupapa – Our Values
We honour te reo me ōna tikangā.
We uphold the mana and aspirations of tamariki mokopuna, whānau, hapū and iwi.
We act with integrity, humility and respect for each other’s beliefs and customs.
We work together as one, so all whānau can stand equal and strong.
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Recover. Reconnect.
Stand Tū Māia supports children and whānau to heal from past trauma, reconnect with each other, and create a positive future.
We provide transformative specialised support that reduces life stressors, builds responsive relationships, strengthens self-regulation, and develops the brain’s core executive skills.
We focus on tamariki mokopuna and whānau who face persistent adversity, have experienced cumulative harm, and as a result, have complex needs and require intensive support.
Our Approach
Our approach is grounded in three principles:
Healing through relationships: Harm caused by relationships is best healed within safe, supportive relationships.
Whole-of-community support: A child’s home, school, community, and friendships all play vital roles in their recovery and must be engaged to improve their quality of life.
Transformative environments: Therapeutic settings that foster belonging, mastery, independence, and generosity accelerate healing and resilience.
These principles are backed by mātauranga Māori knowledge systems, contemporary brain science and the evidence base of Multisystemic Therapy and the therapeutic community movement.
Our Services
Kahukura Aroha – Intensive home-based family support
Kahukura Ora – Specialist trauma treatment
Kahukura Whānau – Family therapy
Te Hunga Tauwhiro i te Kura – Social Workers in Schools
Kaimahi Taiohi - Youth Workers In Schools
Mana Ake – School mental health support
Kidzacool Adventures – Respite for grandparents & caregivers
Service availability varies by region – see our Referral Page for details.
Kahukura Aroha – Intensive Family Wraparound Service
The journey of a child and their whānau within Kahukura Aroha is a transformation, symbolised by the life cycle of the endemic Kahukura (Red Admiral butterfly), a chiefly being in Te Ao Māori. This metaphor honours the child’s mana and the interconnectedness of their healing journey. Grounded in trauma-capable practice, the service supports whānau through three relational stages—stabilisation, strengthening, and transformation—guided by neuroscience-informed principles of safety, regulation, and connection, alongside Te Ao Māori values such as whakapapa, wairua, and whanaungatanga. The child is held at the centre, with their wellbeing nurtured through culturally responsive support and access to healing programmes and neurotherapies that address the impacts of complex trauma.
Kahukura Aroha operates within a wraparound model that is holistic, family-centred, and trauma-informed. It brings together multidisciplinary teams to co-create individualised care plans that reflect the unique needs and aspirations of each whānau. Services are coordinated across health, education, and social systems, ensuring continuity and cultural integrity. By integrating natural supports, cultural advisors, and community resources, the wraparound approach strengthens whānau resilience and fosters long-term healing. This model not only addresses the immediate effects of trauma but also empowers whānau to reclaim their narratives and thrive.
Kahukura Ora – Child Trauma Treatment Service
Kahukura Ora is a transformative therapeutic care and education service delivered from the Stand Tū Māia Children’s Villages in Whangārei, Auckland, Midland (Rotorua), East Coast (Gisborne) and Christchurch. The service provides individually tailored trauma recovery programmes for tamariki mokopuna aged 5–12 and their whānau, recognising that deep healing requires more than clinical intervention—it requires relational, cultural, and environmental restoration. Grounded in trauma-informed principles, the service creates consistent, safe, and nurturing environments where tamariki mokopuna can experience profound healing relationships. Neuroscience-informed practices support emotional regulation, attachment repair, and developmental recovery, while Te Ao Māori values—such as whakapapa, wairuatanga, and tikanga—guide the therapeutic journey. Healing is embedded in everyday life through play, learning, and whanaungatanga, with whānau, schools, and communities actively involved in each child’s recovery story.
As a trauma treatment service, Kahukura Ora exemplifies best practice in responding to complex trauma in children. It integrates evidence-based approaches like Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (TF-CBT) and Attachment, Regulation, and Competency (ARC) with culturally responsive care, ensuring that tamariki are supported holistically—emotionally, developmentally, and spiritually. Multidisciplinary teams collaborate to co-design care plans that reflect each child’s unique needs and strengths, while predictable, loving care environments help rebuild trust and identity. The service acknowledges that trauma recovery is not linear and requires sustained, wraparound support that empowers whānau and restores a child’s sense of safety, belonging, and hope.
Please note: Due to a limited number of places, access to Kahukura Ora is through an internal referral and prioritisation process and children are largely referred from other Stand Tū Māia Services engaged in change work with whānau.
Kahukura Whānau - Family Therapy Service
Our Family Therapy Service offers a healing space where tamariki mokopuna and rangatahi (0–18 years, including unborn pēpi) are protected from further harm and supported to recover from complex trauma. Grounded in trauma-informed principles, therapy prioritises emotional safety, relational repair, and neurobiological regulation. We recognise that trauma affects not only individuals but also the entire whānau system, and we work collaboratively to rebuild trust, strengthen attachment, and foster resilience. Therapy is guided by evidence-based practices and tailored to meet the unique needs of each family, always upholding the mana of every child.
We integrate Te Ao Māori, honouring the spiritual and ancestral dimensions of wellbeing, and ensuring cultural responsiveness is woven throughout the therapeutic process. By creating a safe and empowering environment, we support whānau to understand trauma responses, restore balance, and develop healthy relational patterns. Each session is a step toward collective healing, where every voice is heard, and the whānau journey together toward recovery and reconnection.
KidzaCool Adventures
Kidzacool Adventures offers restorative respite for kin/whānau/foster carers and a nurturing, playful environment for tamariki mokopuna aged 5–12 during school holidays. The programme is delivered from the five Stand Tū Māia Children’s Villages in Whangārei, Auckland, Midland (Rotorua), East Coast (Gisborne) and Christchurch. This free programme is designed with trauma-informed principles that promote safety, joy, and relational connection. Activities support emotional regulation and social development, guided by neurodevelopmental insights and Te Ao Māori values such as manaakitanga, wairuatanga and kotahitanga. Carers can rest assured knowing their tamariki mokopuna are cared for in a space that honours the child’s identity and wellbeing. Places are limited and priority is given to referrals from Oranga Tamariki and Grandparents Raising Grandchildren.
Te Hunga Tauwhiro i te Kura - Social Workers in Schools (SWiS)
This is a community-based social work service delivered in primary, intermediate, and kura kaupapa Māori schools, targeting tamariki mokopuna aged 5–12 who are at risk of poor wellbeing or educational outcomes. SWiS social workers are employed by Stand Tū Māia in our Christchurch region only and work in partnership with school staff, whānau, and communities to provide early intervention and holistic support. Their mahi focuses on improving safety, emotional wellbeing, school engagement, and family functioning through culturally responsive, strengths-based approaches. Their work includes supporting identity development, navigating trauma, and linking families to wider services.
Kaimahi Taiohi - Youth Workers in Schools
Stand Tū Māia offers this Service only out of Dargaville High School. Youth Workers in Schools plays a vital role in supporting the wellbeing and development of rangatahi, building trusted relationships with students to foster resilience, identity, and engagement. Their mahi is grounded in kaupapa Māori values such as whanaungatanga, manaakitanga, and rangatiratanga, and they often work alongside school staff, whānau, and community services to provide holistic support. They have a particular focus on mentoring, life skills, and creating safe spaces for young people to thrive.
Mental health is a core aspect of Youth Workers in Schools. Youth workers are trained to identify signs of distress and provide early intervention through informal support, handovers to clinical services, and referrals to school-based health teams. Their presence helps reduce stigma, promote help-seeking, and ensure that rangatahi experiencing trauma, anxiety, or depression are supported in culturally safe and youth-friendly ways.
Mana Ake – Stronger for Tomorrow
Mana Ake is a school-based mental health and wellbeing initiative supporting tamariki mokopuna in Years 1–8 across Christchurch, Canterbury, and Kaikōura. The service was originally developed in response to the impacts of the Canterbury earthquakes and has since evolved into a broader early intervention programme. Its goal is to promote positive mental health and wellbeing by providing timely, accessible support to children, their whānau, and school communities.
Professionals who work in the Stand Tū Māia Mana Ake service come from a range of backgrounds—including social work, psychology, counselling, and teaching. They work directly with children experiencing challenges such as anxiety, grief, social isolation, emotional regulation difficulties, and family separation. Support is delivered through individual sessions, group work, classroom-based strategies, and guidance for teachers and whānau. The service is culturally responsive and community-driven, with a strong emphasis on collaboration, prevention and early intervention.
Regions
Stand Tū Māia is a nationwide service.
The National Office is in Wellington, and we have seven regions with 7 regional centres in Whangārei, Auckland, Midland (Rotorua), East Coast (Gisborne), Central (Lower Hutt), Christchurch and Dunedin with 7 satellite offices in Tauranga, Taupo, Napier, New Plymouth, Nelson, and Invercargill.
We believe healing from complex trauma happens best in safe, connected communities. That’s why each of our seven regional centres and satellite offices across Aotearoa embrace the concept of a Therapeutic Environment —a place where tamariki mokopuna, and their whānau, can experience:
Safe, nurturing relationships
Structured, predictable routines
Evidence-based therapies offered in the regional centre or across home, school, and other community spaces
Culturally affirming practices that strengthen identity and belonging
A healing environment for children and whānau
Our centres are intentionally designed to feel welcoming, homely, and secure. Every detail supports emotional and physical safety and security, connection, and calm.
Key features of our centres include:
Child and whānau-friendly spaces: Private spaces and communal areas encourage creativity, comfort, and connection. High and low energy play areas, indoor and outdoor options, and inclusive designs provide for diverse needs and comfort zones.
Sensory-friendly design: Soft lighting, natural textures, and quiet zones help regulate emotions.
Nature integration: Gardens, bush walks, and water features promote grounding and wellbeing.
Culturally responsive environments: Spaces reflect tikanga Māori; karakia and waiata start and end the day; and Maramataka-aligned rhythms are listened to and followed.
Inclusive access: Referrals are welcomed from schools, health services, and social agencies.
Open-door support: Parents, siblings, teachers, and referrers are encouraged to stay involved.
Daily life skills and healing routines
Whether through a residential programme, a day programme, or working together in the home or school, we support children and families in developing life skills and routines that promote healing and growth.
Routines matter because they help to:
Create safety and predictability: Daily rhythms help regulate the nervous system and reduce anxiety.
Build confidence and autonomy: Learning everyday tasks fosters mastery and self-worth.
Support relational healing: Shared routines become moments of connection and emotional repair.
Affirm cultural identity: Tikanga-based practices restore disrupted roles and strengthen belonging.
Integrate therapeutic models: Approaches like the Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics (NMT), Theraplay, and Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) can be and are woven into daily life.
Activities that inspire growth
We offer a range of therapeutic and adventure-based activities to help children build resilience, express emotions, and reconnect with joy.
Cultural experiences led by mana whenua: hikoi, pūrakau, mau rākau, noho marae
Animal-assisted therapy: equine and pet therapy to build trust and emotional regulation
Creative therapies: music, dance, visual arts, and storytelling
Outdoor pursuits: gardening, swimming, cycling, rock climbing, orienteering, and nature walks
Honouring indigenous healing
We integrate traditional Māori healing practices to support holistic wellbeing:
Te reo me ona tikanga: expectation and support to treasure te reo Māori and its customs
Maramataka: living by lunar cycles to support emotional and physical regulation
Mirimiri and romiromi: traditional bodywork to restore balance
Mau rākau and kapa haka: to strengthen identity and collective healing
