Te Roopu Taurima
Kia tūtuki ai ngā moemoea me ngā wawata
Whāriki!
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Our Vision
Titiro whakamua, ngā moemoea mō āpōpō
Tāngata Tū Tāngata Ora, Whānau Tū Whānau OraWe strive to place tāngata at the heart of our services and to ensure their whānau are central to the support provided. Our vision aligns with the Enabling Good Lives (EGL) principles, ensuring that tāngata and their whānau receive the best possible care and support.
Our Core Values | Ngā Mātāpono
Our strategy is grounded in our core values, which guide everything we do:
Whānaungatanga – Engagement/Networking
Tika – Correctness/Quality
Whakapono – Trust
Aroha – Compassion
Kia Mārama – Transparency
Together, these values reflect our commitment to empowering tāngata and their whānau.
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Email: info@terooputaurima.org.nz
Te Roopu Taurima provides inclusive support to individuals with intellectual impairments across New Zealand, based on kaupapa Māori values. Our services are open to people of all ethnicities, and we are committed to providing high-quality care that fosters independence and community integration.
Te Roopu Taurima is a kaupapa Māori service that supports people of all ethnicities with intellectual impairments across Aotearoa/New Zealand. Our mission is to provide culturally inclusive, high-quality support that enables tāngata (clients) to live fulfilling, independent lives.
At Te Roopu Taurima, we are committed to providing tāngata (clients) with a high quality of life through our comprehensive range of services. We empower tāngata with choices, enabling them to live as individuals and participate actively in their communities.
Kia tūtuki ai ngā moemoea me ngā wawata, Whāriki!
The essence of interweaving the supports for tāngata to live tino rangatiratanga.
Te Roopu Taurima recognises that achieving a good life for those we support requires the interweaving of many – providing tika (correctness), pono (honesty), and aroha (compassion) in all we do.
How We Began
In collaboration with the Ministry of Health and a large mainstream provider set up as part of the deinstitutionalisation movement to recognise and improve the rights of tāngata, Te Roopu Taurima was established as Aotearoa’s largest kaupapa Māori provider in 1999.
This move from a mainstream provider and service model towards kaupapa driven service delivery was a direct response to a system where tāngata whaikaha were institutionalised, and resided in a service environment that was deemed insensitive to Te Ao me ngā Tikanga Māori (Māori world views, customs and practices).
Despite best efforts, life outcomes for these service users were not optimised in a mainstream setting. The tensions between law and lore to meet the need of service users could no longer be ignored.
Since the beginning Te Roopu Taurima has continued to grow in response to tāngata whaikaha Maori and their whanau who choose organisations that reflect their own whanau values based on principles of Whanaungatanga – Engagement, Tika – Correctness and Quality, Whakapono – Trust, Aroha – Kindness, and Kia Mārama – Transparency.
Our Services
Residential and vocational support
Respite care and caregiver support
High and complex needs support
Mental health services (Te Tai Tokerau)
In 2022, we launched our new five-year Strategic Plan to further enhance the care we provide to tāngata and their whānau.
Our Journey Continues
We are dedicated to continuously improving and adapting our services to meet the evolving needs of tāngata. We are proud of our legacy and excited for the future as we continue to uphold kaupapa Māori principles.
For more details on our story and services, visit our Contact Us page or email us at info@terooputaurima.org.nz.
Our Commitment
At Te Roopu Taurima, our commitment to tāngata and their whānau drives everything we do.
We believe in creating an inclusive, supportive environment where all people, regardless of their ethnicity, can thrive.
For more information about our services and vision, visit our Contact Us page or email us at info@terooputaurima.org.nz.
Our Key Services Include:
Residential Support: Long-term accommodation with skilled staff
Vocational Support: Day programmes and employment skills training
Respite Care: In-service and family-based respite for carers
High and Complex Needs Support: Tailored care for tāngata with complex conditions
Mental Health Services: Support for tāngata with mental health needs through recovery-based community programmes
We combine cultural support through kaumatua, whaea, and kaimahi with active involvement from tāngata’s whānau, enriching the lives of those we serve.
What is a Kaupapa Māori Service? - A kaupapa Māori service is built on Māori cultural values, practices, and tikanga. At Te Roopu Taurima, we integrate these values into everything we do, providing support for tāngata (clients) that emphasises whānau, respect, and wellbeing.
What Does Kaupapa Māori Mean for Us? - Our kaupapa Māori approach embraces the principles of rangatiratanga (self-determination) and whānau, ensuring that tāngata and their families are empowered and supported through every step of their journey.
Though rooted in Māori culture, we welcome and celebrate all cultural practices, encouraging tāngata to maintain their traditions alongside our kaupapa Māori values.
Cultural Support - For Māori tāngata, we provide cultural guidance through our kaumatua, kuia, and kaimahi. They support tāngata through activities such as pōwhiri, karakia (prayers), and waiata/himene (hymns), fostering a sense of identity and belonging.
Support from Kaumatua and Whaea
Our kaumatua (elders) and whaea guide our kaimahi (staff) and tāngata, ensuring tikanga Māori is followed throughout the organisation. They provide spiritual, cultural, and practical support to tāngata, helping them feel secure and culturally connected.
Our Korowai Aroha are:
Whaea Kaanga Skipper
Monty Hune
Laurie Henry
Regional Support
Kaumatua and whaea regularly visit our whare (homes) across Te Taitokerau, Auckland, Midlands, and Christchurch. They offer support during significant life events, including:
Hura Kohatu (Unveiling services)
Hari huritau (Birthday celebrations)
Pōwhiri (Welcome ceremonies)
Tangihanga (Funeral rites)
Korowai Aroha encapsulates our dedication to creating a nurturing, culturally guided environment for tāngata.
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RIDSAS (Regional Intellectual Disability Supported Accommodation Services) is a highly specialised service for people with intellectual disabilities and complex needs, some of whom are referred under the Intellectual Disability Compulsory Care & Rehabilitation (IDCC&R) Act 2003.
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Te Roopu Taurima provides long-term residential accommodation for tāngata (clients) with intellectual disabilities, typically over the age of 16, who are unable to live independently. Our skilled staff support tāngata, helping them to live as individuals and maximise their independence.
What Our Residential Services Offer:
Personalised Support: Homes are selected with tāngata’s specific needs in mind
Active Lives: Tāngata engage in a variety of activities, including day services classes, formal events, gym classes, swimming, and whānau visits
Cultural Guidance: Support is provided by kaumatua, whaea (elders), and kaimahi (support workers), ensuring tāngata can maintain and celebrate their cultural traditions
Māori-Centric Care: We create an environment that develops rangatiratanga
(leadership/sovereignty), respects whakapapa (genealogy), and embraces te reo Māori and tikanga
Regional Availability:
We offer residential services across Auckland, Midlands, Christchurch, and Northland.
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Our Choices in Community Living (CICL) service supports individuals with intellectual disabilities to live independently in homes they rent, lease, or own. Our CICL services help tāngata (clients) develop the skills and confidence they need to lead independent lives.
CICL Services Include:
Personalised Support Plans: We work with tāngata to develop plans that support their independence and community participation
Whānau and Cultural Support: Tāngata receive support to maintain whānau responsibilities and cultural activities
Ongoing Support for Carers: We ensure that whānau and carers receive the support they need to continue their roles
Referral Process:
Tāngata are referred through the Needs Assessment Service Coordination (NASC) for their region.
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Te Roopu Taurima offers Recovery Oriented Community-Based Intensive Support Rehabilitation Services for tāngata (clients) with high and complex needs, including serious mental illness, brain injury, medical fragility, or intellectual disabilities.
Our Mental Health Services Focus On:
Improved Quality of Life: We help tāngata achieve their personal goals and integrate into their communities
Holistic Care: Tāngata whaiora (clients) receive support that addresses their mental health needs, along with other complicating factors
Regional Support: Services are delivered via a contract with the Northland District Health Board, primarily based in Whangarei
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Our in-service respite care provides temporary care for tāngata (clients) whose carers or whānau (family) need time to rest. Tāngata are welcomed into a homely, supportive environment where they can engage in activities tailored to their needs and abilities.
What In-Service Respite Care Offers:
Cultural Activities: Opportunities for tāngata to engage in cultural practices
Recreational and Leisure Activities: Designed to stimulate and enrich tāngata’s experiences
Support for Whānau: We offer family-based respite care, allowing tāngata to stay close to their whānau while their carers take a break
We also provide training and coaching programmes for carers, offering support to whānau who open their homes to tāngata on a temporary basis.
