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Te Whānau o Waipareira 1984 - 2024 #Wai40

In 1982 and after many years of advocacy, a large group of motivated kaumātua gathered and created the West Auckland Management Group which was then renamed, Te Whānau o Waipareira. These kaumātua included community leaders, members of the Māori Women's Welfare League, Māori Wardens, teachers, housewives, railway workers, managers, civil servants and kapa haka teachers.

Our founding kaumātua include the late Dame June Mariu (our first Chair) Sir Dr Pita Sharples, Wilfred Canning QSM, Tai John (Tuck) Nathan, Don Rameka, Judge Michael Brown, Craven Tane, Tuini Hakaria and Oswald Perry MNZM. Mei Collins designed our Tohu which depicts “Forever Progressing Forward” under the umbrella of Te Whānau o Waipareira Trust, and the small koru underneath represents the other organisations that are under the umbrella of Te Whānau o Waipareira Trust. The progressive movement comes from the onward and upward thrust of the logo.

Waipareira refers to the geographical area, named after Pare Ira, a wahine from Te Kawerau-a-Maki, and the waters she bathed in. Whānau refers to us being an extended family.

The kaupapa of Te Whānau o Waipareira at the time was not only to deliver basic services, but to support whānau with problems caused by rapid urbanisation with decades of high employment, poor education and low income seriously threatening to undermine the potential of Urban Māori. Waipareira raised their profiles, advocated for rights and resources and committed to protecting future generations of Urban Māori.

On May 30, 1984 an application was submitted and signed by 20 of these kaumātua for their new organisation to be become incorporated and in August that year it was.

Here are the 20 signatures on a copy of the original application.

For the past 40 years, Waipareira have provided free services and support for whānau of all ages in West Auckland – health, legal, housing and education.

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