Te Whanaua o Waipareira

Kokiritia i Roto i te Kotahitanga

progressively act in unity

For full experience visit on a desktop browser

1950

Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, more and more Māori migrate from rural areas into urban to find new opportunities.

1961

In Auckland, a Māori Committee represents different wards of the city on matters such as health and education.


1963

From 1963, the government sees devolution of powers and passes resources to iwi as the way forward for Māori.

This is challenged by urban Māori, often operating outside traditional iwi structures.

A steering committee is formed to co-ordinate and build Auckland’s first multi-tribal marae.

1968

“If there’s one thing this marae does do, it’s that everybody who passes through it, gets to know who they are and where they’re going in life.”

-Pita Sharples

1980

Hoani Waititi Marae

opens in Glen Eden in 1980 and unites all iwi in protecting and nurturing Māori values in an urban environment.

1984

Throughout the 1980s resources including development funding, education services and employment programmes begin to move out into the community from the Department of Māori Affairs.

1982

In 1982, what will later become Te Whānau O Waipareira is established to deliver the Kōkiri Programme in West Auckland.

Te Whānau O Waipareira Trust is incorporated.

Then, in 1990, the Runanga-A-Iwi Act moves the responsibility for government services previously provided by Māori Affairs into the hands of runanga iwi...

1991

We embark on a dynamic strategic plan, focused on producing long term solutions for our people. The following year we invest in health, welfare, education and justice facilities run by Te Whānau O Waipareira.

1992

Then, in 1992, the landmark Sealord Deal takes place; a multi-tribal Māori Fisheries Settlement with the Government.

1994

Over the next six years, Te Whānau O Waipareira challenges the Government and the Fisheries Commission to include Māori in the settlement.

1992

We argue our case to the Waitangi Tribunal, at the High Court, in the Court of Appeal and to the Privy Council.

1998

Te Whānau O Waipareira wins rangatira status from the Waitangi Tribunal

setting a new precedent for how a Māori community identifies and organises itself.

1992

Radio Waatea takes to the airwaves in 1999, developing urban Māori voices in broadcasting.

2000

In 2000, the Fisheries Commission is revamped. Urban Māori, represented by Te Whānau O Waipareira and Manukau Urban Māori Authority, take our seats at the table.

2000

Challenges hit Te Whānau O Waipareira in 2004 and 2005. We have to sell the land where we had intended to build our wānanga and we lose funding from the Tertiary Education Commission.

2011

A one-stop frontline Whānau Ora hub integrating health, social justice and education services will be opened by Prime Minister John Key in West Auckland on August 24 2011.

This is a big day for the whānau, rather than managing over problems we’re bringing solutions.

John Tamihere

2014

On Waitangi Day in 2014, we hold our first Waitangi at Waititi event, welcoming our West Auckland community to celebrate with us..

2014

The National Urban Māori Authority signs the historical Te Pou Matakana, the largest ever government contract given to Māori, for Māori, by Māori. Te Whānau O Waipareira takes a central role in running it.

2017

Waipareira build a 1.2ha, $54 million central Auckland housing development site in Waterview. It includes six apartment blocks, comprising of up to three bedroom units, as well as a terrace housing block.

2018

Te Whānau o Waipareira and the New Zealand Government agency Pharmac sign a Memorandum of Agreement that will support Waipareira’s community campaign to lower the cost of health care.

2020

In the beginning of 2020, and in a time of great global challenge, Waipareira quickly turn into a distribution hub, supplying tens of thousands of hygiene and sanitisation packs to our people.

2020

Our deployment includes Te Pae Herenga who provided these essentials to whānau through their Whānau Ora partners across Tāmaki Makaurau delivering:

47,135 kai packs

77,683 winter wellness packs

48,735 COVID-19 tests administered

for an estimated total of

152,439 individuals supported.

2020

Te Whānau o Waipareira launches
Proud To Be Māori.

2020
2020

A powerful campaign unapologetically celebrating Māori with a message of resilience and hope. The campaign fearlessly calls for Māori to be proud of their identity, whakapapa and tikanga whilst acknowledging the challenges faced by being Urban Māori.

2020

In the midst of a global pandemic, distrust in the political and medical establishment is on the rise. The government’s central Covid messaging campaign struggles to resonate with Māori communities, who find themselves most at risk.

2020

Fight For Your Whakapapa serves as a call to action, a by Māori for Māori solution that mobilised a vast cohort of community leaders to spread the kaupapa far and wide across Te Ika a Maui.

2022

A landmark agreement between Oranga Tamariki and Te Whānau o Waipareira puts an end to the controversial uplifting of Māori children in West Auckland.

The agreement is part of a wider plan to devolve the responsibility of Māori children in state care from Oranga Tamariki to iwi. It also states Oranga Tamariki must adhere to Treaty-based provisions, such as partnership.

We’re just a group of westies aye, with some bloody good ideas, intellect and a bit of money in the bank. But money isn’t a measure, it’s a tool, and the way we operate as a people and as a community should be measured on how well we’re looking after those that are less advantaged than ourselves.

- John Tamihere

For the past 30 years, Waipareira have provided free services and support for whānau of all ages in West Auckland – health, legal, housing and education.

Get in touch

0800 924 942

Want to know how we can help?
We're here to kōrero!

Fill out and submit the form below.