About Us

Te Oriori

We are a kaupapa Māori mental health and wellbeing support service for whānau in Ōtautahi (Christchurch, NZ), with tamariki aged 0-12 years.

Launched in 2019, Te Oriori is provided through Purapura Whetu Trust, a kaupapa Māori non-government organisation that provides a range of free health and social support services for all ages across Waitaha (Canterbury, NZ).

Our tamariki are taonga, born to thrive and have opportunities to develop gifts handed down from our tīpuna. Through our service we model compassion, connectedness, and nurturing with kai and unconditional aroha to whānau, wrapping them in korowai as they heal and become stronger.

A lullaby

Te oriori is a lullaby which represents the karanga as you come into this world and are awakened by tihei mauri ora. Te oriori gives us a message from the past that acknowledges our tīpuna, the child in the present, visions for the future, and dreams for eternity. Te oriori is a daily gift.

Artwork

In our artwork, bonding and attachment are represented by long hair and deep roots. Our tāne speaks confidence and safety into the taringa of our wāhine. He speaks that he has the courage to protect and listen with his heart to the beat of his whānau. The ūkaipō or breast, acknowledges rest and kai – physical and spiritual.

[Painting by Olivia Ryan 2019]

Learn more about our kaupapa on our home page and our kaimahi below.

Meet the team

Aroha Wetere

Te Oriori Team Leader

Ko Taupiri te maunga
Ko Waikato te awa
Ko Tainui te waka
Ko Tainui te iwi
Ko Aroha Wetere toku ingoa

Kia ora, my name is Aroha and I am the Team Leader for the Te Oriori service at Purapura Whetu. I support a team of social workers, group programme coordinators, and a counsellor who each bring something special and unique to the team.

I have enjoyed watching Te Oriori grow over the past few years, with many new programmes being created to meet the needs of whānau. I have had the pleasure to connect and engage with a range of whaiora accessing our service, seeing whānau grow in confidence and find their purpose in life.

I joined Purapura Whetu in 2017, I am a registered social worker and am currently undertaking postgraduate studies through the University of Auckland. I enjoy listening to music and am a mother of three beautiful boys.

Ko te ahurei o te tamaiti, arahia ō tatou mahi.
Let the uniqueness of the child guide our work.

Alice Tickell

Kaihaumanu – Clinical Lead, Child & Family Therapist

Ko Te Upoko te Tahu Mataa te Maunga
Ko Okana te Awa
Ko Takitimu te Waka
Ko Waitaha, ko Ngāti Mamoe, Ko Kai Tahu ngā Iwi
Ko Ngāti Irakehu ko Ngāti Mako, Ngarahura ko Ngāti Moki ngā hapu
Ko Alice Tickell nee Te Marino toku ingoa

My role in Te Oriori is to provide clinical support for all clients enrolled in the service.

I originally trained as a primary school teacher in the 90’s and then ventured into social work with an interest in learning and behaviour. As the years passed and my own whānau grew, I worked for Māori Woman’s Welfare League, gaining deeper insights into our Māori health and wellbeing. I have studied counselling and more recently, art therapy.

In the last 20 years, the focus of my work has been with our māmā and pēpi. Over the last seven years, I have included children and teenagers within my role. I enjoy working with every age group and am passionate about emotional release work with tamariki. This includes play therapy and art therapy.

Tiffani Field

Te Oriori Kaitautoko

Ko Aoraki te maunga
Ko Waimakariri te awa
Ko Pakeha te iwi
Ko Tiffani Field toku ingoa

Kia ora, my name is Tiffani and I work alongside parents/caregivers, pēpi, and tamariki, in their own homes and communities, empowering them to meet their goals and aspirations for their whānau.

I am so grateful to be able to work at Purapura Whetu in the Te Oriori Team. I have been an Early Childhood Teacher (20+ years) and have various qualifications in teaching and special needs. Most of my previous roles have been in the community.

I am excited about connecting whānau that come to our groups at the Phillipstown Community Hub, to one another, as these are where long-lasting relationships often happen. Being able to share ideas, strategies, strengths, and skills, is such an awesome thing and everyone always has something to offer.

I am married to Jake and we enjoy going out dancing and to quiz nights. I love to be near water and we are lucky enough to live near a beach. I also enjoy swimming and walking our two elderly dogs who are our ‘babies’.

“Be a rainbow in someone else’s cloud.” – Maya Angelou

Amorangi Roberts

Te Oriori Kaitautoko

Maggie Raerae

Te Oriori Kaitautoko

Polly Hobson

Te Oriori Group Coordinator