About Us

Our Story

The E Tipu E Rea Whānau was established following the successful implementation of a teen parent project at Auckland Women’s Centre. This project highlighted the need for an independent, Auckland-based teen parent service.

We began as Thrive, officially established in 2011 to support, advocate for, and empower teen parents in West and Central Auckland.

The journey to becoming the E Tipu E Rea Whānau came about because of the belief in upholding the mana and hauora of young Māori – and with the support of iwi and kaumatua, we embedded a kaupapa Māori approach to support the health and social needs of young whānau from all backgrounds.

We now work across the Auckland region and hold a special relationship with Ngāti Pāoa Iwi Trust. Ngāti Pāoa holds historical relationships with spaces and places in Tāmaki. Ngāti Paoa significant lead interests include; Sylvia Park, Panmure, Mt Wellington, Glen Innes, Glendowie, Meadowbank, Kohimarama, Akoranga, Northcote, Devonport, Takapuna. Other interests include islands in the Tāmaki Strait (including Waiheke, Pōnui, Rātōroa, and Tiritiri Matangi Islands and reaches across to the Coromandel Peninsula over Manaia and Kaimarama).

Our special relationship with Ngāti Paoa Iwi Trust allows us to bring the matauranga, wisdom and knowledge of mana whenua to help guide us in our work.  Our Head Office is in Mauinaina (Panmure), the heartland of Ngāti Paoa.  We share our office with Ngāti Paoa Iwi Trust.   Pāoa ki uta, Pāoa ki tai, Pāoa ki tua o te pae o Matariki.

Ngāti Paoa and Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei have signed a Kawenata to work together to establish and support each other’s lead interests in Tāmaki.  We acknowledge the support of Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei.  We also acknowledge the whenua of Te Kawarau ā Maki in Te Atatū.  Our community outreach office is based in Te Atatū.

E Tipu E Rea, meaning “to grow and to thrive” from a kōrero by Ta Apirana Ngata, encompasses our kaupapa on three levels:

  • Whānau: Supporting hapū māmā, mātua taiohi, and their tamariki to gain the tools and skills to fulfil their potential, build on their hauora and strengthen as a whānau. Individual and systemic advocacy is also part of our whānau tautoko.
  • Whakapapa: Encouraging mātua taiohi and hapū māmā to reconnect with their hapū, their whenua and their whakapapa because this has an immeasurable impact on their hauora wairua.
  • Te Ao: International teen pregnancy rates are most represented by indigenous peoples, and a colonial stigma victimises and sidelines teen mothers as an economic problem. Our kaupapa is to dismantle that stigma by helping mātua taiohi enact their rangatiratanga.

Our Values

Tikanga values are at the heart of our work at
E Tipu E Rea as we serve our community as a whānau.

Aroha

Behind all our mahi is the unconditional love for our rangatahi and community.

Manaakitanga

As we uphold the safety and security of young parents and their babies.

Rangatiratanga

Acknowledging the strength, potential, and self-determination of matua taiohi, hapū māmā and their tamariki and their inherent right to thrive.

Wairuatanga

Knowing and honouring those who walk with us on this journey, we encourage young parents/whānau to connect with their whakapapa.

Our Kaimahi

E Tipu E Rea kaimahi are committed to providing a warm, accepting, and nurturing environment for our mātua taiohi, hapū māmā and their tamariki. We challenge the systems that discriminate against mātua taiohi, develop their skills, and grow their leadership to enact their own rangatiratanga.

Our team is made up of both public health leaders, whānau violence prevention experts, and highly experienced and dedicated social workers and youth workers who offer a kaupapa Māori approach that is tailored to the needs and challenges of mātua taiohi, hapū māmā and their pēpi/tamariki.

Our organisation was nominated for the NZ Community of the Year Award in 2018 and 2019.

Our Organisational Tohu

The heart depicted in our E Tipu E Rea tohu represents mātua taiohi and their pepī growing, learning and thriving.