ABOUT US
MŌ MĀTOU
ABOUT ĀWHINA WHĀNAU SERVICES
He waka eke noa — We are all in this together.
Āwhina Whānau Services exists to strengthen the wellbeing of tamariki, rangatahi, and their whānau. Rooted in Kaupapa Māori principles, we provide culturally-grounded, trauma-informed support, helping our people to heal, grow, and thrive.
Our team walks alongside whānau with compassion, manaakitanga, and deep respect for each person's journey.
KUPU WHAKA-ARAARA
Our Declaration
TE WAWATA
Our Vision
‘Kia tau te ohomauri tāngata, kia eke, kia hua’
Constructing calm, Instilling confidence, Inspiring whānau:
Tika: Tiakina te Mana me te Mauri o te whānau
We fiercely protect the Mana and Mauri of every whānau we serve.
Pono: Kia piri, kia pono ki te kaupapa o Āwhina
We honour our kaupapa by acting with unwavering integrity in all we do.Aroha: Aroha mai, Aroha atu
We meet every person with calm, compassion, and genuine care.
‘Te Whakaoraora i te Mauri o te Whānau kia tū Rangatira ai’
Revitalising the mauri of whānau, empowering self determination
TE PŪTAKE O ĀWHINA
OUR PURPOSE
The purpose of Āwhina is to restore te mauri o te whānau to enable a future of self-determination.
Āwhina prides itself on being a Kaupapa Māori values based organisation, with a clear vision of holistic well-being to strengthen our whānau and community.
“There were no services like Āwhina at the time (circa 1980s) with the ability to reach whānau where other services couldn’t … soft power delivered with deep love and affection, the ability to work with all whānau … that’s what the Mauri Stone represents, bringing back the mauri to the whānau to enable them to see a better future for themselves.” Ngahiwi Tomoana: Chairman Ngāti Kahungunū Iwi Incorporated 1996 – 2022
THE FOUNDING STORY
Āwhina Whānau Services was founded in the mid-1980s by Anihana Daly, a visionary leader deeply rooted in her Ngāti Porou and Ngāti Kahungunu heritage. Inspired by her family's tradition of caring for others, Anihana began her journey in nursing before turning her focus to supporting wāhine and tamariki impacted by trauma and violence.
Through her passion for psychotherapy and kaupapa Māori practices, Anihana opened her home as a sanctuary, later expanding her work through partnerships with Women’s Refuge and the creation of Tangata Piringa (Māori Women’s Refuge). Her approach blended alternative therapies with cultural traditions like karakia, waiata, and whakawhanaungatanga.
Anihana’s life was defined by resilience, aroha, and an unshakeable commitment to restoring mana within her community. Today, Āwhina Whānau Services continues her legacy, supporting not only wāhine and tamariki but also rangatahi and tāne, always honouring the spirit and vision she set in motion.
OUR STORY
Āwhina Whānau Services was founded in the mid-1980s by Anihana Daly (Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Kahungunu), who opened her home to wāhine and tamariki seeking safety and healing from the impacts of trauma. Guided by kaupapa Māori principles, Anihana’s vision was to create a sanctuary that nurtured the wairua, restored mana, and strengthened whānau. In 1995, Āwhina was formally established as an independent organisation, extending its support to include tāne and rangatahi. As the needs of the community grew, so too did the organisation’s reach, with a name change in 2003 to Āwhina Whānau Services to reflect a broader range of therapies beyond counselling. Following a brief pause in 2014, a new governance board and the backing of funders ensured Āwhina’s future. Since then, the organisation has continued to grow — rebranding in 2017, moving to larger premises in 2019, and being nationally recognised for its service during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2023, Āwhina expanded to Napier, responding to the increased mental health needs after Cyclone Gabrielle. Today, Anihana’s moemoeā remains at the heart of everything we do: empowering whānau, restoring wellbeing, and upholding the mana of our people through kaupapa Māori approaches.
OUR SERVICES
We offer a diverse range of therapeutic services for tamariki, rangatahi, and adults—supporting healing at every stage of life. Our approach includes whānau-focused support and advocacy, school-based wellbeing programs, and cultural healing grounded in pūrākau (storytelling), waiata (song), te taiao (the natural world), and mahi toi (creative expression). Rooted in te ao Māori, we walk alongside you to nurture holistic wellbeing, resilience, and belonging.
OUR IMPACT
Every year, Āwhina Whānau Services supports hundreds of young people and their whānau to rediscover their strength, reconnect with their identity, and reclaim their futures.
Hear from our whānau:
"Without Āwhina, my son wouldn’t be where he is today — confident, grounded, and happy."
LINK ANNUAL REPORT
CONNECT WITH US
If you believe in a future where every tamaiti can stand tall in their mana, join our journey.
Together, we are stronger.