Where kaimahi, whānau and hāpori come together

Fromp left, Anne Hobby (Tumu Whakarae / General Manager) and Cathleen Walker (Kaikōkiri o Te Puāwai he Kākano / Team Lead Te Puāwai he Kākano) in one of the new whānau consulting rooms.

Te Piki Oranga’s new hauora hub at 199 Nayland Rd opened on 12 January with a pōwhiri and guided tour.

In less than six months, Whakatū Hauora Hub has become a fit-for-purpose warm, welcoming centre of clinical, non-clinical and kaupapa Māori services.

Tumu Whakarae Anne Hobby says that one of the visions for the new facility was to make a place where Te Piki Oranga could grow to meet the needs of whānau and changing demographics.

With its purposeful renovations, refurbishments and programme of activity, the hub has quickly become a place that is making a postive difference to people’s lives, Anne says.

“The wonderful response from our enrolled whānau, heathcare partners and hāpori – community – validated our efforts to bring kaimahi together in one place,” Anne says.

The opening of the hub marked the consolidation of healthcare services from three different leased locations in Whakatū / Nelson and Waimea / Richmond.

Anne acknowledges the efforts of te rōpū whakahaere (management team), as they led kaimahi through change and co-ordinated plans to minimise any impacts on whānau as they went through the process of relocation and a restructure.

“I am grateful to the leadership of our Te Rōpū Whakahaere, and to the guidance and support of Chairperson Jane de Feu Te Poari and our board of directors.

“And I am endlessly impressed with how kaimahi came together and supported each other to keep whānau at the centre of our care and daily mahi,” Anne says.

What’s new at Whakatū?

Rachelle Tauroa, Kaiawhi Hangarau (IT Support & Communications) helped prepare the new hub for kaimahi to move into over December and January – such as fine-tuning the online room booking system. Rachelle says that most of the consulting rooms are now comfortably equipped, with work continuing to refurbish other rooms.

Caroline Sainty chatting with young visitors to the hub, tamariki from Kia Tau Te Rangimārie.

“Most of our whānau groups are now enjoying the new location and facilities, such as our Pēpi Pākohe Parenting Rōpū and we recently held our first Wānanga Hapūtanga here too,” Rachelle says.

Cathleen Walker, Kaikōkiri o Te Puāwai he Kākano (team leader of Te Puāwai he Kākano), says the first wānanga hapūtanga for the year brought a “beautiful, intimate rōpū together into a space filled with kōrero, connection, and the gentle strength that comes from gathering as wāhine and whānau on the hapūtanga journey.”

“Across the two days, our participants shared stories, learned together, and created a supportive environment where everyone could feel seen and uplifted. The smaller rōpū allowed for deeper conversations and a real sense of whanaungatanga, setting a powerful tone for the rest of our wānanga this year.

“As always, we are humbled by the trust our whānau place in us and grateful to walk alongside them,”

Rachelle says that the hub offers various sized rooms, from large social spaces to quiet and private consultation rooms. “Noho Pakari – our gentle exercise classes and shared kai for older people – are taking place in the large main room each week now. It’s really nice seeing whānau coming and going while being able to maintain our busy, behind-the-scenes office work elsewhere in the building.”

Rachelle says there has been lots of interest in Te Piki Oranga as ‘the new neighbours’ – including from tamariki who attend Kia Tau Te Rangimārie – te kōhanga reo in Ōmaio / Stoke – co-ordinated by Caroline Sainty, Kaiawhi Tumuaki (PA to Anne Hobby and the Board of Directors).

“It was lovely to see how interested the tamariki were in what happens here – it’s all part of sowing the seeds for the next generation of hauora Māori professionals, and also gives tamariki an idea of what to expect for their own hauora appointments here,” Rachelle says.

Other groups that meet regularly at Whakatū Hauora Hub as part of their hauora programmes are: Matrix (addictions support) and Te Ata Pūao (mental health).

“Whānau can attend their group session, see one of our kaimahi for one-on-one afterwards and even go on to another hauora appointment.

“This is the beauty of having all services in one space.”

Rachelle Tauroa welcoming manuhiri to one of the kaimahi office spaces at the open day in January.

Whakatū Hauora Hub opens with a pōwhiri for 200 guests

Whakatū Hauora Hub at 199 Nayland Rd officially opened to whānau and the public on 12 January with a pōwhiri and guided tours. The renovated and refurbished building (formerly Otumarama rest home and hospital) now houses staff and services from the organisation’s offices and hauora hubs in Bishopdale and Richmond, which closed in late December 2025 to allow for relocation.

Read the full story about the pōwhiri and see photos from the event.