Mokopuna and Whānau-led Change
Hear directly from two Learning Cluster sites, Guild Street Housing Community and Merivale Whānau Aroha, as they share their journeys toward whānau-led practice. This kōrero brings together practical insights grounded in lived experience, from housing and community development to crisis response and working within complex systems, all while maintaining mana-enhancing approaches. Through honest reflections from frontline practitioners and the wider Learning Cluster journey, the session explores what it takes to support whānau wellbeing, uphold tino rangatiratanga, and create the conditions for tamariki and whānau to thrive.
Join us for our last Child Rich Communities online kōrero, where two of our Learning Cluster sites, Guild Street Housing Community and Merivale Whānau Aroha, shared their journeys toward whānau-led practice, the positive change they are seeing, and the realities of navigating this work day to day.
They share their practical insights grounded in real experience, including reflections on housing, community development, crisis response, and working within complex systems while maintaining mana-enhancing practice.
Our presenters today were:
Guild Street Housing Community Laura Christie, Practice Lead & Social Worker Laura brings eight years of social work experience and provides professional leadership within the Housing Team while remaining grounded in frontline practice. Her work supports whānau wellbeing and housing security and has helped shape the Guild Street community house model focused on connection, participation and shared responsibility.
Annie Smith, Housing Operations Manager With over ten years of experience in CMM Housing, Annie has played a key role in shaping the Guild Street Housing Complex and its community-centred practice model. She leads a multidisciplinary team supporting residents through ethical, strengths-based and community-focused housing practice.
Waiapu Kids Merivale Whānau Aroha Centre Erin Batley, Centre Manager Ko Herangī me Taranaki ngā maunga, ko Mōkau me Mīmītangīatua ngā awa, ko Tainui me Tokomaru ngā waka. Erin is the manager of Waiapu Kids St Francis and Waiapu Kids Merivale, two Whānau Aroha centres within Anglican Care Waiapu. She is passionate about creating child-rich communities where tamariki are at the centre, and will share insights on how whānau engagement, collaboration and community-led approaches help children and families thrive.
Shared reflections from Pekehaua Amohau, Kaitūhono While unable to attend live, Pekehaua’s reflections from Merivale Whānau Aroha’s Learning Cluster journey will be shared on the day, exploring what it means to uphold whānau tino rangatiratanga, navigate complex systems, and move toward genuinely whānau-led decision-making.