CEO Corner
Kia Ora, Welcome to this month’s Newsletter.
Once again there has been a lot happening over the last two months.
Our Childcare expansion is shaping up and the team is excitedly anticipating opening our new Under 2’s premises and are now taking in new enrolments,
School holidays have come around once more and we were again booked out in record time in just over an hour of registrations opening! It truly is a reflection of our commitment to providing our tamariki with quality and real value holiday programmes.
Our Whanau continues to grow and strengthen and we have been fortunate this year to have brought on board some fantastic new team members and we continue this by welcoming Randall Hippolite into our social work team as our new senior social worker and Kyren Arthur into our Youth team.
We are also proud of the work our team have done to prepare 3 of our 13 social houses as transitional housing for those most in need. We would like to thank everyone from our team and within our communities who generously donated time and effort to help make these houses safe homes.
With the promise of warm weather on the horizon let’s bring on summer!
Nga mihi,
Liz Kelly.
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Welcome to the Whanau!
We would like to welcome and introduce Randall Hippolite into our Social Work Team as our new senior social worker, and Kyren Arthur who will be part of our youth team
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Tēnā ra koutou katoa,
Ko Whitireia te maunga
Ko Raukawa te awa
Ko Takapuwahia te Marae
Ko Randall Hippolite tenei
No Ngati Toa me Ngati Koata
Randall and his wife have four children and live at Takapuwahia. He worked for Tautoko Services for 16 years working alongside children with challenging behaviors,
most of which were autistic or had Asperger’s. He then worked for Te Roopu Awhina for 2 years in the Whanau Ora contract.. Randall has a keen interest in sports and has coached tribal basketball and softball, and follows most tribal sport including Rugby and hockey.
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Tēnā ra he mihi matakuikuiki te hunga e mihi ana, roto I te haumarutanga o Whanu Centre e karangatia mai ki a au I roto I te manaakitanga. Ki te kore ake koutou au e haere pai ai I roto I Tēnei Tūnga.
Ko wai ratēnei e mihi kau ai kia koutou, a, he uri Tēnei no Porirua. Kat tū au kit e riu a Porirua katitiro whakarunga kite maunga a Whitireia, ka titiro whakararo kit e awa e riporopo ana o Porirua. Ko Takapuwahia te whare e tu nei. Ko Ngati koata te hapu, ko tōku iti, ko toku rahi a Ngati Toa hei mana whenua. Ko Kyren tōku ingoa.
Kyren was born and raised in Porirua and attended Te Kura Maori o Porirua, He is excited at the prospect of working with youth in Porirua, and be part of a fantastic youth team. Kyren has a keen passion for rugby and all sports.
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Our childcare got into the spirit of the Olympics learning about its history what types of sports are played and the many countries that compete, we even held our very own mini Olympics!
We have been lucky these past few months to have had on board with us Jiroselene and Cathy who are two student teachers in their second year of the Early Childhood programme at Whitireia Polytechnic. Both Jiroselene and Cathy have enjoyed interacting with our children and learning from our fantastic childcare team.
Our children also got a special visit from Mana MP Kris Fa’afoi who spoke with our childcare manager Jessica and learned about our services and values that help us create a safe learning environment for our children.
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With our new Under 2’s premise’s about to open, we are now taking in new enrolments
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It has been a busy time for our Hippy tutors as we make our way towards another HIPPY graduation. So what better way to relax during these past winter months than a spa day at the Whanau Centre!
 
We are now taking enrolments for the HIPPY programme for 2017. If you want your child to hae a successful start at school and you have a child between 3 ½ and 4 ½ as at February 2017, please enrol ASAP as spaces are limited. This programme will develop your child’s literacy, numeracy and language skills, as well as a love of learning. You will have a tutor supporting you and your child every step of the way. HIPPY (Home Interaction for Parents and Youngsters) is FREE, with resources supplied.
Please phone the Porirua Whanau Centre 04 2377749 and ask for Ashleigh to enquire.
Follow our HIPPY page on Facebook
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Matua Power Group
Our Matua have been kept entertained these past few winter months with in-house performances from our very own Matua coordinator Mile whose daughter Miracle who entertained our matua with a beautiful violin performance. We also had Moana perform some moving and operatic songs bringing a nice touch of theater to the Whanau Centre.
We kept our Matua moving this winter with our resident Tai Chi instructor Nooroa who had some help this time around from our enthusiastic Youth team leaders!
Matua Power is a social retreat for those 65 and over who have a few hours free to meet and mingle.
Matua Power is held Wednesday from 10am-12pm.
If you are interested in attending contact Porirua Whanau Centre
(04) 237-7749
 
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Parenting Programme
Term 3: 18th October - 29th November
One day at a time
7 Weeks/7 Sessions
Tuesday 10am-12pm
Porirua Whanau Centre
Our parenting programme runs on a school term only basis. The programme is great for all ages, whether you are a young parent or older the programme caters to everyone. It covers children of all ages and will equip you with great tools and tips to add to your parenting skills.
For more information or to enrol please contact Rowan at the office on 04 2377749.
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Social Housing
In 2015 the Whanau Centre purchased 13 houses to be used for social housing, and for the past 2 months our team has been hard at work preparing 3 of our 13 houses for transitional housing. We are proud of the work everyone has put in to get these houses ready including Whanau Centre team members and our community who generously donated homeware and household appliances.
 
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Matters of Substance
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New Zealand Drug foundation revisits Cannons Creek in their national bulletin Matters of Substance and features the difference 'the voice' of a community can make. To see how the leadership of Porirua Whanau Centre influenced a positive outcome. click on the image link to read the full story.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
 
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Inland Revenue (IRD) – Thursdays (fortnight) 9am – 4.00pm – Appointments must be booked through Porirua Whanau Centre.
Maori Legal Services (Wellington Law Centre) – Thursdays (2nd and 4th Thursdays) 11am – 1pm – Appointments must be booked through Porirua Whanau Centre.
Ear Van Clinic - Tuesdays (1st and 3rd Tuesdays) Please book appointment with Ear Van Clinic on 04 237 5549.
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Porirua Whanau Centre, 16 Bedford Court, Cannons Creek
PO Box 53 009 Porirua 5240
P: 04 237 7749 F: 04 237 7173
E: enquiry@poriruawhanau.org.nz
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