Services & Referrals
Referrals
If you would like to access one of our services, or would like to refer someone else to one of our services, please find the service below and click 'Complete Online Referral Form'.
Referrals to most of our services can be made by anyone (e.g. self referral, referral by whānau/friend, referral by a professional such as GP).
If you are unsure which service to refer to, please Contact Us and we will be more than happy to help.
Please note: we are not a crisis service.
Find A Service
Unsure of what service you are looking for? We have categorised our services based on areas of need.
Overview of Services
For a summary of all of the services we currently provide, click the button below.
0800 4 Whetu Helpline
Our experienced team of nurses, social workers, counsellors and community support workers are available to support you through our free helpline.
Monday - Friday, 8:30am – 4:30pm
0800 4 WHETU (0800 4 94388)
We can:
- Provide mental health and wellbeing advice and support
- Provide confidential phone or online assessment, counselling and support for adults, youth and children
- Provide connection to a GP or other health providers
- Provide parenting support and advice
- Provide information on current resources/entitlements from government departments. i.e. WINZ
- Connect you with cultural advisors regarding tikanga and protocols due to COVID-19.
We may be able to help with:
- Education
- Medication
- Food
- Household and Heating
- Finances and Employment
- Social Connection
He Kete
- 18+ years old
- Women in Aftercare community residence and programmes
- Referrals through Department of Corrections
- Free service
Support for women in Aftercare community residence and programmes.
ITP & DTP
- 18+ years old
- Christchurch Women's Prison ITP & Christchurch Men's Prison DTP
- Referrals through Department of Corrections
- Free service
Support at Christchurch Women's Prison ITP (Intensive Treatment Programme) and Christchurch Men's Prison DTP (Drug Treatment Programme).
Mana Ake
- School Years 1-8
- Specific Schools in Canterbury
- Entry pathway is through referral by the child's school
- Free service
Mana Ake - Stronger for Tomorrow was established in March 2018 to promote wellbeing and positive mental health for children in school years 1-8 across Canterbury.
The initiative aims to provide early intervention and support for teachers, families and whānau when children are experiencing ongoing issues that impact their wellbeing. Kaimahi can support individual children and groups of children as well as provide advice, guidance and support for teachers and parents/whānau.
Mana Ake kaimahi are employed by 13 non-government organisations including Purapura Whetu who make up the provider network. Kaimahi have a diverse range of skills and include psychologists, social workers, whānau ora kaimahi, counsellors and youth workers.
Manu Ka Rere
- 13-24 years old
- Living in the Canterbury region
- www.manukarere.org.nz
- Free service
Manu Ka Rere is a free service for young people aged 13-24 who are seeking support for their wellbeing. We offer face to face counselling sessions, group work therapy, education and other activities.
Previously known as Community Youth Mental Health Service (CYMHS), Manu Ka Rere is a collaborative of eight organisations across Canterbury. These include Purapura Whetu, Odyssey House, Stepping Stone Trust, Ashburton Community Alcohol and Drug Service (ACADS), Community Wellbeing North Canterbury Trust, Waipuna, 298 Youth Health and City Mission.
We work closely with Specialist Mental health Services (CHDB) and are also connected with other services.
Muslim Wellbeing Ōtautahi
Support for Muslim families living in Christchurch
- All ages
- Referrals can be made by health professionals, Imam's of the mosques or self/family members
- Contact muslimwellbeing@pw.maori.nz
- www.muslimwellbeing.maori.nz
- Free service
Our team provides culturally appropriate, multilingual support for families in the Muslim community.
We provide a confidential and non-judgmental service focused on the individual needs of each client. Our team empower people in their daily lives, advocate for their needs and are able connect them with relevant agencies if required.
Our mobile team will provide support to the Muslim community in the Canterbury area in their home and/or the community. We understand that each situation is unique, so we tailor the support to suit you.
We support whānau with:
- Holistic care, treatment and wellness plans
- Practical daily living, household management and developing routines
- Identifying your goals and supporting you with the steps to achieve them
- Pursuing a healthy lifestyle, including physical activity and healthy eating
- Finding training, study, and job opportunities including support with applications
- Relationship building with friends and family
- Connection with the community
- Access to social, legal and community services
- Advocacy with social, legal and community services
Ngā Maihi Supported Youth Accommodation
- 16-24 years old
- Available to those who have ever spent 90 days or more in Oranga Tamariki care or youth justice.
- Referrals can be made through social worker or transitions worker.
- Free service
We support rangatahi aged 16 to 24 who have been in Oranga Tamariki or Youth Justice care for 90 days or more at any point in their lives. Our focus is to encourage and support their journey to independence, promote recovery, development, and growth to maximise their potential for success and future lifestyle options.
We currently have a Whare Whakatau which is our Transitions House where we start to build relationships and make assessments on where to best place each young person. Where they are moved to then becomes their home for the duration of their stay, which can be a year or more. The ratio of one kaimahi to two rangatahi means we can provide intensive support.
Pae Ora Waitaha
- All ages
- Available to Māori / Pasifika / CALD (culturally and linguistically diverse) / Rural / LGBTQIA+ / those at risk of developing a long term health or lifestyle condition
- Free service
Pae Ora Waitaha takes a proactive approach to support our community to achieve improved health and wellbeing, and reduce the burden of disease on those with long term health conditions.
A Pae Ora Healthy Lifestyles Connector works alongside whānau to set their own goals towards living a healthy lifestyle. Our whānau ora approach supports whānau to remove barriers for achieving that healthy lifestyle and sustainable intergenerational change.
The service is provided by Waitaha Primary Health, Tangata Atumotu Trust, Whānau Whanake and Purapura Whetu Trust.
Pou Whirinaki
Our role as Pou Whirinaki is to support schools to identify and use information to address patterns of moderate and irregular attendance for ākonga in years 1 – 12. In this role, we will use information from a range of sources to understand the drivers of absence across the kura community.
The data support function of our role includes:
- Working with whānau communities to understand their experiences, recognise the importance of the identity, language, and culture.
- Supporting kura community to analyse and understand irregular and moderate absence data and information.
- Utilising data and information to identify where attitudes, behaviours, systems, and processes affect engagement and attendance.Utilising data and information to identify where attitudes, behaviours, systems, and processes affect engagement and attendance.
Pōwhiri Refugee Family Support Settlement Service
- Referrals to Pōwhiri are made through Immigration New Zealand.
- www.powhiri.maori.nz
- Contact: powhiri@pw.maori.nz
Pōwhiri is a refugee settlement support service and means ‘to welcome’.
When refugees arrive into Ōtautahi, they will be matched with a Pōwhiri Wellness Navigator who will support their settlement into Ōtautahi for the first 12-24 months.
For more information, visit www.powhiri.maori.nz
Te Aukaha : Youth Enterprise Programme
- Contact: lauren.t@odysseychch.org.nz
Te Aukaha is a new youth enterprise programme for 16-24 year olds.
It is a programme founded in partnership with Purapura Whetu, Odyssey House and Stepping Stones Trust. The programme opens opportunities to encourage, enhance and empower our rangatahi through enterprise. Through core pou, Te Aukaha will lay the foundations for rangatahi to access their potential by building on skills and strengths that already lay within them.
Te Hā - Waitaha Smokefree Support
- All ages
- Living in the Canterbury region
- Anyone can register
- Contact: ssp@pw.maori.nz
- Free service
Purapura Whetu work alongside Te Hā - Waitaha Smokefree Support to promote smokefree whānau. This service is for anybody who is wanting to become smokefree. If you are pregnant or living with a pregnant person, there is specific support available for you.
Our Smokefree Practitioner offers free advice, support and Nicotine Replacement Therapy products (patches, gum and lozenges). We also offer advice on other medications and support.
Our Smokefree Practitioner is trained to help you to make your quit a success. Once you or your whānau register for support, we will contact you to discuss how we can help. We will work with you to set a quit date, and provide ongoing support so you can stay smokefree.
After an initial face-to-face meeting, you can tailor a stop smoking programme that works for you – it could include face-to-face meetings, texting, phone calls, Skype/Zoom, emailing, or attending group sessions.
Email ssp@pw.maori.nz to get in touch with our Smokefree Practitioner.
Find out how much your smoking is costing you using this calculator from Quitline
Te Kākano Hauora
- 13 years old +
- Anyone over 18 must have a diagnosis of a mental illness
- Living in the Canterbury region
- Referrals can be made by you (self referrals), friends/whānau or health professionals
- Free service
- www.tekakanohauora.maori.nz
Poipoia te kākano kia puāwai.
Nuture the seed and it will bloom.
Te Kākano Hauora provides whānau centred community support for people with mental health challenges to gain the skills to manage their own lives, maintain wellness, and grow in confidence.
Our mobile team provide regular, ongoing support to people in their home and/or the community. We understand that each situation is unique so we tailor the support to you.
For more information, please visit our website www.tekakanohauora.maori.nz.
Te Māhuri & Te Pia Adventure Therapy
- Youth aged 13-24
- Mountain biking, coasteering, tramping, sea kayaking and many more activities
- To register your interest in the programme, click the link below and one of our staff will be in touch
- Contact: temahuri@pw.maori.nz
- www.temahuri.maori.nz
- www.adventurespecialties.co.nz
- Free programme
Purapura Whetu works in partnership with Adventure Specialties Trust to support whānau to flourish through exploration of the natural environment. Te Māhuri provides an opportunity for rangatahi to experience the outdoors and develop a connection to themselves and their peers within a whānau environment.
Te Oranga Activities
- 18 years old +
- Living in the Canterbury region
- Must have an assigned support worker
- Spaces may be limited
- Free service
- www.tekakanohauora.maori.nz/toa
- Contact: programme.coordinator@pw.maori.nz
Te Oranga Activities are weekly programmes that support whānau affected with mental health challenges to get involved in their community, make friends, and improve their health by encouraging a healthy lifestyle, physical activity, creativity, and connection to Te Ao Māori.
Programmes change each term and currently include Ipurangi Ora (Technology Support), Whakairo (Carving), Toirau (Mixed Media Art), Turangawaewae (Exploring whakapapa), Mana Wāhine (Women’s Group), Tu Tāne (Men’s Group), Tiki Tours (Explore Ōtautahi), and Taiora (Swimming).
For more information, please visit www.tekakanohauora.maori.nz/toa.
Te Oriori
- Any whānau in Canterbury who have tamariki aged 0-12 years
- Whānau support, counselling, therapy, and group programmes
- Most programmes are at held at the Phillipstown Community Hub
- Free service
- www.teoriori.maori.nz
- Contact: teoriori@pw.maori.nz
Te Oriori is a kaupapa Māori, whānau centered service for parents/caregivers of tamariki aged 0-12 years. Te Oriori offers individual support, counselling, therapy and different group programmes from Monday to Friday at the Phillipstown Community Hub.
The group welcome all who come, and encourages a sense of belonging, respect and kindness. The programme supports the mental health and wellbeing of tamariki by enhancing the mana of parents/caregivers and empowering them with knowledge, skills and strategies to support them in their role as parent/caregiver.
For more information please visit www.teoriori.maori.nz.
Pūmotomoto
Purapura Whetu has developed a service to support whānau from the start of life(conception to 5 years). This is in response to the large body of research and knowledge that highlights this period of life as the most critical for early brain development, human connection and relationship building. It impacts lifelong health, wellbeing and social outcomes.
Our service is called Pūmotomoto, which is the long flute that traditionally chants mātauranga māori wisdom and knowledge and whakapapa through the fontanelle of the pēpi in the womb, at birth and in infancy.
We are based in Essex St in Phillipstown under the support of Te Oriori (0-12 year programme) and provide a wrap around Kaupapa service including:
· midwifery care
· perinatal counselling
· support workers
· pēpi and whānau groups
· parent education
· breast feeding support
· hapū wānanga for māmā and papa
· support with whānau with diabetes in pregnancy, a hospital journey in NICU, Maternity, Paediatrics or Mothers and Babies
· smokefree and nutrition education
· Rongōa practice
For more information please visit www.teoriori.maori.nz.
Te Piringatahi
- 13-24 years old
- Available to whānau engaged with Purapura Whetu services - please ask.
- Free service
Te Piringatahi is a kaupapa Māori service that supports rangatahi with their mental wellbeing, substance use and other behaviours that can have an impact on the rangatahi, their whanau and community.
The programme empowers rangatahi to:
- build identity and confidence
- understand oranga principles and values
- grow knowledge to increase positive development for safe and healthy lifestyle choices and behaviours
Te Piringatahi work with rangatahi who want to change their situation in life, school, home, culture, and their future. Including one to one mentoring, counselling, weekly community programmes, home visits, and practical advice.
Te Tumu Waiora
Te Tumu Waiora - Te Reo for to head towards wellness - is a new way of delivering wellbeing, mental health and addictions support through general practice.
The model puts mental health and wellbeing at the heart of general practice with focused roles, Health Improvement Practitioners and Health Coaches, working as part of the general practice team. This model allows for a 'warm handover' which means that a GP or nurse in the general practice can offer someone who is experiencing mental distress or addiction issues the option of seeing the HIP in the same location quickly – often immediately.
The HIPs and Health Coaches provide advice and support based on individualised goals, promoting self-management and work closely with local community NGO support workers to ensure people can access the full range of help they need.
Te Waharoa
Te Waharoa, is a kaupapa Māori health service based in Waitaha/Christchurch that works with all whānau to achieve wellbeing.
Te Waharoa translates literally as the gateway so if you, your whānau, or your workplace want help to achieve better wellness we will do whatever we can to help you. If we can't help you we will put you into contact with someone that can.
Please get in contact with us if you think we can help.
Te Whiri Ora
- Whānau with tamariki
- Whānau who have complex needs and has/require multiple agencies involved to support wellbeing
- Free service
- www.tewhiriora.co.nz
- Contact: tewhiriora@rightservice.org.nz
Te Whiri Ora is a coordination service that supports agencies to work together with tamariki, rangatahi and whānau to achieve their aspirations.
Te Whiri Ora aims to prioritise an equitable and timely response for Māori and Pasifika tamariki and whānau to address disparities. The service's response places tamariki, rangatahi and whānau in the centre and supports them to have a strong voice in identifying their hopes and supports needs.
For more information, visit: www.tewhiriora.co.nz
Transition to Adulthood Support Service
- Young people aged 17-21
- Transitioning from care or youth justice system to adulthood
- Contact: transitions@pw.maori.nz
- Free service
A service co-designed by young people themselves, to support them to successfully transition from statutory care and youth justice to adulthood.
This service ensures young people who are exiting a care service have access to day-to-day support from someone who cares as they learn to navigate independent living skills, the possibilities of vocational studies, employment and long-term wellbeing.
Our relationship based transition service is available to young people aged 17-21 years.
Young people will receive support from someone who respects them, won’t give up on them and will enhance their culture and identity.
This service assists young people to:
- Find and negotiate accommodation that is appropriate to their wishes and needs.
- Access the services they need.
- Receive practical support to develop the skills and knowledge needed to manage their lives after care.
- Emotional support to learn from their mistakes and continue to develop.
- Be informed about and receive their entitlements.
Tupuranga Engagement & Attendance Service
- Young people aged between 6 and 16 years who have not attended school or kura for a while, or are not enrolled in a school or kura.
- Contact: tupuranga@pw.maori.nz
- Free service
- www.pw.maori.nz/tupuranga
The Tupuranga Attendance and Engagement Service supports tamariki, rangatahi, and their whānau to:
- Feel good and have fun at kura
- Connect with friends and the school community, and represent their kura with pride
- Experience a sense of belonging and feel valued and validated in their identity, language, and culture
- Succeed in learning and acquire skills to thrive throughout life
Find out more here.
Whakahohoro Te Hau
- 18+ years old
- Living in the Canterbury region
- Referrals can be made by Purapura Whetu Trust, He Waka Tapu, and Te Whatu Ora Specialist Mental Health Service
- Free service
Whakahohoro Te Hau is a collaborative kaupapa Māori option for tangata whaiora experiencing mental distress. Partners for this service are Purapura Whetu Trust, He Waka Tapu and Te Whatu Ora Specialist Mental Health Service.
Focussing on strengths and using processes that are engaging and inclusive, Whakahohoro Te Hau addresses individual challenges, identifies needs and works in partnership with whānau to develop strategies to achieve realistic outcomes.
Whakahohoro Te Hau is co-delivered by a team of cultural, clinical, and non-clinical kaimahi and provides safe and holistic pathways to hauora, using Mātauranga Māori as the basis for engagement and service delivery.
- All ages
- Living in the Canterbury region
- Referrals can be made by you (self referrals), friends/whānau or health professionals
- Free service
The purpose of the Whānau Ora Navigator service is to support whānau to achieve their aspirations. Navigators assist whānau to set long-term goals and plans, and encourage whānau to draw from their strengths in working towards these.
Navigators apply a kaupapa Māori approach while providing a range of services for the whole whānau, connecting whānau with other services and helping to advocate on their behalf. They take a unique approach that is responsive to the circumstances and needs of each whānau and ensures whānau rangatiratanga is at the forefront.