Nō Whea | About us

Horouta Whānau Ora is a collective of partner organisations including Iwi Authorities and Māori health and service providers in the Tairāwhiti region. United through a Whānau Ora approach, the collective recognises, supports and develops opportunities for whānau to realise their true potential through focusing upon their aspirations. In doing so, Horouta Whānau Ora empowers whānau to take control of their own wellbeing and destiny. The approach is founded upon Reo and Tikanga with a collective vision of Mana Motuhake and a collective values base of Manaakitanga, Whanaungatanga, Kotahitanga and Puāwaitanga.

Tauihu | Our Tohu

The Horouta Whānau Ora tohu, developed by Mark Kopua is a stylised version of the maroro (flying fish) section of a tauihu (Prow-wakatauā), depicting Nuku-tai-maroro an earlier sea voyaging ancestor of Kiwa and Tangaroa affiliations who also has whakapapa connections to Horouta waka. The Maroro part of the tauihu depicts those sea creatures who breach in front of the prow using the might of the waka to move. The tauihu section of a waka symbolically represents the separation of Ranginui (Sky father) and Papatūānuku (Earth mother) thus allowing light and understanding to exist from dark and the unknown, thus freeing the restricted to become comfortably liberated. It also depicts the divide between Te Aotūroa (Physical realm) and Rarohenga (Spiritual realm) all of which represent the two elements of tapu and noa, which in practicalities we transition between in the act of the hōngī. Additionally, the waka is the transition of a rākau from the Wao of Tane-māhuta to a vessel upon the the tai of Tangaroa. 

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Huinga Raukura | Partners

Horouta Whānau Ora is made up of the following partner organisations