Using our knowledge of Kaupapa Māori and Clinical Frameworks, our team is dedicated to working alongside individuals and whānau to change from a cycle of constant hurt, blaming, denial and reliving trauma. Our full range of mental health and addiction services are community-based, helping you to heal with a whānau ora approach. We can wānanga one-on-one or in group settings, indoors at our therapy space, or outdoors in our taiao – it’s all about what works for you.
Our counselling covers
- Mental health
- Alcohol & Addictions
- Trauma
- LGBQT+
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Bullying
- Eating Disorders
- Sexual Violence
- Racism & Discrimination
Our services include
- Creating goals for success
- Māori Narratives
- Building resilience, confidence and self-love
- Spiritual Wellness
- Kaupapa Māori
- Therapies
- Wairua practices
- Mahi Matakite
We support whānau based on their individual needs.
How it works
We offer counselling for adults and for rangatahi year 8 and up. These can be one-on-one and/or whānau based sessions. We work with our clients and whānau in a number of settings, including home environments, beach or other recreational locations or at our office.
An important part of our whānau ora-based service is wraparound care. We have the ability to integrate our other services into this mahi and work alongside our other teams, including Whānau Ora, Rangatahi Hub, our Medical Centre, Healthy Lifestyles and Medical Academy.
Our counselling & therapy team is highly skilled, providing you with a safe space to work through anything life has thrown your way. Talk to any of our registered counsellors, social workers, suicide prevention, addictions practitioners (DPAANZ), CEP Practitioners and Mahi Matakite for the help you or your whānau need. The service is provided in a strictly confidential environment.
Our team
Hiria Allison
Kaiwhakahaere Mata Wai Ora (Manager)
Te Whānau-ā-Apanui, Te Whakatōhea, Ngai Tūhoe
Registered Social Worker, Addictions Practitioner (DAPAANZ) & CEP practitioner.
Hiria Allison has worked in the social services and mental health sector for approximately 12 years.
In her time as a Te Puna Ora o Mataatua counsellor, she has identified an overwhelming need in the community for counselling services. Her passion is bringing healing to whānau who have been through troubling experiences and supporting them to discover healthy views of themselves.
Serena Aim
Kai Mata Ora (Counsellor)
Ngāti Pākehā
Dip Counselling, Mauri Ora, Dip Māori Applied Co-existing Problems, AOD, Provisional Registration NZ Association of Counsellors
Serena is a registered counsellor from Ōpōtiki and, for over six years, has been in the Kaupapa Māori mental health and addiction field.
She loves working alongside tangata whaiora to reach their goals and aspirations within a safe and nurturing space. The most important thing to her is being able to provide a therapeutic space to ensure whānau are in a safe, caring, and confidential environment working one-on-one with a strength-based approach. She believes “Everything happens for a reason”
Matewai Wharepapa
Kai Arataki Mata Ora (Team Lead)
Ngāi Tūhoe, Te Whānau-ā-Apanui, Ngāti Porou
BA (Hons), Pg Dip Ed (Primary), Cert in Public Health & Health Promotion (Suicide Prevention).
Matewai has worked as an empowerment coach alongside rangatahi and wahine to strengthen their mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing.
Her goal is to help build their resilience, self-confidence, self-love, and self-esteem to achieve success in all areas of their lives. She is passionate about reconnecting Māori to their cultural identity and heal past traumas through both Te Ao Māori and Te Ao Pākehā methodologies.
Moko Savage
Mātanga Rongoā (Traditional Māori Healer)
Ngāti Awa, Ngai Tūhoe
Moko has worked in holistic Māori healing for more than 25 years. He has worked in Mataatua, Te Tairāwhiti and as far as Tāmaki Makaurau.
Moko is passionate about holistic health, wairua healing. and sharing mātauranga with others, including the facilitation of group wānanga.
In his sessions Moko uses traditional Māori Rongoā to support his practice.
Moko teaches individuals, groups and whānau how they can strengthen and heal themselves through traditional practice.
Jessica Gerrard-Collier
Kai Mata Aho (Spiritual Therapist)
Whakatōhea
Jessica is dedicated to helping others find healing, balance, and inner peace.
Through her business and alongside Ngā Tohunga o te Moana a Toi, Jess has been able to provide alternative forms of healing through her holistic methods such as mirimiri, energy healing, and self-care. These avenues have also allowed her to travel internationally to learn traditional methods from local practitioners.
One of her passions is to guide kaumātua, pakeke and rangatahi towards making positive differences in their lives.
