Strengthening Our Hauora indigenising and Wānanga

At Te Hono, we are incredibly fortunate to have crossed paths with Amanda Hannah, a wahine of Tāmaki Makaurau with whakapapa connections to Canada. Her mahi with our team began in Term 4 of last year, and since then, we have been privileged to host her for two community wānanga. The impact of her work in helping us re-regulate ourselves, heal, and support our whānau and community has been profound.

Amanda brings a depth of knowledge and a heart-centered approach to her mahi, guiding us in closing the loops of stress and understanding the patterns that contribute to burnout. In our busy lives, especially in kaupapa-driven spaces, it is easy to keep pushing forward without recognising the signs of stress and exhaustion. Through her wānanga, we have learned how to identify these signs early and, more importantly, how to prevent burnout before it takes hold.

One of the most valuable takeaways from her teachings has been the distinction between self-care and self-soothing. While self-soothing offers temporary relief, true self-care provides long-term restoration and resilience. Amanda has shared practical, easy-to-implement strategies to incorporate self-care into our daily lives, making well-being more accessible for everyone in our whānau and community.

The opportunity to work alongside Amanda has been a gift. Her approach aligns beautifully with our kaupapa of reindigenisation, holistic well-being, and strengthening whānau. Her guidance continues to ripple through our community, empowering us to care for ourselves so we can better care for others.

We look forward to continuing this relationship, learning, growing, and healing together. Ngā mihi nui, Amanda, for your aroha, guidance, and the invaluable knowledge you have shared with us. We are truly grateful to have you as part of our journey.