May Newsletter Update
The mahi keeps growing…
As we move through the first part of 2026, we are encouraged by the momentum building across our programmes and community. New leaders are stepping forward, people are growing, relationships are strengthening and we are already seeing the ripple effects of people empowered to lead change in their own communities.
Here are some of the highlights from the past few months…
Flourishing Relationships programme: We ran our very first Flourishing Relationships programme for 17 couples on May 9th. Read on for the details!
Community leaders in action: “Making a Difference Everyday”
MADE to Lead 2026: This year we are working with two groups of inspirational whanau - 45 in total.
We remain so incredibly grateful to every single person who faithfully gives, serves, prays and supports our work - you are hugely valued and very much appreciated!
Flourishing Relationships workshop - strengthening families
On Saturday 9 May, we held our very first Flourishing Relationships workshop, with 17 couples joining us for a day focused on strengthening relationships and building deeper understanding. We were privileged to welcome couples from many different stages of life and relationship journeys, including those dating, newly engaged, newly married, and long-term partnerships/marriages.
Our hope for the programme was simple: that couples would leave with a greater appreciation of one another’s differences, stronger connection, and practical tools to build healthy relationships.
This special day was made possible by an incredible team of volunteers who generously gave up their Saturday to serve whānau and create a warm, welcoming environment for everyone involved.
The programme concluded with a special date night dinner at a local restaurant, where couples enjoyed interactive games, shared laughter, and quality time together. The atmosphere was full of joy, connection, and genuine community.
Feedback from participants was overwhelmingly positive, with many highlighting the warmth and hospitality of the team, the value of learning how past experiences can influence relationships, and the encouragement of realising they were not alone in their challenges.
Thank you to our amazing community!
Our team would especially like to thank our awesome volunteers - Angel, Ayashna, Sheredon, Melissa, Aidan, Devs and Ash - and the Manurewa Local Board for making this beautiful event possible. (We hope to be able to hold another one in the second half of the year)
Feedback from Flourishing Relationships
“The content and delivery was great, also the environment created for us was warm friendly and welcoming”
“Loved that a space like this even exists, the team are some of the most warm and welcoming crew this always helps, hospitality was EXCELLENT! The content was great for future discussions.”
“The feeling that you’re not alone resonates with me. Programmes like this should be available and easily accessible to all couples”
“I enjoyed everything - the workshop was a good way to understand how we all carry baggage from our past. And why we love differently. And the dinner date too - why as couple we should always take time out for each other. You all did amazing - thank you for doing this. I can see how it helps a lot of couples regain their spark & love for each other. Some days we get so busy with our families & work that we forget about spending time with each other.”
“I really enjoyed learning about how our past traumas can affect our relationships, and what we should implement in our relationships to build healthier connections... I also loved the fact that we all came together and genuinely had such a good time. The couples games were so much fun, and it was beautiful to witness the love between couples and the joy people shared with one another. It was such a beautiful experience because some of the things happening in my relationship, I didn’t fully understand before. But hearing clear explanations, along with real-life examples and stories, brought so much understanding and perspective. It was truly insightful, encouraging, and uplifting.“
“We absolutely loved the opportunity to come together, leaving our hectic lives behind for a few moments, to concentrate on us as a couple. The way everything was done made it so welcoming and open and had an ease about it, making it a safe and whole space. Everything was actually done to very high standards… we are just so thankful. The teaching was absolutely relevant and first class.”
Leadership in Action…
“Making a difference everyday”
At MADE to Lead we encourage our whānau to Make A Difference Everyday. One of our Phase Two leaders, Ali, shared a story recently in our group chat about how he took some surplus food and turned it into meals for "people on the streets" in his neighbourhood. He took his two young sons with him, role-modelling generosity and kindness...
Women Supporting Each Other
One of our beautiful Phase One community leaders, Philippa, has recently stepped out and started up a women’s group.
The first gathering was in her home, where a group of women from Philippa’s circle of whānau and friends met for the first time, to share encouragement and kai together.
Phillipa invited Melissa, one of our Phase Two leaders, to come and share her testimony, so she went along and really enjoyed the opportunity to meet the group and support Philippa.
“It’s great seeing women empowering other women, and encouraging each other. It was such an awesome group - a bunch of like-minded women. It was awesome to be able to go along and support what Philippa is doing in her neighbourhood.” - Melissa
MADE to Lead: Empowering Community Leaders
MADE to Lead equips & empowers emerging leaders who are often overlooked or excluded from mainstream leadership pathways. They are deeply connected to their whānau and communities and carry lived-experience of trauma and adversity, that’s being transformed into purpose and powerful “stories of hope”. As our whānau heal and grow, they are uniquely positioned to lead change from within their own communities.
Term Two of MADE to Lead has started well, building on a strong start to the year...
A massive thank you to our volunteers: MADE to Lead would not be possible without our dedicated team of volunteers who show up every week to get the room ready, set up chairs, put out the kai, run the sound, support our whanau and make each session run smoothly with a warm welcome, and then pack it all away again in record time with a smile. Ngā mihi nui Rob, Elyse, Rox & Tu, Melissa, Aidan and Kasalina.
A huge thank you to our supporters!
Thank you to every donor & grant funder who is supporting us (including those who want to stay anonymous). You are helping make this work
possible. Ngā manaakitanga me ngā mihi nui!
