Our Stories

"Finding this group has been such a huge blessing. I had been praying for solid leaders I could learn from, be mentored by, and grow alongside — and then I found my tribe. I was hungry to grow, to soar, to share the gifts God has given me. I longed for a team to pour into, and one that would also pour into me — and that’s exactly what this is.”

“As CEO of Pro Love, I wish to acknowledge the significant impact that the Whakamana Ora leadership course has had on both my leadership journey and the work of our organisation in the community. The programme has equipped me with practical skills and cultural grounding that strengthen my ability to lead with clarity, confidence, and compassion. It has enhanced my capacity to work collaboratively with whānau, social services, and community partners, ensuring that mothers, babies, and families receive the holistic support they need.

“Through Whakamana Ora, I have grown as a leader who is better able to make sound decisions, advocate strongly for vulnerable whānau, and contribute to building positive pathways of change. The ripple effects of this development are seen not only in my own leadership, but also in the stability, wellbeing, and empowerment of the families Pro Love supports. Many mothers struggle silently with Anxiety, Depression, Shame, Overwhelm, Loss of self, Loneliness, most importantly trauma. My heart is to ensure that no mother walks alone. aiming to build a community where women feel seen, heard, understood, and empowered  restoring confidence, connection, and hope. When families heal, babies thrive and our next generations.”

Melissa is a mother of 8, grandmother, and the founder and CEO of “ProLove” - supporting vulnerable mums and their bubs

“I grew up here in this community of Manurewa. Growing up in this community and being a mum at a really young age, I grew up with no purpose, no hope, no dream - only the reality of being a solo mum on a benefit.

“I came to Whakamana Ora to learn about leadership and my place in community. I’ve been part of the leadership programme for over three years. I believe in this mahi because I’ve lived it - it’s changed me. Now I get to lead wahine programmes that impact their whānau and their communities. Would I have done any of that kind of mahi three years ago? Did I think that I’d be able to do that? No. I don’t think so.”

“Growing up I never thought I would amount to much - just another statistic of crime and poverty. I didn't have dreams of becoming anyone, just someone getting by, no-one of any real significance, that's what I believed, but, I know different know. I know I have purpose, I have hope, I am called.
Called to make a difference to my whānau and those around me. Called to share joy and love, truth, and hope. Life is not all rainbows and sunshine, actually, sometimes life is really hard and tough. I believe I am a leader, not just for my whānau but also for my community. How do you measure transformation? How do you measure hope? How do you measure impact?
I can only tell you the cycles that have now broken in my own whānau -
Stable household with both parents; No material hardship; Emotionally healthy parents; Spiritually well household; Connected to identity; Hope, aroha and dreams.”

Elyse leads Family Violence programmes for wahine; she’s also a Cultural Advisor & Board member for two community organisations

“Being in this community leadership programme has been awesome, so grateful. I am the quiet type – hard to open up to people, but this programme has made me feel safe, comfort, healing in myself and has driven me to push more to help our community. I am a carver and I’m planning to use my skills with the community…“

Ali has a big family. One Tuesday he was able to take some leftover food home, after a MADE to Lead session. Here's what he told us:

"Hey whanau thought i'll share a bit of my day. Also, last night session was awesome... well I was listening to some 60 beat tempo chilled music... making some lunch before I picked up my boy from school.

“I started singing that song 'Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders'. In my kitchen, just me at home at the time, I open the fridge for a drink. Then there was my eyes looking at the tray of food from last night... it was way too much & my 2 big boys were meant to come pick some up but they didn't...

“My heart was telling me 'yep, we are gonna make some people in the streets happy tonight' so i cooked it up again, added some garlic & ginger, made some new rice. Plated them up just before dark & biked up the mall with my two younger Boys. They enjoyed it as much as me... thank you, Jesus. I believe it was a message you sent for me and I’m so Grateful."

“So thankful to be in this programme. Where I come from we say Atāwai wōlō (‘a huge thank you’ in the Pukapukan language).”

Aritoka (Ali) is a father and grandfather who role-models aroha and generosity to his kids as he makes a difference in his community

Angel was invited to join the community leadership programme as an intern when we first started back in 2022. She’d never finished school or had a job. Since her dream was to make a difference in the community, our team worked to remove barriers for her, advocating for her to gain entry to a social work course at MIT. Angel took the opportunity and ran with it, graduating at the top of her class.

“[The community leadership team] made a huge impact on my learning, in the most positive way. I was able to learn the basics first which then led me to push harder in my studies to aim and achieve higher. With their support, I have gained the necessary Level 4 qualifications in social and community services, mental health and addiction support. It was such a challenging time for me, but having their support, I smashed it out with a big bang.”

“The tools I have learnt from [the internship] have taught me organisation & operational skills, team player skills, people values and discovering my creative talents and true worth, which I have implemented into my work environment... I have seen a huge change/impact from when I first started. Positive attitudes and team collaboration within our staff which delights my heart to work alongside them. My faith and love towards them is well shown and recognised by all, which has gained me favour and great respect.”

“I would love to acknowledge the beautiful team who have helped me get to where I currently am today. All the one-on-ones, awhi, support, behind-the-scenes followups and heartfelt trainings - I am truly very blessed to be a part of this.”

Angel is making a huge impact working as Service Delivery Manager for a community organisation in the disability sector

“For 35 years, I lived day to day for my next drug fix and who I could hurt. I hurt a lot of innocent people along the way, but for the majority, I was looking for people that deserved it, taking the law into my own hands. When I was younger I wanted to be a policeman, to help other children that had been through the abuse I had gone through but there was a height restriction and I couldn’t read and write, so I became a policeman in the underground. I went through life like that – with a price: guilt, hurting others and prison. I had pain and hate in my heart and that’s what came out of my mouth and in my actions.”

“I was a very wrong role model for my children. I could tell in my wife’s body language that I’m losing her. I had drained her to the point that she was leaving. [after we did an emotional healing programme] there was transformation happening in my life. I’ve now gone through the community leadership programme, I’ve been a mentor coach for the youth, going back into prisons… I got so much out of the programme. I learnt it’s about being a leader in your own house before you can do it in the community. Not just ‘do what I say’, but lead by example.”

“I now know my calling - to work in the community with inmates being released from prison, that I can connect with through my past as an ex-gang member, a person of unforgiveness, drug addiction, depression. Those have become skills I can use to help those people.”

“Where I’m at today is working on a legacy that I’m going to leave my 12 grandchildren and my 3 kids. I’m very happily married - 40 years together now. I’m proud that my grandchildren will never see the person that I was. Even if they hear the stories, I don’t think they’ll believe it!”

Rob is a father, grandfather, role model and leader in his community who shares his powerful story all over the region