February 2025 Update
- whakamanaora
- Mar 4
- 3 min read
Updated: May 17
Greetings from the team at Whakamana Ora!
We are so grateful for your support and interest in our work and are excited to provide you with an update on what we’ve been up to since the start of the year...
Inspire Night
We started the year with a shared dinner and Inspire Night for around 20 people who’d been joining us for karakia in January to prepare for the year ahead. Our guest speaker Len Buttner was encouraging and inspiring and people came away feeling hopeful and excited for the year.
Community Leadership Programme Info Night
On February 19th we held an info night for a brand-new intake of the Community Leadership Programme for 15 people who had heard about the programme by word of mouth and were interested in finding out more. We now have a core group confirmed who all are excited to invest in their spiritual and emotional growth, so they can make a difference in the community and their spheres of influence. The new intake of the course begins training sessions on Tuesday, March 11th.
Our previous CLP programme participants are meeting to reconnect and start the year on Tuesday, March 4th. Altogether we will have around 30 community leaders in training this year.
What they said about Info Night
“I enjoyed it, it’s what I need, and good timing. I want to grow more and learn... I’m happy I found a new family I feel safe with. I really feel this is gonna help me more to help others better...” (Ali)
“So so so loved tonight...” (Melissa)
“This is the family I’ve been desiring for such a long time. I cried when I saw all the different faces sitting around the table, all the cultures. I haven’t seen that for so long...” (Philippa)
Coaching and Mentoring
Len and Pris have been working with a number of people to provide counselling and support. One of the couples receiving relationship counselling commented:
“Wow, I’m just amazed. My husband is a changed man, the way he offers to help me shows that he actually cares for me, and it is so different from the previous years.” (JH)
This couple is now emotionally and spiritually stable as they undergo further counselling. Both are grateful for the ongoing help and counsel Len & Pris have provided.
Investing in people through BVOY
Len was able to secure a sponsored place for one of our community leaders, Wiremu, on the recent Better Version of You course, which helps people develop their communication skills for public speaking. Wiremu has a powerful story to share, which we know will bring hope to many people.
“I got so much out of this, to prepare me to step up. It wasn’t just about being a better communicator. [I was really impacted] about facing my fears. Not just on stage but in life.” (Wiremu)
Building connections in Paihia
Earlier this month we were invited by our friends Donald and Suzanne Lewis to share the vision with a group of 15 people in Paihia who were interested to hear about what we are doing. This was an opportunity to network and share our heart for the South Auckland community. Kaumatua Te Hurihanga Rihari from Te Kupu Ministries also endorsed our work.
Presenting to Manurewa Local Board
Len and Elyse Stubbington were invited to make a presentation to the Manurewa Local Board about Whakamana Ora which was very favourably received as evidenced by this letter from the Board Chair:
“It was great to hear about your ‘by community, in community, for community’ approach. This is a principle that we believe in strongly as a local board as well. We want our community to be empowered and it is clear that this is something Whakamana Ora Trust is striving for... We would love to be a part of your journey and growth in our area.”
Want to Support Us?
We are still waiting to receive our Charities Registration which will enable us to begin applying for grant funding. To date we have secured enough funding to cover basic expenses through to the end of May which we are very grateful for. Our team continue to donate their time voluntarily and we are working to find ways to secure the funds we need going forward.
If you would like to talk to us about how you can partner with us, please get in touch with Len (027) 777 5171. You can also make a donation through our Givealittle page