Pou Hono Manawa Waikato: Honouring our past, uplifting whānau hauā
Pou Hono Manawa
Te Pou Manawa
Te Pou Hono
E herea ana ngā tāngata
The Sustenance of Heart
The Support of Love
The Strength of Connection
Binds All People
A powerful sense of aroha, unity and renewal filled Kirikiriroa Marae on 9 April 2026 as around 130 whānau hauā, kaimahi, kaumātua and community partners gathered to celebrate the launch of Pou Hono Manawa in Waikato.
The Waikato Māori Service now weaves together under a national Pou Hono Manawa service, which was first established in Wellington August 2024. Delivered by CCS Disability Action, Pou Hono Manawa has been shaped with and for whānau hauā Māori and reflects Manawa – CCS Disability Action’s National Māori Leadership Framework – which centres tikanga-led, whānau-centred approaches.
It supports disabled Māori and their whānau in Hamilton, Hauraki, Matamata-Piako, Ōtorohanga, South Waikato, Waipā and Waitomo. Pou Hono Manawa is whānau-centred. It builds on strengths, supports cultural connection and removes community barriers, so people can live the lives they choose in ways that reflect Te Ao Māori.
A celebration of aroha and manaakitanga
Hosted at Kirikiriroa Marae – a vibrant cultural hub for Hamilton East and a home for many Karanga Maha hui – the launch day was described as a celebration of aroha, manaakitanga and pure joy. Whānau hauā and their whānau filled the wharenui with waiata and kapa haka, creating an atmosphere that was both deeply moving and uplifting.
For Te Aroha Teriaki, one of three Pou Hono for CCS Disability Action Waikato, the day captured what Pou Hono Manawa is all about: connection, belonging and wairua. “The waiata exuded a sense of belonging and being a part of the wairua energy that touches the heart. It was the people, the whānau who brought this celebratory energy and all together it was an explosion of pure joy,” she reflects.
The pōwhiri was guided and enriched by respected leaders, including kaikaranga Carolyn Hopa (Ngāti Wairere), and kaikōrero and kaumātua Hori Richard, who represented the manuhiri and helped set a tone of respect, remembrance and hope. Esteemed kaumātua Tame Pokaia attended alongside retired kuia Pare Heta. Tame, from the Kāhui Ariki, has long been a stalwart of the CCS Disability Action Māori Unit, continuing a legacy of leadership for whānau hauā in Waikato.
Standing on the shoulders of those who came before
For Dempsey Puru, Pou Ārahi mō te Puku o te Ika at CCS Disability Action, the launch marked an important transition in a journey that began more than 30 years ago. Since 1995, Māori Services in Waikato and Bay of Plenty have grown from a single whānau support worker role into a strong, culturally grounded, whānau-centred service.
“This journey is one of resilience, innovation and collective strength,” Colene Herbert, General Manager for CCS Disability Action’s Midland region shared at the launch. “We take a moment to acknowledge and honour our cherished ruruhi and koroheke who have passed on – those who walked before us and laid the foundations of our Māori Services here in Waikato. Though they are no longer physically with us, their legacy lives on in the mahi we continue, in the values we uphold, and in the pathways they helped create for future generations.”
The shift from Waikato Māori Services to Pou Hono Manawa service is, she says, more than a change of name. It represents growth, strengthening and a renewed commitment to whānau hauā. “Pou Hono Manawa reflects the essence of connection – connecting people, services and aspirations – while continuing to uphold the values and foundations that Waikato Māori Services has built over time. Our focus remains on empowering whānau, supporting independence, and ensuring culturally responsive services that honour Te Ao Māori.”
Te Aronui anchors this next phase. It keeps whānau hauā and their whānau at the heart of every decision. For Dempsey, this journey is about embracing change with intention, honouring those who have walked before and listening deeply to the aspirations coming from within Karanga Maha.
Community partners walking alongside whānau
The launch also recognised the many community partners who have helped shape and sustain Karanga Maha and now Pou Hono Manawa in Waikato. Te Ngākau a Kiwa Charitable Trust, a group of nurses who offer immunisations, health checks, weekly wellbeing sessions and home visits, attended and supported the celebration, reflecting the shared focus on hauora.
Te Kōhao Health Kaumātua Rōpū, who are registered members and valued promoters of Karanga Maha, have combined with CCS Disability Action for many events, connecting kaumātua and whānau hauā to information, support and opportunities to gather. Coordinators Oz Turner and Gail Poihipi continue to work closely with the team to schedule ongoing hui.
Te Rauawaawa Kaumātua Charitable Trust, widely known across Waikato for their support of kaumātua, also attended through staff representatives Jackie and Rachel, who brought acknowledgements from CEO Rangimahora Reddy. Their presence underscored the shared commitment to recognising and uplifting the mana of kaumātua within disability support.
From Te Whatu Ora, DSL representative Staumi Buisson and Autism Coordinator Jane Crown attended on behalf of Te Rōpū Tiaki Hunga Hauā, a network of kaimahi who hold disability roles across Waikato. Rachel from Hauraki also attended as part of this rōpū, reinforcing the strong relationship with Disability Support Link (DSL), which provides Needs Assessment and Service Coordination (NASC) referrals for Pou Hono Manawa in Waikato.
Kirikiriroa Marae Trustee and Marae Kaitiaki, Te Rangi Martel, welcomed the launch as part of an ongoing relationship hosting Karanga Maha events. The marae is a hub of service for the Hamilton community, and Pou Hono Manawa has been offered a drop-in space there. This will enable the team to be a visible disability support presence in a place where many whānau already feel a meaningful connection.
A sense of rebirth – and an open invitation
The event brought to life whānau aspirations that have been voiced over many years. There was a shared understanding of the effort, determination and aroha – past and present – that has brought the kaupapa to this point, and a deep sense of unity in looking ahead together.
Pou Hono Manawa ki Waikato is a free, kaupapa Māori-led disability support service for whānau hauā/tāngata whaikaha Māori who live in the Disability Support Link (DSL) region.
If you are aged 0–65 and meet the criteria for Disability Support Services (DSS), you can ask DSL to refer you or your whānau to Pou Hono Manawa at CCS Disability Action.
If you are over 65, live in the same DSL catchment and would have met the criteria for DSS before turning 65, you can refer yourself directly to Pou Hono Manawa.
You can learn more about Pou Hono Manawa in Waikato and Wellington and how to access the service on our Pou Hono Manawa page.