This blog is for discussion topics and to capture HEART events and news as well as positive stories in the Tāmaki community. We encourage you to share your thoughts by leaving comments on the blog posts as well as sharing posts to social media.
Our ‘Reflection corner’ and ‘Looking Back’ posts are written by HEART Change Agents on topics and events that are important to them.
We are absolutely thrilled and so proud to announce the Mana Wāhine Symposium 2026, a free, joyful, and inclusive celebration for wāhine at every stage of life! Expect inspiring workshops, heartfelt wānanga, restorative healing, meaningful connection, and nourishing kai.
Read MoreOn Monday 12 October, to kick off Mental Health Awareness Week, Ren and baby Ailān ran a session with the community at Glen Innes Library. It ended up as one of those mornings where you wish you could bottle the feeling and take it home... So we did the next best thing: everyone made a kete to carry it in.
Read MoreWe were invited to partake in Tāmaki Day, a community event held by Tāmaki Regeneration Company, on Saturday 10th October. Our kaimahi Rosita and Gloria ran a HEART stall on the day, promoting the upcoming Mana Wāhine Symposium, and it turned out to be a brilliant way to get the kaupapa in front of our community. The same day, Ren also flew the HEART flag (literally) at the Auckland Volunteer Expo.
Read MoreAt our September hui at Reserve Tāmaki, the Kaitiaki heard from Change Agent Libby Blore about Weave Tings, and we're stoked to share that it has received $500 koha from the HEART Project Fund toward its first hui.
Read MoreJulia and her family had moved to Point England around two years ago and, like many busy households, found that work and everyday life made it difficult to connect with the people living around them. Julia wanted the chance to organise an event, with HEART’s support, for the people living around Taurima Reserve to gather and connect with one another.
Read MoreOn Wednesday 12 August 2026, an important kōrero was held at St Mary’s Church in Glen Innes, which focused on the topic of faith and its intersection with family violence. It was run on behalf of the HEART Movement by Priscilla Bilby, a Clinical Nurse Specialist with the Family Violence Intervention Team at Te Toka Tumai/Auckland & Starship.
Read MoreAt our December 2025 hui, HEART Project Fund Kaitiaki allocated funding to support the young people of TS ACHILLES Navy Cadets, a cadet unit based here in Tāmaki. We recently heard back from Georgia Bilby on how the koha has been put to use, and the difference it's making.
Read MoreOn Wednesday 15th July we were so excited to host Penni and Jazriel from The Village Collective for their MAAMA Training at the Reserve Tāmaki. We hosted the training with Tāmaki Youth Council (Gloria Tuitupou)
Read MoreAt our June hui, HEART Project Fund Kaitiaki approved a new initiative from Change Agent Julia Friedewald - a community BBQ bringing neighbours around Taurima Reserve, Point England together to connect, timed with the opening of the reserve’s new playground. It’s a simple idea with a powerful goal: turning strangers into neighbours.
Read MoreRecently, Team Ngākau Aroha o Tāmaki took part in the Walking Netball 2026 Summer League competition at ANC. The season created a space for wāhine in the community to connect, build confidence, and enjoy being active together through friendly competition and whanaungatanga.
Read MoreOn Wednesday 29 April 2026, the HEART Movement hosted the SHINE Respond Family Violence Prevention session at Tāmaki Community Development Trust.
Read MoreChildren were playing, there was laughter everywhere, and at the same time there were also some really heartfelt conversations happening between the community and all the different organisations. It felt like a true snapshot of community life, and it was beautiful to witness healthy relationships in action across this space.
On the 20th of March 2026, I had the privilege of attending the LifeKeepers Suicide Prevention Training at Tāmaki Community Church, where the day ran from 8:30am to 5:00pm and was guided by facilitators Jordan Makea and Sophina Vilisoni-Heather, whose passion for the kaupapa and depth of knowledge could be felt throughout the entire experience.
Read MoreMana Wāhine Week 2025 lit up Tāmaki from 28th September to 3rd October, bringing together hundreds of wāhine for six days of wānanga, creativity, movement, healing, and connection. What started as an idea quickly became a powerful reminder of what happens when wāhine gather with purpose and aroha.
Read MoreFunding was obtained by Rākau Tautoko from the Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Local Board to support the HEART Movement, which we are calling the HEART Project Fund. This funding allows us to allocate up to $1000 to Change Agent ideas, per bi-monthly hui. Kaitiaki of the fund make decisions on allocations, and the hui and ideas are supported by the Secretary.
Read MoreSince June 2021, Men’s Koru has been going strong under the guidance of HEART Change Agents Rev. Joel Carpenter and Isoa Kavakimotu. The goal was to create a space for tāne in Tāmaki to share and connect in a “No Judgement, No Advice” environment.
Read MoreThe HEART Project Fund allocation for May 2025 was awarded to Te Whakamanamai with connection to local organisation Tāmaki Community Development Trust. Read on to learn about the incredible space that Te Whakamanamai has become. We are privileged to support such a wonderful and valuable kaupapa.
Read MoreWe are keen to get involved in more community events so were excited to be invited to the Grace International Pop-Up Market on 12th July 2025, where all proceeds from stall fees were to be sent to Mailangi Bible College in Fiji.
Read MoreSome of our Change Agents got together on and created an info table at Te Oro Tekau - Te Oro’s tenth birthday celebration.
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