OUR STORY
We are a kaupapa Māori mental health and wellbeing support service for whānau in Ōtautahi (Christchurch, NZ), with tamariki aged 0-12 years.
Launched in 2019, Te Oriori and Pūmotomoto is provided through Purapura Whetū Trust, a kaupapa Māori non-government organisation that provides a range of fully-funded health and social support services for all ages across Waitaha (Canterbury, NZ).
Our tamariki are taonga, born to thrive and have opportunities to develop gifts handed down from our tīpuna. Through our service we model compassion, connectedness, and nurturing with kai and unconditional aroha to whānau, wrapping them in korowai as they heal and become stronger.
Young Mum's Group
Coming in January 2026
Through this group you will:
Establish connections with other young mama
Build confidence in your motherhood journey
Share stories and understand your purpose as a mama
Midwifery Sessions
Together, we are three wāhine committed to nurturing hapū māmā and whānau through Hapū Wānanga grounded in mātauranga Māori.
Our wānanga weave together karakia, oriori, traditional birthing knowledge, and practical support to honour the sacred journey of pregnancy and birth.
We create a safe, inclusive, whānau-centred space where stories are shared, connections are strengthened, and each whānau is empowered with confidence, cultural grounding, and aroha as they prepare to welcome their pēpi.
Through this wānanga you will build confidence in:
Karakia and oriori
Traditional birthing practices
Practical Support for your birthing journey
Haputanga Wānanga
Our Facilitators
Maree Murdoch
Ko Taranaki toku Maunga
Ko Waingongoro toku awa
Ko Aotea toku waka
Ko Ngati Ruanui raua Ngai Tahu nga iwi
Ko Irakehu te hapu
No Ohawe Moana ahau
Ko Maree Murdoch toku ingoa
Kia ora,
For the past 17 years, I have worked closely with whānau and pēpi, providing guidance, encouragement, and practical support as parents grow into their new roles. Building trusting relationships and walking alongside families is at the heart of my work.
As Kaiarahi my responsibilities include supporting whānau through the hapūtanga journey, listening to their needs, and providing guidance for kaiako and wānanga staff. Through thoughtful leadership and collaborative practice, I help create a learning environment that nurtures wellbeing, connection, and growth for whānau, team members, and the wider community.
Ipu Whenua and Waka Pito
Alice Tickell
Ko Te Upoko te Tahu Mataa te Maunga
Ko Okana te Awa
Ko Takitimu te Waka
Ko Waitaha, ko Ngāti Mamoe, Ko Kai Tahu ngā Iwi
Ko Ngāti Irakehu ko Ngāti Mako, Ngarahura ko Ngāti Moki ngā hapu
Ko Alice Tickell nee Te Marino toku ingoa
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NZAC Counselling Supervisor
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Registered NZAC Child and Whānau Therapist
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Art Therapist trained under Margaret Snowdon. 2019 - 2022
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Diploma of Teaching Primary and Early Childhood Education 1990.
Kandace Smiler
Ko Ngāti Paoa, ko Te Aitanga a Māhaki, ko Te Atiawa ōku iwi.
I am a Kaitautoko at Pūrapura Whetū, supporting māmā and whānau throughout hapūtanga and the early parenting journey. In my role, I walk alongside whānau to offer practical support, build connections, and help them access the services and information they need. I work closely with our clinical team and follow safe referral pathways for anything requiring medical or specialist care.
Qualifications & Experience
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Diploma in Sport and Exercise (including nutrition)
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10+ years’ experience as a Personal trainer & health coach working with pregnancy and postpartum wāhine
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Specialist training in:
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Pregnancy & postpartum exercise
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Menstrual cycle essentials
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Corrective exercise
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Diploma in Rongoā Māori
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4 years of experience in Rongoā practice
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Able to support māmā with:
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Safe, basic movement guidance within scope
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General nutrition information (non-clinical)
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Lifestyle support and wellbeing check-ins
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Committed to providing manaaki, connection, and culturally grounded support for whānau
Te Arahori
Potaka-Osborne
Kia ora, I’m Te Arahori Potaka-Osborne (Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Tūwharetoa). I’m a health coach here at Te Oriori, and my passion is supporting whānau to feel confident and empowered in their own hauora journey.
My approach is autonomy-focused — I believe everyone holds their own solutions, and my role is simply to walk alongside you, offer guidance, and help you build tools that fit your life. I support people with diet, exercise, stress management, and navigating medical conditions, always with a focus on creating achievable, sustainable steps.
My lived experience with mental health has shaped the way I show up in this mahi. I know how hard it can feel to start, to keep going, and to believe that change is possible. That understanding helps me create a space where whānau feel safe, heard, and encouraged.
I blend evidence-based practice with a holistic lens, weaving in gentle threads of te ao Māori to honour wellbeing in its full picture — tinana, hinengaro, wairua, and whānau.
Billie Hall
I am a dedicated kaitautoko with Pūmotomoto supporting hapū māmā, whānau, midwives, and nurses through culturally grounded, holistic care. I am a māmā of 5 tamariki and appreaicte the variances that come with each haputanga and the experienes that follow.
In the haputanga wananga space, I help strengthen wellbeing, connection, and confidence, working alongside both whānau and clinical staff to uphold safe, supportive, and empowering haputanga journeys.
Wahakura Wānanga
Mihi Adams
Ko Ngāti Kahungunu ki Heretaunga te Iwi
Ko Pukekautuku me Te Horo ngā Maunga
Ko Ngaruroro te awa
No Ahuriri ahau
Ko Runanga te Marae
Ko Te Aroha te Whare Tipuna
Ko Mihi Adams taku ingoa.
I have been a kairaranga for many years, I love the wānanga space of sharing my knowledge with whomever would like to soak it up. My passion is Haputanga especially the Wahakura. I have made well over 1000 wahakura in my time for many communities. I feel every pepi needs one. My Whare Tapa Wha is always tau(calm) when I’m weaving, and I’d love to share this with you.
Wahakura Wānanga
Toni Rowe
Ko Toni Rowe tōku ingoa,
Nō Taranaki tūturu me Waikato
For more than two decades now, I have walked alongside harakeke, guided by the knowledge of my tūpuna and the healing gift woven within mahi raranga. My weaving journey began when I was 19, and it has carried me through life as a source of grounding, connection, and purpose.
Today, one of my passions is sharing that mātauranga with whānau through wahakura wānanga—creating safe sleeping spaces for pēpi and whānau. With Each wahakura being an expression of aroha, protection, and whakapapa.
Wahakura Wānanga
Aroha Williams
Hikuranga me Taranaki nga maunga
Waiapu me Waitotara nga awa
Horouta me Kahukaka nga waka
Ngati Porou me Nga Rauru ki tahi nga iwi
Te Whanau a Rerewa me Ngati Ruaiti nga hapu
Ko Aroha Williams toku ingoa
Tokowaru aku tamariki
Tokoono aku mokopuna
I have been in the Whatu Muka and Raranga space at Te Ori Ori for 3 years.
Harakeke has been my peaceful place, from hauhake in nature to creating taonga I am proud of.
Navigating Parenthood
Siobhan Penrice
Siobhan is a registered nurse here at Te Oriori and Pūmotomoto, with experience in working in the Well Child she is excited to bring the Transition to Parenthood Wānanga to fruition.
Navigating Parenthood
Rachel Pomeroy
Rachel is a registered nurse working in our service known as Te Oriori and Pūmotomoto.
Midwifery Sessions
Jemima Stagpoole
I have been a midwife for over 10 years and worked in many parts of Aotearoa. I am very lucky to be working with well-established and experienced midwives in Ōtautahi/Christchurch.
Pregnancy and birth are such special times for you and your whānau and I feel very privileged to be a part of these experiences.
Midwifery Sessions
Leianne O'Brien
I am Leianne O'Brien, an experienced registered midwife within the Manaakitea Midwives Practice.
I have had the privilege of providing midwifery care to Canterbury families since 1996. Previously to becoming a midwife I was employed as a registered nurse for the CDHB and I have also worked in the community as a Plunket nurse.
Midwifery Sessions
Jahdae Temepara
Kia ora e te whānau.
Ko Makeo te maunga,
Ko Waiaaua te awa,
Ko Mataatua te waka,
Ko Toroa te tangata,
Ko Te Whakatōhea raua ko Ngāpuhi raua ko Ngāi Tahu ko Te Aitanga-a-Hauiti ngā iwi,
Ko Ngati Rūa te hapu,
Ko Omarumutu te marae,
Ko Jahdae Temepara te ingoa
As a Māori midwife working within the hospital setting, I am committed to providing safe, compassionate care that encompasses both clinical knowledge and the wisdom of our tūpuna. I am passionate about the reclamation of traditional mātuaranga, tikanga and birthing practices, and I strive to create space for whānau to feel empowered throughout their journey. By weaving mātauranga Māori with modern maternity care, I support hapū Māmā and whānau to welcome their pēpi with confidence, connection, and aroha.
Contact Us
Haputanga Wānanga
Our Sessions
Nau mai, haere mai.
Our fully-funded antenatal wananga are grounded in kaupapa Māori, supporting hapū māmā, pāpā, and whānau on their journey through hapūtanga, birth, and early parenthood.
Each month we offer four different akoranga.
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Ipu whenua and waka pito
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Navigating parenthood - nurse led session
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Wahakura wananga
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Midwife-led session
You can attend one, some, or all four — there is no cost, and everyone is welcome.
These sessions are a space to learn, kōrero, share whakaaro, and build connection with other whānau. We honour mātauranga Māori alongside practical information, creating a supportive and mana-enhancing environment
Ipu Whenua and Waka Pito
In Wānanga, we create waka pito (pito pots), which contain the umbilical cord.
We also create Ipu Whenua (pots to receive the whenua or placental afterbirth) for burial.
Ipu are unfired to allow the vessel to break down, returning its contents to the whenua (land) and thus connecting to the place you choose as a Whānau. This process affirms your whakapapa and links to your tūrangawaewae.
You will learn:
The cultural significance of Uku (clay)
The process of creating Waka Pito and Ipu Whenua
Wahakura Wānanga
We have a creative and safe space to come along and learn how to make your very own Wahakura. You get the opportunity to surround your baby's safe sleep moenga with all your ahua (thoughts, energy,emotions, etc), to weave in your whanau whakapapa, to create a connection with pēpi while they are sleeping.
Please note: This wānanga runs over two days. Our facilitators harvest harakeke and provide all resources needed to create your Wahakura. We ask that you let our facilitators know at least 48 hours prior if you can no longer attend.
Ngā mihi nui!
You will learn:
The process of harvesting Harakeke
The tikanga of Raranga
The weaving process when making wahakura
Navigating Parenthood
Nurses Siobhan Penrice and Rachel Pomeroy's combined clinical experience is in well-child nursing, women’s health and general nursing in both community and acute settings.
They are open to discussing all areas of caring for pēpi from birth to five years, including the joys and challenges along the way.
In their wānanga they will cover the transition to parenthood and daily practicalities of caring for pēpi, such as feeding, settling and dressing.
This is a great opportunity to connect with other hapū māmā and whānau on the same journey.
Through this wānanga you will build confidence in:
Navigating the transition to parenthood
Feeding pepi
Settling, dressing and routines with your pepi