Helping Porirua tamariki reconnect with school and community

Our team works with each child and their whānau on a case-by-case basis to support them before small challenges become long-term problems.

Porirua Whānau Centre is stepping in with early, targeted support to help tamariki who are beginning to struggle at school or feel disconnected from their community.

We’re working with children aged around 8 to 12 years who are showing signs of disengagement — such as missing school, behaviour challenges, or early contact with police. Our aim is to support them before small challenges become long-term problems.

Rather than offering a one-size-fits-all programme, our team works with each child and their whānau on a case-by-case basis, with referrals coming from schools, police, and community partners. This approach means the support a child receives really fits their situation.

We know every tamaiti is different. Some may be feeling frustrated at school due to unmet needs or learning challenges. Others might be dealing with whānau stress or struggling to feel like they belong. These pressures can affect how children show up each day — at school, at home, and in their relationships.

So, our support focuses on three key areas:

• Education — Helping tamariki to stay engaged and confident at school

• Wellbeing — Connecting them with therapeutic support tailored to their needs

• Positive connection — Strengthening ties with whānau, friends, and community, and helping them feel grounded in who they are

We want to see tamariki feel safe, supported and connected. When that happens, we often see real, positive change — better attendance and engagement at school, fewer run-ins with police, stronger relationships with whānau and peers, and a deeper sense of belonging.

As Whānau Centre Korowai Service Manager, Jess Te Huia, says:

“These are not children we’re meeting for the first time. We already know their whānau and their stories, so we can respond in ways that make sense for them. When children feel supported and connected, we see real change.”

This work is part of the Whānau Centre’s wider commitment to supporting whānau in Porirua through education, wellbeing, and community connection. You can find out more about our services and programmes on our website.