He moana pukepuke e ekengia e te waka
A rough sea can be navigated
How can we help families to reduce the compounded weight of toxic stress, and increase their protective factors?
If we want to give tamariki the best start in life, we must start by strengthening whānau. Empowering parents to be “brain builders” and creating spaces for parents to feel supported through connection, peer learning, and respite from daily pressures, they are able to develop the skills that positively shape their children's future. When parents are supported, tamariki thrive.
This is what Growing Collective Wellbeing looks like in action. The Growing Collective Wellbeing Regional Suicide Prevention Strategy has made a significant impact by driving community-led change and system transformation. Key initiatives have strengthened relationships, built local capacity, and promoted early intervention, resulting in improved mental health and addiction support. Notably, the Collaborative Redesign of Mental Health & Addiction Services and Maramataka Mental Health Crisis Patterns project are actively reshaping how care is delivered. Partnerships with Te Whatu Ora Whanganui and Te Oranganui are enhancing service accessibility and supporting national mental health reform. The strategy’s ongoing work on toxic stress awareness, workforce wellbeing, and policy change is set to further deepen its transformative impact.
Within the strategy we heard stories of adults talking about the negative environments they were brought up in and how this influenced the pathways they chose – it was all they knew. We heard of the toxic experiences people lived through and feeling they were in constant flight or fight mode.
Harvard University research has shown that these experiences: poverty; unemployment; neglect; and addiction creates a “toxic stress” response, which can affect brain architecture and brain chemistry. Extensive research on the biology of stress now shows that healthy development can be derailed by excessive or prolonged activation of stress response systems in the body and brain. Such toxic stress can have damaging effects on learning, behavior, and health across the lifespan.
Last year, Healthy Families WRR facilitated a Toxic Stress Workshop Series, bringing together community leaders, iwi, and government frontline sectors to understand the impact of toxic stress on pēpi, tamariki, rangatahi, and whānau.
Presented by Point Research researchers Alex Woodley and Nadine Metzger, the workshops revealed that even when whānau are overwhelmed, that removing a single stressor can significantly improve a person’s ability to cope, strengthening their executive function and overall wellbeing.
The ability to develop new skills doesn’t end in childhood, it must be nurtured throughout life. That’s why coaching, practice, and peer support are critical. It’s not just about receiving advice; it’s about experiencing growth in a safe and encouraging environment.
By supporting parents in reducing stress, developing resilience, and strengthening their own capabilities, the next generation has the strongest possible foundation to thrive.
This year, we’re taking the conversation further.
On March 18th, we will be hosting “He Waka Eke Noa: The Toxic Stress Symposium” - a space to explore as a community within workshops, how to address toxic stress and grow collective wellbeing for our whānau, and move from awareness into action. This isn’t just another event; it’s a chance to connect, kōrero, and learn from some of the best in the field. Led by Innovation & Research – Te Oranganui, alongside experts like Alex Woodley & Nadine Metzger (Point Research) and Jase Te Patu (Hauora Aotearoa), we will explore real solutions for whānau and communities.
The vision is clear: when we understand the impact of toxic stress, we can change the way we respond. When we change the way we respond, we create the conditions for true oranga.
The Growing Collective Wellbeing Strategy provides a roadmap for change, ensuring that whānau-led solutions remain at the heart of the work. Already, we are seeing momentum in key areas: strengthening Māori systems and knowledge, designing prevention strategies through a Te Ao Māori lens, and ensuring whānau feel connected and supported.
Creating safe spaces for whānau to share, heal, and lead their own solutions is a priority. People have told us that restoring community spirit and increasing connectivity can strengthen collective wellbeing. They believe a stronger sense of commitment to one another will help whānau heal.
We all have a role to play in shifting the narrative and creating environments where whānau thrive. We must normalise kōrero around wellbeing, challenge stigma, and create spaces where rangatahi, tāne, wāhine, and whānau feel valued. Change happens when whānau take action. The road ahead is not easy, but with courage, commitment, and kotahitanga, we can ensure that oranga is not just a hope - it is a reality.
To register go to our events on Facebook titled He Waka Eke Noa: Toxic Stress Symposium - https://tinyurl.com/4nfpmum8
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