Support for the Hapūtanga Journey: Find It All at Te Whare Piringa

Te Whare Piringa  is more than just a place - it’s a living prototype, a whānau-centered space designed by the Hapū Māmā Village, to reimagine how support is offered to whānau who are on the hapūtanga journey. It's not a finished product, but rather a process, a collaborative effort to figure out together what support looks like when it is grounded in trust, whakawhanaungatanga, and care. 

Midwife Te Amo Wineera has been part of the Hapū Māmā Village and Te Whare Piringa since its earliest stages. When Māmā gave their thoughts on what the persona of an ideal midwife looked like, Te Amo embodied that for them - walking alongside hapū māmā and their whānau, bringing care that feels less like a service and more like whanaungatanga.

“As a midwife, my role is to walk alongside hapū māmā and their whānau through the Te Whare Piringa experience. It’s about showing whānau what Te Whare Piringa could be for them. “It’s not just about care - it’s about connection.”

“Every week, we (midwives) run clinics out of Te Whare Piringa. It’s lovely for us and our whānau. We also help run childbirth education through hapūtanga wānanga prototype, and even some professional hui. It’s a real hub.”

This approach reflects what it means to work in a truly whānau-centered environment. It’s not about services dictating what’s best - it’s about asking whānau, listening to them, and responding. “It’s about communicating with whānau, understanding what they want from us, and then working together, seamlessly, as providers to make that happen.”

Whanaungatanga is alive and well within the whare. “We’ve seen it already—whānau making all sorts of connections through clinics,  wananga, or sessions. Even our tamariki feel it. They’re settled, they’re calm, and their parents notice it too. It makes a real difference.”

And that sense of connection flows between kaimahi as well. “Some days are quiet, some days the place is buzzing. But the manaaki is always there. Our team of Te Whare Piringa coordinators and  Te Waipuna kaimahi are consistently welcoming and supportive. Whānau feel that as soon as they walk in.”

When asked about the future, her response is clear: endless opportunity. “Not just for me, but for our hapū whānau. Being outside of a hospital setting, the potential to offer services like phlebotomy, immunisations, Family Start—all under one roof—lightens my workload, but more importantly, it creates a much better experience for whānau. It’s seamless. It’s warm. It’s holistic.”

In that way, Te Whare Piringa isn’t just a prototype. It’s a glimpse into what could be possible when services are reimagined through the lens of whānau—when care is shaped by relationships, not systems.