This project has been inspired by the impact whakamomori has had on my whānau.

After getting lost in grief and leaning heavily into my addiction, the death of my nephew eventually led me to recovery where I have spent the past three years learning to maintain my personal wellbeing.
I have found that I do not need to walk this path alone.

Developing my own sense of identity has been crucial, and finding ways to honour my Māori heritage has been so important for me. Knowing who I am and where I come from has given me life, because I have not always felt that I fit in and am understood. During my life there has been times where I have felt alone. Felt silenced. Building relationships with others who are on the same path has given me a peace of mind, a sense of understanding that tells me that I belong in the world.

I have worked through my hurt and grief, but there is still a big stigma, especially for our Tāne, that holds us back from reaching out and talking about our emotional pain. I would love to see the Tāne in my whānau, and in many others, find a way to heal.

The ongoing pandemic disrupted the original concept of wānanga that was to be held in Tāmaki Makaurau. This led me back to kōrero with my Kaumātua, where the idea was born for this website, an ongoing resource with the ability to reach many.

This project has been a labour of love, and in sadness there is poetry. Our website showcases how a community can pull together to support one another. We have had the support of each other on this journey, and by sharing our collective experience, strength and hope, we want to give tāngata some ideas to explore in order to find their own path to wellness.

Ehara taku toa I te takitahi, he toa takatini
It is not by my effort alone that I stand but that of many