Support for Māori: employment, whānau and kaupapa Māori wellbeing

Support lines

• 1737 (free mental health support, call or text any time).
• Alcohol Drug Helpline Māori line: 0800 787 798, referrals to kaupapa Māori alcohol and drug services.
• Gambling Helpline: 0800 654 655, text 8006, with a specialist Māori helpline.
• Suicide Crisis Helpline: 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO).

Te Whare Tapa Whā: a Māori way to look at wellbeing

Sir Mason Durie's model, created in 1984, likens wellbeing to a wharenui with four walls: taha wairua (spiritual), taha hinengaro (mental and emotional), taha tinana (physical) and taha whānau (family and social), standing on the whenua (land, place, belonging). Job loss can shake several walls at once. Check which ones need shoring up and ask whānau to help with them.

• Wairua: karakia, time on the marae, church, nature, culture and language.
• Hinengaro: talk to someone, keep a routine, get help if mood drops.
• Tinana: kai, sleep, movement.
• Whānau: don't isolate. Say what you need. Whānau help is not charity.
• Whenua: reconnect with your whakapapa, your maunga, awa and tūrangawaewae.

Whānau Ora

Whānau Ora is a whānau-centred approach. Te Puni Kōkiri funds commissioning agencies, which in turn fund providers and navigators to work with whānau on their goals, such as housing repairs, alcohol and drug counselling, parenting programmes or employment advice. Since 1 July 2025 the agencies are:

There is no single employment hotline. Search for your region's agency (or ask the Te Puni Kōkiri Whānau Ora page), then ask for a navigator or provider near you. Providers include iwi, marae, education providers, church groups and community organisations.

Finding work

• Ask your iwi, hapū or marae whether they run employment, training or cadetship support or job boards. Many do; a quick call to your iwi authority is worthwhile.
• Work and Income: register for Jobseeker Support if eligible (see the Jobseeker guide). Ask your case manager about training and work programmes in your area. Work and Income lists Mana in Mahi, a programme for employers who hire eligible people into permanent roles with industry training. Check with Work and Income whether it is currently open to you.
• Past government schemes for Māori, such as the Māori Trades and Training Fund (a contestable, by-Māori for-Māori fund set up in Budget 2022), and the Māori Employment Action Plan (Te Mahere Whai Mahi Māori) set directions for support. Funding changes between governments, so ask providers what they currently run.
• Direct Career Service 0800 222 733 is free for NZ residents 17+.
• Cadetships: Te Puni Kōkiri has supported cadetship models where employers train and mentor Māori employees. Ask about current availability.

Your rights

Race, colour and ethnic or national origin are prohibited grounds of discrimination. If you think you were treated unfairly because you're Māori, you can raise it, use mediation, file a personal grievance within 90 days or complain to the Human Rights Commission. Community Law and your union can help for free.

Kaupapa Māori mental health and addiction services

Kaupapa Māori services for mental health, alcohol and drug and gambling support exist across Aotearoa. Ask your GP, Whānau Ora provider or the 1737 team, or use the Māori lines above to be put in touch. Free brief counselling through GP practices (Access and Choice) is also available; some providers offer kaupapa Māori options.