Awhi is still in development, we'd love your feedback and suggestions. Let us know.
About Awhi Ngā Mātua
Awhi Ngā Mātua is a safe place created for parents, by parents. It's a place to celebrate our incredible children, to find solidarity and support, and to be seen and heard by people who understand you and what you're going through. This website hosts a range of resources including community generated content. We're developing a private online community where you can connect other parents who know what it's like - you'll be part of a movement. Our hope is that we will grow together as we learn together with the support of our online information, tips and strategies that will help us to spark positive change as a community.
Benefits of our community
Information you can trust
A website knowledge base of practical, parent-focused information to help you navigate the disability journey
Safe & Private
A private online community where you can connect with and awhi other parents who know what it's like.
By parents for parents
This community has been created and codesigned by and with parents.
Team members
Elizabeth Goodwin
I'm Elizabeth Goodwin, I became a bit of an activist when I joined with a group of parents to advocate for inclusion. Those parents are still my friends and I've told them things I've never told anyone else because I know they won't judge. Over the past couple of years I've spent a lot of time with young parents looking at ways we can address the challenges they face. Isolation and loneliness has been a common theme and that's where the idea for Awhi came from. I'm looking forward to working with you to develop this - keep the ideas and feedback coming.
Ma'ao Vaireka
I te taha o tōku Whaea Ko Taranaki te Maunga Ko Ouri te Awa Ko Ngaruahine te Iwi Ko Titahi te Hāpu Ko OEO te Marae I te taha o tōku Papa E Moutere Pito Enua Noku
Emily Writes
I'm Emily Writes. I'm a parent to two incredible kids and I live in Wellington. My children and the families I met on the children's ward radicalised me! I realised I wanted to devote my life to creating and supporting communities as I truly believe we are stronger together. Awhi is very precious to me and I can't wait to work with you to make it a safe place to land for all parents.
Meryl Richards
I'm Meryl Richards. What a pleasure it's been to join the Awhi team. I get to spend my days researching information that supports me as a parent, and sometimes challenges me to rethink what I thought I knew. My hope is that it will be useful to you too. I live in Kapiti with my partner and two teenage boys, and spend as much time as possible in the surrounding bush and at the beach.
Fiona McKenzie
I worked in radio and television as a director and writer until 1998 when my daughter Claudia was born with complex needs. I continued to freelance while raising my family (son Jasper came along later), making films for community organisations, including disability groups. I am now based in Christchurch where I continue to juggle family an...
Phil Clarke
I'm Phil Clarke. I've worked in the library and information sector since the mid-1990s. I've seen a lot of change in libraries over that time and I'm excited about supporting the work of Awhi Nga Matua. I live in Wellington with my family.
The Awhi Ngā Mātua team would like to thank Takai, the IHC Foundation and the Dines Family Charitable Trust for their generous contributions to our work. A huge thank you also to the IHC Programmes team, in particular the IHC Library which has worked so hard to make their remarkable collection available to us.
