Going Further for Our Communities: Honouring Te Tiriti and Uplifting Those Most Impacted

Every year, Waitangi Day invites us to pause, reflect, and consider the kind of Aotearoa we are building together.

As we honour this day, we return to the guiding kupu of Tā Hēmi Henare:
“We have come too far, not to go further. We have done too much, not to do more.”

These words speak directly to our kaupapa. They remind us that progress is real and so is the work still ahead.

Honouring Te Tiriti as a Guiding Aspiration

At Lifewise, serving Māori communities is central to who we are and what we do. Our aim is to build cultural capability, confidence, and responsiveness so that Te Tiriti is reflected in how we work, how we serve, and how we show up for one another.

Facing the Realities of Homelessness in Aotearoa

The challenges facing our communities are significant and they affect Māori disproportionately.

• Four out of every five homeless women are Māori, with some as young as fifteen years old.
• One-third of the entire homeless population in Aotearoa is Māori, and that number continues to rise.

These are not just statistics.
They are people with potential, whakapapa, dreams, and futures.
They are people who deserve dignity, stability, and the chance to thrive.

Going Further, Together

Lifewise exists because people needed us to go further and that remains true today.
We honour those who came before us by continuing their mahi with courage and compassion. That means advocating for better systems, partnering authentically with Māori leaders and providers, and supporting individuals and whānau with services grounded in humanity and respect.

It also means acknowledging that every small action matters:
listening, learning, building understanding, and strengthening the threads that connect us as communities.

Going further isn’t about perfection, it’s about commitment. It’s about choosing to walk forward together, guided by Te Tiriti, and holding tight to the belief that everyone deserves the conditions to thrive.

Together, we can build an Aotearoa where equity is the norm, where dignity is protected, and where everyone has the opportunity to flourish.

We have come too far not to go further.
We have done too much not to do more, for all our people.