Governor General Dame Cindy Kiro brought her considerable mana and empathy to the blessing of new premises for an organisation doing important social services work.
The heartfelt opening of Stand Tū Māia’s Regional Centre for Trauma Healing and Family Support was held on June 26, at 17 Ronwood Avenue, Manukau.
The centre provides specialised therapeutic services for tamariki (children), mokopuna (grandchildren) and whānau affected by adverse life circumstances and the impacts of trauma.
The new location for Stand Tū Māia, previously known as Stand Children’s Services and originally as the King George V Memorial Health Camp for Children, completes the shift from its longtime Half Moon Bay base.
Stand Tū Māia chief executive Dr Fiona Inkpen said: “My thanks go to the Stand Tū Māia board for their unwavering determination.
“The sale of our previous property in Half Moon Bay provided for two new facilities in Auckland and Whangarei, one of which will also provide income.
“We were blessed that our ancestors invested well and twice blessed to have a board that can see opportunity, do their due diligence and act decisively and courageously.
“Our work together is about collective responsibility – to uphold the rights of tamariki, strengthen whānau capability, and build a just and resilient society.
“Let us walk forward together – united in purpose, connected in heart, and unwavering in our belief that every child has a right to equity and deserves a chance to thrive.”
Welcoming the Governor General, who is the Stand Tū Māia patron, Dr Inkpen said to Dame Cindy: “Your longstanding support of our kaupapa in previous roles, and now as our patron, is deeply meaningful to us.”
The opening ceremony powhiri featured wonderful waiata and korero speeches, and Dame Cindy said she was “very proud” to be in attendance as a former social worker and researcher in the field.
“Thank you for doing what you can. You bring passion and expertise, giving opportunity to the people you are helping,” said Dame Cindy.
Dr Inkpen said: “I extend my heartfelt appreciation to Pene Frost, our regional manager, and her extraordinary team.
“Your dedication, compassion, and the relationships you build within our communities never cease to inspire me. You are the quiet force behind many powerful transformations.
“At Stand Tū Māia, we stand alongside tamariki and mokopuna most vulnerable to inequity and poor life outcomes. This is where we choose to stand – at the heart of where the need is greatest.
“Research tells us that early exposure to trauma and stress is one of the most powerful indicators of poor lifelong outcomes, but we also know healing and restoration are possible.
“Together, we can break the cycle of trauma. The cost of inaction is staggering – over $15 billion by the time today’s at-risk children turn 35. The human cost is far greater. The time to act is now.
“We understand the profound impact of early experiences on brain development and lifelong well-being,” Dr Inkpen said.
“Our comprehensive range of assessments and therapies address challenges related to care and protection, mental health, emotional and behavioural difficulties, and relationship conflicts.
“Our goal is to alleviate stress, heal the impacts of trauma and build resilient whānau.
“To our team, to mana whenua, our colleagues, our funders, supporters, communities, and whānau – thank you.
“You are part of a 100-year legacy of courage and innovation. Stand Tū Māia speaks to that enduring spirit. It’s been a long journey to get here, and we know the journey is not over.
“The challenges are real, but so is our determination,” said Dr Inkpen.
Frost, who has just received a King’s Service Medal for her work for Stand Tū Māia, opened her address with a quote from Nelson Mandela: “There can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul than the way in which it treats its children.
“With the opening of Stand Tū Māia House, we take a bold and compassionate step forward into the future.
“Stand Tū Māia House will offer our tamariki, mokopuna and their whānau access to the supports they need and deserve – education, health and dental care, transformative programmes, and life skills.
“Through initiatives such as Safe and Sound Protocol, Neurofeedback, Art Therapy, Mana Tāne and Wahine Toa, they will experience affirmation of their worth and identity.
“Parents can receive support through grief and loss programmes, and attachment enhancing tools such as Theraplay that will help nurture strong, healing family relationships.
“In doing so, we plant a seed – a seed of hope, of possibility, of potential,” Frost said.
“We know that change is not accidental – it is deliberate. The move to Manukau is an intentional act to place us physically closer to the communities we serve. Because proximity matters. Access matters. Relationships matter.
“This organisation has gifted over 100 years of service to the children and families of Aotearoa. This journey has taught us much – above all, that new beginnings can spark powerful and enduring transformation.
“When we offer opportunity, we shift the trajectory of lives. We build confidence. We foster inclusion.
“Vulnerable children – those facing poverty, mental distress, abuse, neglect, exclusion from education, harmful patterns of relationship and disrupted whānau – often grow up in environments where hope seems distant.
“But we know that every tamaiti [child] holds the potential for growth, for joy, for learning. What they lack is not ability – but opportunity,” Frost said.
“Our social workers play a vital role in supporting whānau, working alongside them to navigate challenges such as housing, school engagement, and access to essential services.
“They advocate fiercely for the rights of tamariki to live in safe, stable homes – homes free from violence and neglect, where their health, education, and well-being are upheld.
“At every step, our practice is anchored by our poutokomanawa, ensuring the aspirations of Māori whānau are honoured, respected, and central to the support we provide.
“Transformation begins with reducing stress and building belief. It begins when someone is there – to listen, to see you and to provide safety and security.
“When an environment does not judge, meets you with curiosity and nurtures identity, tamariki, mokopuna and whānau begin to flourish.
“Often, it is the smallest of gestures – a kind word, a consistent presence – that opens entire worlds,” Frost said.
“Hope is not a luxury. It’s a necessity. It grows with trust. And when we create real pathways for vulnerable children to thrive, we don’t just change their stories. We reshape the story of our communities and our future as a nation.”
- For earlier Times stories about Pene Frost and Stand Tū Māia, read:
https://www.times.co.nz/news/special-quality-to-kings-birthday-honour/
https://www.times.co.nz/news/qa-with-pene-frost-of-stand-tu-maia/
