Our History
The whenua at 129 Spa Road sits above the powerful Waikato River and Lake Taupō making it a natural gathering place for generations of whānau.
Hapū have gathered here over the centuries, generations have been born here and most recently our community has been supported here.
Since 1989, this space has been known as Waiora House. Later came the addition of the Tauhara and Ruapehu Wings.
The Waiora Community Trust (WCT) recognise that it is not the building that serves the community but the organisations and members that bring it to life serving the needs of our community.
The three buildings and their surrounds united under the name Waiora encompass the inclusive variety of spaces on the site and how each of them play a pivotal part in the Waiora kaupapa.
Our Future
Nāu te rourou, nāku te rourou, ka ora ai te iwi.
Waiora Community Trust is looking to the future. The new building will bring in a new way of working and a renewed sense of cooperation and collaboration.
Waiora is a place to be treasured by both the community and the member organisations. To be a place where organisations can co-exist, collaborate and get better outcomes for the people we serve. A place to grow the impact of social organisations.
It is a space where socially focussed, like minded organisations can thrive, coming together to connect and deliver services with our community.
It is a space that is owned by the community and embraces everyone with warmth and support.
This whakataukī talks to community, to collaboration and a strengths-based approach. It acknowledges that everybody has something to offer, a piece of the puzzle, and by working together we can all flourish.
At Waiora, we recognise that hauora is at the heart of every person, whānau and community. A well-known concept of hauora, Te Whare Tapa Whā was developed by leading Māori health advocate Sir Mason Durie in 1984. The model describes health and wellbeing as a wharenui/meeting house with four walls.
These walls represent taha wairua/ spiritual wellbeing, taha hinengaro/ mental and emotional wellbeing, taha tinana/physical wellbeing and taha whānau/family and social wellbeing. Our connection with the whenua/land forms the foundation.
When all these things are in balance, we thrive. When one or more of these is out of balance our wellbeing is impacted. At Waiora, we want to help those around us to find balance and for our communities to thrive.