Welcome
About Us
Taeaomanino is a Pacific social service and health provider based in Porirua. The organisation was registered as a charitable trust on 3 December 1993. Since then, Taeaomanino has grown to be the biggest Pacific provider in the Wellington region and one of the biggest employers of Pacific people.
The name Taeaomanino is made up of two Samoan words, ‘Taeao' meaning the day break and ‘Manino' meaning clear. This name depicts the vision that we would like for our children and families, we would like all of them to reach a point where they can start each day knowing they have the skills that will free them from the troubles that have plagued their lives. Taeaomanino started with one volunteer worker (Ifopo So'o) and a budget of $2000 per annum. Taeaomanino was established by Paula Masoe and Ifopo So'o because both were working in mainstream social service organisations and they saw a growing gap in service delivery to Pacific peoples. Amongst other things, this gap was characterised by a number of issues which included:
- Increasing levels of child abuse and neglect notifications involving Pacific families
- The unnecessary removal and inappropriate placement of Pacific children and young people into homes that did not encompass their world view and cultural upbringing and family values.
- Lack of information going to Pacific parents and families about the care and protection of children and the laws of New Zealand.
- Growing negative stigma about the role of social workers and the inability of mainstream organisations to hear the voice and take the advice of their Pacific staff.
- Diminishing of Pacific identity and higher instances of low self esteem - in essence, Pacific children and their families were coming out of the system with more issues and problems than when they went in.
Paula and Ifopo believed that this gap would continue to widen unless services were developed in a way that enabled Pacific people to maintain their cultural values and leveraged off the strength of Pacific families.
Today Taeaomanino employs 30 part and full time staff, 29 of which are Pacific people. The organisation is one of the biggest employers of Pacific people in the Wellington region. We work with over 1000 Pacific children, young people and their families per annum.
Our Vision:
Porirua is a City where Pacific people have excellent lives and lifestyle, all children are safe from harm and protected by their families
Our Mission:
To provide high quality services that improves the well-being of Pacific children, people, families and communities so they achieve their aspirations in New Zealand
Funders
Our main funding partners are:
- Dept of Child Youth and Family
- CCDHB
- Ministry of Social Development
- Ministry of Health
- Porirua City Council
- Ministry of Youth Development
- COGS
- Lottery's
The Services we Provide:
Taeaomanino provides the following services:
Welfare Support Services
- Talatalaga a Aiga (Family Therapy and Counselling)
- Malu O Aiga
- Abuse Prevention
- Post Crisis counselling
- Home Management and Parenting Skills
- Social Work Support
- Family Violence - Programmes and individualised counselling for victims and perpetrator
Home Based Social Work Support
- Foundation to Opportunities
- Counselling
Youth Services
- Life Skills
- Self Esteem Building
- Anger Management
- Generic Counselling
- School Holiday Programme
- Cultural Exchange
Social Workers in Schools
Family Start
Alcohol and Drug Services
PAFT - Parents as First Teachers
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services
Referral Sources
- Schools and Colleges
- Community Probation
- Local Lawyers
- Dept for Courts
- CYPS
- Family members
- Mainstream providers
- Staff networks
Staff & Key Personnel
Staff Numbers
Taeaomanino Trust currently has 23 staff members employed on a full time basis.
We also have approximately 18 active volunteer workers.
Key Personnel
| Name | Qualifications | Experience |
| Ifopo So'o Operations Manager | Cert in Counselling Qualified teacher Family Violence Trainer | One of our most experienced Family therapy and post crisis support Counsellors. Has particular experience in working with Pacific Island men and families. Excellent networks in both mainstream and Pacific communities. |
| Paula Masoe Family Start Manager | Dip Soc Work (Victoria) | Experienced Social Worker, currently managing Family Start |
| Augafa Petelo A+D Counsellor | Cert Alcohol and Drug | Is an experienced Alcohol and Drug Counsellor who is currently working with Pacific offenders in Rimutaka and Mt Crawford |
| Gerardine Clifford CEO | Bachelor of Arts in Education (Victoria) Trained in Pacific Mental Health MBA (Massey) | Gerardine undertakes the accountability and reporting aspects of our programmes and service delivery |
| Sila Aliva Home Based Support Co-ordinator | Home base support team leader | Has excellent contacts within the Samoan and Pacific communities in Porirua. Excellent hands-on knowledge of issues facing migrant Pacific families |
| Aitofele Maene Administrator | Diploma in Social Work
| Aito has 7 years experience in community and youth work. He runs the school based programmes and has excellent networks with Colleges, Police and with youth across NZ |
| Liz Smith Leelo SWIS Co-ordinator | Diploma in Social Work (Whitireia) | Over 20 years experience in mental health. |
| Thomas Isaako A+D Co-ordinator | Bachelor Social Work (Massey) | Has worked for Dept CYPs experienced in working with Pacific families and children. A+D Co-ordinator. |
| Arieta Tabua Child and Adolescent Mental Health Co-ordinator | Diploma in Social Services Cert in Nutrition | Arieta is of Fijian descent She has a great deal of experience in working with children. |
