Celebrating Matariki at Wāhine Safety Centre

Celebrating Matariki at Wāhine Safety Centre

Matariki is a time for reflection, renewal and looking ahead with hope. It offers an opportunity to acknowledge the past, celebrate the present and set intentions for the future.

This year, Wāhine Safety Centre welcomed past and present clients to a special Matariki morning tea. Together, we shared kai, conversation and a creative activity centred on hope and new beginnings.

Each woman was invited to decorate a star and write down her hopes and aspirations for the year ahead. While the activity was simple, it created space for meaningful conversations about what a violence-free future could look like for each woman and her whānau.

For many women who have experienced family violence, rebuilding a life takes more than leaving an unsafe situation. It involves rediscovering confidence, setting goals and believing that a different future is possible.

As the stars took shape, our advocates spoke with each woman about the practical steps needed to achieve her goals. Whether those goals involved finding stable housing, strengthening family relationships, accessing education or employment, or continuing their healing journey, our team was able to discuss the support and services available to help turn those hopes into action.

At Wāhine Safety Centre, we believe recovery is about more than responding to crisis. It is about empowering women to build safe, independent and fulfilling lives for themselves and their children.

Our Matariki celebration was a reminder that hope grows when it is shared.

We are grateful to everyone who joined us and look forward to continuing to walk alongside the women and whānau in our community as they take the next steps towards a safer future.