Māori Disability Services

Nga Mara Aatea

Overview
What are the objectives of Nga Mara Aatea?
Who can access Nga Mara Aatea?
Contact Details

MARA - Meaning seeds that grow,
AATEA - Meaning a place of their own

A Marae Based Day Programme for People with Disabilities

Me tu ake kei roto ite marae o te whare nei kia mutu ake ai te aroha i ahau

Translated...

Let me stand at the inside the Marae - So that my distress may cease

Overview

The marae-based programme is a day programme designed for adults with intellectual and physical disabilities. The programme is based at a local marae - Kirikiriroa (Hamilton) and it will provide a basis for learning and experiencing cultures of New Zealand communities. The marae programme will expose clients to Tikanga Maori (culture of the Maori) Te Reo (the language) while in a safe and supportive whanau environment.

What are the Objectives of Nga Mara Aatea?

To enhance the lives of people with disabilities (regardless of cultural background) by assisting them to appreciate all cultures that exist in New Zealand specifically Maori.
To have people with intellectual disabilities experience and participate in the spiritual experience of marae learning.
To enhance the lives of people with disabilities by assisting them to learn basic Maori kaupapa i.e. food gathering, flax weaving, kapahaka (Maori action song and dance.)
To help people with intellectual disabilities to understand the basic protocol of a marae in Aotearoa New Zealand
To provide positive and productive placement hours for clients with intellectual and physical disabilities who might otherwise not attend any work or educational activities
To enhance the lives of people with disabilities by assisting them to gain practical skills for daily living
To network and integrate with other community groups, service providers and local iwi groups in the community and the greater Waikato region.

Who can Access Nga Mara Aatea?

Client base:

People with intellectual disabilities age range - 16-65 years

Hamilton Based

Our target client base will be clients who have been unable to be placed in other day programmes throughout Hamilton/Waikato Area.

The programme will run for 48 weeks of the year .

Venue:

Kirikiriroa Marae
Dey Street
Hamilton
New Zealand

Hours:

9.00 am -3.00 pm

Contact Details

Please contact our Maori Services Manager on (07) 839 5506 for information about Nga Mara Aatea.