Te Ora Hou Otautahi

Te Ora Hou Otautahi is a group of people, mostly Maori, committed to the holistic development of young people, their whanau and communities. We are involved in a wide variety of youth and community development initiatives at a local, regional, and national level. Te Ora Hou Otautahi is affiliated to Te Ora Hou Aotearoa – a national network of organisations with a similar kaupapa.

Te Ora Hou began in early 1970’s as part of YFC international’s ‘Youth Guidance’ concept aimed at countering the drift of urban and rural Maori and Polynesian young people into gangs, homelessness, drug and alcohol addiction and violence that was becoming prevalent as a result of the social upheaval of the 1970’s and 1980’s. It was initially a simple gospel response to the key issues of the times.

Te Ora Hou Otautahi started in Christchurch in 1983 in Papanui as part of YFC running simple activity based mentoring programmes. It quickly grew to include Boys and Girls clubs in Shirley, Aranui, Hillmorten and Hornby. In 1995, Te Ora Hou Aotearoa became an autonomous national Maori organisation and in 1997, Te Ora Hou Otautahi became an Incorporated Society. This was in response to the need for Maori leadership and culturally appropriate practice. Today, Te Ora Hou Otautahi continues strong links with local whanau, community and church groups, as well as forming new relationships and contracts with local government, Iwi providers, Pacific Island groups and central government.