The Trust was founded in 2005 and is committed to upholding Te Tiriti o Waitangi in promoting the whānau ora (wellbeing) of all New Zealanders with a particular focus for Māori / women and whānau.
Dame Aroha established the Trust as she saw a need amongst our people that was not being met by our ‘mainstream’ health and social service sector. She had a desire for our people not just to survive, but to thrive. She was active with the Māori Women’s Welfare League for 52 years and was president from 1990-1993. Among her other accolades, Dame Aroha was once named ‘Young Māori Woman of the Year’, was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal in 1977, and in 1993 was named a Commander of the Order of the British Empire.
Her considerable legacy is now in our hands, it is up to us to cultivate the seeds she planted.
Through these times of challenge and change, we continue to persevere and deliver new services to respond when and where people need us – whether that is vaccination, kai, links to other services, or simply manaaki – a kind and sympathetic ear.
E te Kahurangi, E te māngai kaha, He uri o Ngāi Tūāhuriri, o ngā wai o Waimakariri, o Maukatere e tū ake ki tēnei whenua. E te Taua, Dame Aroha Crofts, kua tukuna tō wairua ki te taha tūpuna, Nō reira, whiua o tohu ki tai o te moana, Whakangaro atu ai taku kura ki au e, taukiri te mamae!
E te Kahurangi,
E te māngai kaha,
He uri o Ngāi Tūāhuriri, o ngā wai o Waimakariri, o Maukatere e tū ake ki tēnei whenua.
E te Taua, Dame Aroha Crofts, kua tukuna tō wairua ki te taha tūpuna,
Nō reira, whiua o tohu ki tai o te moana,
Whakangaro atu ai taku kura ki au e, taukiri te mamae!
It is with a heavy heart that Te Puawaitanga ki Ōtautahi Trust acknowledges the passing of our beloved kaumātua Taua Dame Aroha Reriti-Crofts.
Dame Aroha was a celebrated leader, a teacher, and a tireless advocate for change. We are grateful to Dame Aroha for establishing the Trust. Her vision of a better life for Māori women and their whānau will continue to be our source of inspiration.
Through the decades, Dame Aroha maintained a close relationship between the Trust and the Ōtautahi branch of the Māori Women’s Welfare League. We are thankful for her role in our early years as the first manager of the Trust, and for the decades that followed, when she walked alongside us, coaching, and helping us blossom into the organisation we are today.
We will miss her dearly.
Ko tō tātou nei Taua, te whakatinanatanga o te whakataukī, “Me aro koe ki te haa o Hineahuone”
Moe mai, moe mai, moe mai rā e Taua.
The Trust is administered by a Board of Trustees who is committed to the mission and governance of the Trust, a majority of whom are financial members of the Ōtautahi Māori Women’s Welfare League.
The Trust’s leadership team bring their experience, knowledge and aroha to their mahi in pursuit of our founder Dame Aroha Reriti-Crofts’ dream of a society where Māori whānau thrive.
