Fostering Unity, Empowering Communities
About Us
The Heart of Maranga Fanau
Maranga Fanau Charitable Trust is a community-driven organisation dedicated to fostering unity and empowering whānau across Aotearoa. We exist to support people from all walks of life, with a strong focus on cultural preservation, wellbeing, and long-term community resilience. Guided by our mission—Fostering Unity, Empowering Communities—we provide a range of essential services, including social housing, school mentoring, holiday programmes, elderly support, and security licence application assistance.
Our commitment extends beyond paid services—we also offer free support in areas like employment guidance and advocacy for whānau engaging with Oranga Tamariki. We take governance, legal compliance, and financial sustainability seriously, ensuring our operations are transparent, ethical, and community-focused. Backed by experienced trustees, skilled management, and professional advisors in law and finance, we operate with integrity and accountability at our core.
At Maranga Fanau, we believe that strong, connected communities build a better future for all. We work collaboratively, uphold our charters, and remain deeply committed to the aspirations and needs of the people we serve.
Our vision is “Fostering Unity, Empowering Communities”. In this vision statement “Fostering Unity” signifies our dedication to bringing people from diverse backgrounds together, fostering understanding, and promoting collaboration among all cultures. “Empowering Communities” highlights the core mission of nurturing and advancing communities, emphasizing their long-term health, wellbeing, and cultural identity.
This vision statement encapsulates the commitment to unity, empowerment, and cultural preservation outlined in the original statement.
Why & How
We aspire to being a leader and supporting the wellbeing of our people within our community as Mana Whenua we believe that we are responsible for assisting Māori and Pacific Islanders to achieve equity with non-Māori, both building our unique strengths and cultures in order to improve the lives of our Fanau.
Accordingly, our objective is to:
- Improve the living conditions of our Fanau
- Improve employment prospects in preparation for the same
- Assist Fanau with access to financial support
- Assist the Fanau in accessing health support where required
- Reduce inequality
- Assist our Fanau and their own aspirations to enhance their wellbeing and to maintain respected relationships in the broader community.
Some of Our Partners
What We Do
Social Housing
We help provide safe, affordable housing for whānau in need, focusing on dignity, stability, and long-term support. Our goal is to create secure living environments that enable individuals and families to thrive, with wraparound services tailored to each household’s unique cultural, social, and economic needs.
Holiday Programmes
We offer fun, safe, and engaging programmes during school holidays, giving tamariki a space to learn, play, and grow. Activities blend culture, creativity, and community connection, with a focus on building friendships, skills, and positive experiences for children while supporting whānau with reliable care.
Employment Guidance
We offer tailored support to help individuals navigate the job market with confidence. From CV advice to interview prep and job search tips, we’re here to guide every step. Our goal is to empower whānau with the tools, skills, and confidence to secure meaningful, long-term employment.
Building a Resilient Whānau
We support a tikanga-based health system, education and social support, combined with cultural programs that enable Fanau to develop their own capabilities in order to meet their own aspirations.
Strategic relationships
We acknowledge that it is a foundational premise that sustained and strong relationships are required to deliver the support services that our whanau requires. Accordingly, we collaborate and work with a wide array of organisations to maximise the potential that we can collectively deliver to our whanau and the greater community.
School Mentoring
We support rangatahi in schools through mentoring that builds confidence, cultural pride, and motivation. Kia Ora Ake connects students with role models who guide them through personal challenges, academic growth, and future planning—strengthening identity and resilience through a kaupapa Māori approach.
Security Licence Applications
We assist individuals seeking careers in the security industry by guiding them through the licence application process. This includes support with paperwork, training, and compliance, helping people gain stable employment opportunities and build pathways to financial independence through accessible, empowering support.
Elderly Support Programmes
We honour and uplift our kaumātua by providing services that enhance their wellbeing, connection, and independence. From home visits to social activities and cultural engagement, we ensure older community members feel valued, supported, and part of a strong intergenerational whānau.
Oranga Tamariki Advocacy
We stand alongside whānau engaging with Oranga Tamariki, providing support, advocacy, and guidance through complex processes. Our team helps families understand their rights, access resources, and stay connected. We aim to ensure that tamariki remain safe, supported, and rooted in their cultural identity throughout every step of their journey.
Innovation
We are continually looking for alternative strategies to support the wellbeing of Fanau which requires continuous improvement.
We continue to innovate, utilising strategic partnerships and when possible availing ourselves of technology to support changes within our communities.
Sustainability
We are continually working to ensure that we have systems and procedures, robust governance and management utilising the expertise of our trusted advisors and external professionals.