At Taranaki Foundation, we spend a lot of time walking alongside the people and projects quietly changing lives across our region. We connect generous donors with the causes they care deeply about, and every so often, we visit a project that stops us in our tracks. Our recent visit to Te Whare o Tapatahi was one of those moments.

Nothing about it was grand. And yet everything about it mattered.

There is a table. A great big wooden table that seats around twenty people at the centre of the space. That table tells a story. Of kai shared. Of someone being seen. Of someone being listened to without judgement. Accepted exactly as they are. Where everyone is Whānau.

Kylie and Adam at the table that brings people together, where stories are shared and everyone has a place.

More Than a Roof

Located at YMCA Taranaki’s inner city site on Lemon Street, Te Whare o Tapatahi – meaning “house of integrity”, provides a place to rest, with space for up to twenty men, a communal kitchen and dining area, and bathroom and laundry facilities.

Currently operating four nights a week, the shelter provides dinner for over 20 people each evening, with kai also dropped off to a further dozen individuals, including women, who cannot access the men’s shelter. On average, 12 to 14 men stay each night, and since opening in September 2025, more than 150 people have engaged with the service.

But the numbers only tell part of the story.

Each person who walks through the doors carries their own history, often one shaped by complex trauma, grief, and years of navigating a world that has rarely been kind. A significant number grew up in homes marked by family violence. Some of the more fortunate, were raised by their Nanas, who became the most important and guiding figures in their lives. When those Nanas passed away, often while these young people were still in their teens, life became much harder to navigate.

“Out on the street our whānau are constantly on guard, in survival mode. The moment they step inside Te Whare o Tapatahi, our whānau lock their belongings in a locker and enter a space where, for a few hours at least, they can let their guard down and just be.” – Adam, Shelter Manager.

Empathic Listening. Real Change.

The team at Te Whare o Tapatahi operate with a therapeutic approach and healing lens. Every decision, from the layout of the space to the way conversations are held, is made with intention and care.

The boundaries and rules (kawa) of the shelter were created collectively, by the men who use the space, and they’re displayed proudly on the wall. The shelter holds regular hui with street whānau because, as one team member puts it, their opinions genuinely matter.

One moment that stayed with us from our site visit was hearing about a staff member who had previously lived on the street himself. He described an encounter with one of the men he now supports through the shelter, a man who had been practising empathetic listening in his everyday conversation, something he had learned through his time at Te Whare o Tapatahi. Almost in disbelief at himself, the man reflected that his entire life he had been having conversations all wrong, just talking, never truly listening. He acknowledged it was sometimes hard. But he was trying.

That kind of self-awareness does not come from nowhere. It comes from being in a space where you are listened to. Sharing the waka and not paddling alone through turbulent waters.

“I see the strengths in all of the guys. This space, the team, and each other – we lift people up and we really start to see each strength come through.” – Adam, Shelter Manager.

“I am not perfect, but I own it.” –  a reflection of honesty, growth and self-awareness.

Music, Mana, and Peer Mentoring

There is a piano near the laundry, moved there because, according to those who use the space, the acoustics are better. Many of the men who come to the shelter are musically gifted, and music has quietly become part of the healing.

A story was shared during our visit that tenderly captures the spirit of the place and the way these men quietly look out for one another.  One man became dysregulated and distressed. Another man, once a guitar teacher, quietly picked up a guitar and began playing a classical melody. The tension softened. The moment passed. No words needed.

That’s the power of what’s being built here. The peer mentoring. The looking out for one another. One man encouraging another.

The team at the shelter mention that the local police have noted a difference too. Less tension on the streets. The men seem more approachable.

A gentleman we met during our visit, a regular at the shelter, captured it perfectly. The warmth of kai lovingly prepared by the community, the time for kōrero, and the simple dignity of a hot shower have made all the difference to him. The joy on his face said it all.

“I love the way Te Whare o Tapatahi is working with the people coming for shelter, not just offering an awesome service for people. A mana-enhancing place where people are seen, heard, valued for their strengths, their insights and how they support each other. I get pretty hoha about judgemental attitudes around homelessness. Supporting this collaborative initiative is one thing I can do. What more, as a community, could we do to share resources and grow affordable, secure housing options as a foundation for everyone to thrive?”  –   Anonymous donor.

Where music, words and quiet moments become part of the healing.

The Power of Community Coming Together

Owned and led by YMCA Taranaki, Te Whare o Tapatahi is one of its programmes and plays an important role in a wider, collaborative response to rough sleeping in our region.

Funding partners include New Plymouth District Council, Toi Foundation, Lotteries Grants, Taranaki Chamber of Commerce, Taranaki Foundation, and the wider community. Working alongside YMCA Taranaki are collaborative partners across health, housing, social services, iwi, Police, volunteers, and local businesses, all contributing to a shared response.

Through this collective effort, a space has been created where every person who accesses Te Whare o Tapatahi can experience dignity, warmth, and a true sense of belonging.

Kylie put it simply, “It’s incredibly fulfilling. This is rewarding work. We get thanked a lot from those that come here. So much aroha and love is shown to us”.

Where We Fit In

Taranaki Foundation is a charitable community foundation, created for the people of Taranaki, by the people of Taranaki. We play a supporting role here, providing philanthropic expertise and infrastructure as a trusted and credible channel for funds raised. Through the Foundation, a dedicated fund has been established, enabling generous donors to connect directly with this initiative and see their giving make a real difference.

“This is exactly why Taranaki Foundation exists. We are here to connect people who want to make a difference with the places in our community that need it most. Te Whare o Tapatahi is one of those places, and the generosity of our donors is helping make it possible.” –  Josh Hickford, Chief Executive, Taranaki Foundation.

If you would like to be part of what’s happening here, there are many ways to contribute. Financial contributions through the fund set up through Taranaki Foundation go directly to sustaining and growing this vital service. The shelter also always welcomes donations of everyday essentials, from socks and underwear to waterproof jackets in winter, as well as gifts for children at Christmas.

This is Taranaki looking after its own. This is what community looks like. If this story has moved you, we would love to help you find your way in. Connecting people who care with causes that matter is exactly what we are here for.

 

To learn more or find your way to support this kaupapa, visit the fund page on our website.