He Puna o Ruahine A Puna of Support for Nannies and Caregivers
For many nannies, caring for mokopuna comes through unexpected circumstances the passing of a parent, suicide, illness, family violence, incarceration, or other hardship.
He Puna o Ruahine gathers practical resources, guidance and reflection tools to steady the heart, support emotional wellbeing, and uphold the strength of ruahine who hold their whānau together.
Take what you need from here.
Mauri Check-in
A simple moment for yourself
This simple check in helps you notice how you are feeling and supports small shifts to steady your mauri while caring for others.
Join our Facebook group for Nannies to connect
Nannies Raising Mokopuna Guide
A supportive guide for grandparents and whānau caring for mokopuna, offering gentle reminders to care for your own wellbeing while nurturing the next generation.
Awakening the Mauri
A space to deepen your understanding and to support you in your role as a nanny raising mokopuna.
Strengthen your understanding, reflect on your experiences, and build ways to care for your mauri and the mauri or your whānau.
Ukutangi – Wāhine Sound Vessel
Once grounded, allow your hands and breath to guide the shaping and sound.
Ukutangi were traditionally associated with wāhine, often used in times of mourning and emotional release.
This practice invites breath, intuition and feeling to guide the making and sounding.
This is not about perfection.
It is about listening.
You can purchase clay from art or hobby shops and Kmart.
Making Your Ukutangi
Begin with a ball of clay.
Cut gently in half and hollow each side.
Rejoin the halves with care, smoothing the seam.
Create one mouth hole.
If you feel guided, add small wenewene hole for pitch.
Let instinct lead the placement of the holes.
Allow to dry (24 hours for air-dry clay).
Sound will come as it is meant to.
No two are the same.
Additional Support
Sometimes you may need support beyond these practices.
These services can help you and your whānau in practical ways.
Tūpuna Parenting is about reclaiming our tūpuna ways of parenting, and reconnecting with this whakapapa. Colonisation changed our parenting ways significantly, and we want to reindiginise this space. Mauri ora!
Caring Families Aotearoa is here to support families and whānau who open their homes and hearts to tamariki in need of care and protection by CREATING HOMES THAT HEAL
GRG provides regional and local support through support groups, Community Outreach and Advocates with specialised knowledge and skills to assist caregivers as well education, training, critical information and support at each step of the caregiver’s journey.
When you feel ready, we welcome your reflection
Your voice strengthens this puna for other wāhine.
A Gentle Note
The information shared here is intended to support wellbeing through reflection, cultural practice, and lived experience.
This is not medical advice.
We are not health practitioners, and these practices are not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any condition.
If you have any health concerns, are taking medication, or are navigating ongoing conditions, please seek guidance from a qualified health professional.
You may also choose to seek support from a trusted and reputable rongoā practitioner.
We encourage wāhine to move gently, listen to their bodies, and choose what feels safe and appropriate for their own wellbeing.