Tu Wahine Trust

When the fire is present,
it can sometimes feel intense, fast, and difficult to understand.

This may be anger, fear, or energy
that has been held for a long time
now finding its way to the surface.

For whānau, this is not a moment to quiet what is rising, but a moment to hold steady. Stay present, without needing to fix or change what is happening.

Keep your voice calm, and your presence grounded.

Acknowledge what is felt without asking for explanation.

Allow space when it is needed, and closeness when it is welcomed.

At the same time, take care to keep yourself and others safe.

Step back if the moment becomes overwhelming or unsafe, and seek support where needed.

The fire is not something to fear. It can carry protection, energy, and life.

Your role is not to put the fire out,
but to hold it safely,
while also holding yourself safely within it.

Kupu o te wiki

Breathe and Visualise: Sit in a quiet space, close your eyes, and visualise a kākahu (cloak) woven by your tūpuna, wrapping you with protection and strength.

Repeat the Affirmations: Speak them aloud or silently, letting their meaning sink into your mauri.

Ground the Strength: Place your hand on your chest or puku as a physical reminder of the strength that lives within you.

Roimata are more than tears. They are a natural response of the body and heart. A way for emotions to be acknowledged and released when words are difficult to find.

Healing is often supported when emotions are given permission to be felt. Without judgement, pressure to move on or need to explain every feeling.

Moments of compassion, acceptance and gentle presence can help create the conditions where tears are welcomed as part of being human, allowing what has been carried to be expressed and honoured.

Kupu o te wiki

As hōtoke (winter) descends upon us, we will be exploring different kupu associated with this season.

The kupu we have chosen sit with the feeling of hōtoke, and some will walk alongside the arrival of Puanga/Matariki. Each one has been chosen with care, honouring the range of experiences and emotions this season can hold for our whānau.

We hope you will journey through the season with us.

Breathe and Visualise: Sit in a quiet space, close your eyes, and visualise a (cloak) woven by your tūpuna, wrapping you with protection and strength.

Repeat the Affirmations: Speak them aloud or silently, letting their meaning sink into your mauri.

Ground the Strength: Place your hand on your chest or puku as a physical reminder of the strength that lives within you.

There are moments when survivors become accustomed to holding tension within the body for long periods of time. The nervous system learning to remain alert, even during moments that appear calm from the outside. For many survivors, feeling soothed can feel unfamiliar. Softness may take time. Rest may not arrive easily.

Mahuru reminds us that healing is often nurtured through warmth, gentleness, and emotionally safe relationships that do not demand urgency.

Quiet reassurance, steady care, and compassionate presence can help support moments where the body and mind begin to soften, and comfort is slowly able to return once more.

Breathe and Visualise: Sit in a quiet space, close your eyes, and visualise a (cloak) woven by your tūpuna, wrapping you with protection and strength.

Repeat the Affirmations: Speak them aloud or silently, letting their meaning sink into your mauri.

Ground the Strength: Place your hand on your chest or puku as a physical reminder of the strength that lives within you.

There are moments when survivors carry tension for so long that the body and mind remain prepared for harm, even when danger has passed.

For many survivors, feeling settled does not always come easily. The hinengaro can stay alert,
holding stress, fear, or uncertainty beneath the surface.

Tau reminds us that healing is often supported through consistency, calm presence,
and relationships that help the survivor feel emotionally safer over time.

Patience, gentle communication, and steady support
can help create the conditions where the mind no longer feels the need to stay in constant readiness.