Te Ora Hou Ōtautahi is a faith-based, community-led organisation committed to the holistic development of rangatahi, whānau, and communities. Grounded in Christian values and a Māori worldview, we are involved in a wide range of youth and community development initiatives at local, regional, and national levels. Te Ora Hou Ōtautahi is affiliated with Te Ora Hou Aotearoa, a national network of organisations united by a shared kaupapa. It was established in response to the growing social challenges facing many urban and rural Māori and Pacific young people, including gang involvement, homelessness, substance abuse, and violence. These issues were often linked to the significant social and cultural changes occurring throughout the 1970s and 1980s. At its core, Te Ora Hou began as a practical expression of Christian faith, offering support, guidance, and hope to young people and their whānau. Te Ora Hou Ōtautahi was established in Christchurch in 1983, beginning in Papanui with activity-based mentoring programmes for young people. The organisation quickly expanded to include boys' and girls' clubs in Shirley, Aranui, Hillmorton, and Hornby. In 1995, Te Ora Hou Aotearoa became an autonomous national Māori organisation, and in 1997, Te Ora Hou Ōtautahi became an Incorporated Society. These developments reflected the growing need for Māori leadership, self-determination, and culturally grounded practice. Today, Te Ora Hou Ōtautahi maintains strong relationships with whānau, community groups, churches, iwi, and Pacific organisations, while also partnering with local and central government agencies. Through these relationships, we continue to create opportunities that strengthen individuals, whānau, and communities throughout Ōtautahi and beyond.
