Whare Āwhina

10/10/2026

If you're a New Zealander living overseas, you might still be able to vote in the 2026 General Election!

You need to be enrolled and your details need to be up to date by midnight 25 October, New Zealand time, so that you can vote.

Find out more at vote.nz/overseas including how overseas voting works, and to check if you're eligible.

09/10/2026

🤝 World Homeless Day | 10 October 2026 🏠

Homelessness is not just about having nowhere to sleep. It's about having nowhere to call home.

Today, we acknowledge the whānau in our community who are experiencing homelessness, housing insecurity, overcrowding, or uncertainty about where they will stay tonight.

At Whare Āwhina, we know that homelessness is about more than a lack of housing. It affects connection, wellbeing, stability, and a person's sense of belonging. Behind every statistic is a tangata with their own story, strengths, challenges, and aspirations for the future.

This year, Whare Āwhina reaffirms our commitment to walking alongside those who need support. Through our wrap around services we continue to provide a safe and welcoming space where people can connect, access support, and build pathways towards greater stability and wellbeing. Our focus remains on strengthening relationships, restoring hope, and ensuring whānau feel seen, valued, and supported.

World Homeless Day reminds us that creating change is a shared responsibility. Every act of kindness, every helping hand 🤝, and every opportunity to support one another helps build a stronger, more connected community.

Everyone deserves more than a place to sleep. Everyone deserves a place to call home.

He tangata, he tangata, he tangata. 🧡

🏠🤝🧡

09/10/2026

Kia ora e te whānau,

🗳️ Whare Āwhina can officially share that we will be an advanced voting booth on Tuesday November 3rd, from 1pm to 5pm. Please ensure you are enrolled to vote this year, if you haven't enrolled drop into our Whare Āwhina Community Cafe next Tuesday or Friday to get support from our friends at Electoral Commission NZ.

📍 Whare Āwhina Community Café
📅 Tuesday, 3 November
⏰ 1:00pm - 5:00pm

If you’re a planner, or just really excited about the 2026 General Election, we’ve got great news! Voting places and their opening hours are now available on our website.

Find a voting place near you, and plan your participation in democracy at vote.nz/votingplaces

Voting starts on 26 October and runs through until 7pm election day, 7 November.

❗ You must be enrolled by 25 October to be able to vote – do it now at vote.nz/enrol ❗

09/10/2026

Whare Āwhina First Kaumātua and Kuia morning tea at the Whare Āwhina Community Café 🫶🏿

09/10/2026

☕️ A huge thank you to everyone who joined us today for our Kaumātua & Kuia Morning Tea at the Whare Āwhina Community Café.

We were thrilled with the turnout and the enthusiasm shown by everyone who attended. The kōrero was rich, meaningful, and full of great ideas about activities, opportunities, and ways to strengthen connections within our community.

Your voices, experiences, and whakaaro are helping to shape what comes next, and we are excited about the opportunities ahead for this new rōpū.

Ngā mihi nui to everyone who took the time to come along, share ideas, and contribute to the discussion. We look forward to continuing the journey together.

💜 Watch this space for updates and future gatherings.

05/10/2026

Whakaora Kai is a food rescue organisation, last year they distributed 250 tonnes of kai into the community. Listen to how this amazing work is achieved and how this team is helping to protect the planet 🌎 ✨️

04/10/2026

📣 New Road Rule Changes Are Here! 🚗🚴🚌

Kia ora whānau,

From 1 October 2026, several new road rule changes have come into effect across Aotearoa to help keep everyone safer on our roads.

✅ Drivers must leave at least 1.5 metres when passing cyclists and other vulnerable road users.

✅ On roads with speed limits of 60km/h or less, drivers must now give way to buses pulling out from bus stops.

✅ Children aged 12 years and under can ride their bikes on footpaths, with parents, caregivers, and other accompanying adults also permitted to ride alongside them.

✅ E-scooters are now allowed to use designated cycle lanes.

These changes aim to make our roads, footpaths, and shared spaces safer for everyone. Please take a moment to familiarise yourself with the new rules and help spread the word.

💙 Let's look after one another and keep our Northland communities safe.

🚦🚲🛴🚌

Today (1 October 2026) 4 new road rules have become law. Here's what they are:

The aim of the new rules is to make people’s travel safer and better reflect how people already use the roads. From today 1 October:

• Kids 12-years-old and younger can now ride their bikes on the footpath. Parents and caregivers are now also allowed to ride with them. Keep an eye out for kids on bikes when entering or leaving driveways.

• You’ll now be able to ride your e-scooter in cycle lanes. This’ll mean e-scooter riders can get to where they’re going more efficiently. The speed limit still applies to e-scooters, and we highly recommend that you wear a helmet when riding.

• There’s now a minimum passing gap of 1.5m when passing people riding bikes, horses or e-scooters that are travelling in your lane and heading in the same direction as you. This only applies to people driving motor vehicles or riding motorbikes. The 1.5m passing gap doesn’t apply to parked cars or people that are travelling in a different lane to you. If it’s not safe to pass, then you’ll need to wait and pass when it’s safe.

• Everyone is now required to give way to buses that are signalling that they’re leaving bus stops, the roadside or bus lanes on roads that’re 60km/h or less. This new rule allows for buses to safely re-enter traffic.

Earlier this year we asked for your feedback on these changes. We passed your feedback onto the Minister of Transport – there was broad support for the changes the Government proposed, and the Minister decided on the above.

We’ll keep you updated here – follow us if you aren’t already to get updates. There's also more information on our website: https://www.nzta.govt.nz/driving-skills/new-lane-use-rules

03/10/2026

Questions about enrolling or voting?

Check out our friends at the Electoral Commission for practical information and questions to your answers. They are running online sessions 🙌🏾

✨ Online session alert ✨

Taking part in the 2026 General Election feels easier when you know what to expect.

If you are disabled, a caregiver or a support person, then you may have questions about the accessible options available to enrol and vote.

Join one of our online sessions to get practical information and ask the questions that matter to you.

1️⃣ Session 1 - Wednesday 30 September from 1pm - 2pm - https://www.facebook.com/share/1Jpy7zMxAX/

2️⃣ Session 2 - Thursday 15 October from 6pm - 7pm - https://www.facebook.com/share/1KETCKDvWA/

3️⃣ Session 3 - Tuesday 20 October from 6pm - 7pm - https://www.facebook.com/share/1HDV2imZXs/

NZSL interpreters will be present at the online events.

Find out more and register here: https://vote.nz/2026-general-election/resources/information-in-accessible-formats/accessible-online-information-sessions