Lived experience leads the way
Our facilitators, crew, and leadership team draw from their own mental health, addiction, grief, and trauma journeys. We honour those experiences as expertise and pay people for their knowledge.
Our kaupapa
An invitation to breathe, share, and heal together
Whakatau Mai was born in 2020 as a Changing Minds initiative to help our communities navigate the isolation of the pandemic. Today we host hundreds of live sessions and an online library so people throughout Aotearoa can access support that feels human, hopeful, and culturally safe.
Our story
Whakatau Mai means "to settle the spirit". The name was gifted to us by our iwi partners as we shaped a response to the stress and uncertainty of lockdown life. We wanted more than webinars—we wanted live interactions where people could turn up exactly as they were. With support from Manatū Hauora | Ministry of Health, we launched a pilot in 2020. Hundreds of people joined in the first week.
Since then, Whakatau Mai has become a national movement. Guests tune in from urban centres, rural communities, marae, hospitals, bedrooms, and workplaces. Some come once for a reset, others make sessions part of their daily routine. We continue to evolve based on community feedback, ensuring the kaupapa stays grounded in real needs.
What makes us different
- Peer-designed — every session is created or co-created by people with lived experience.
- Whānau-friendly — bring your kids, pets, or support crew; cameras can stay off and microphones muted.
- Safety-first — we weave content warnings, debriefs, and follow-up support into each session.
- Always free — no paywalls, subscriptions, or surprise costs.
Values we live by
Te Tiriti in action
We weave Te Ao Māori frameworks such as Te Whare Tapa Whā and manaakitanga through everything we deliver, and we partner with iwi and Māori providers to ensure kaupapa Māori practices are centred.
Accessible for every body
Sessions are free, online, and designed with flexible options—no camera requirement, closed captioning, low-sensory alternatives, and content warnings that respect individual needs.
Our pillars of practice
Connection
Community check-ins, peer chat, and breakout kōrero make it easier to feel less alone—even through a screen.
Capability
We share tools that guests can take into their daily lives, from journaling prompts to crisis plans and advocacy guides.
Courage
Our spaces normalise big feelings, celebrate progress, and call for systemic change where services fall short.
Meet the crew
Facilitators
Artists, yogis, writers, poets, kaimahi, clinicians, and community leaders who have walked through similar challenges. Their sessions reflect their passions—from grief circles to mindful journaling.
Peer support crew
Behind every session is a peer support worker moderating chat, offering grounding, and checking in afterwards. They are the first to reach out if you leave suddenly or need extra awhi.
Operations & partnerships
A dedicated operations roopu coordinates scheduling, accessibility, evaluation, and collaboration with funders, DHBs, iwi partners, and community organisations.
Want to partner with us? Email [email protected] to co-design a session, commission resource packs, or discuss hosting a Whakatau Mai pop-up in your rohe.
Our supporters
Whakatau Mai is funded by Manatū Hauora | Ministry of Health and uplifted by Changing Minds, regional DHBs, and a growing network of wellbeing organisations, including Rainbow-focused groups, addiction support services, and youth-led collectives. We are grateful for their trust and collaboration.
We would love to hear from you
Share your ideas for new sessions, request a collaboration, or let us know how Whakatau Mai has supported you.
Email the crew