Whangaroa Health Services

03/10/2025

01/10/2025

🌿 Therapeutic Gardening at Kauri Lodge 🌿

We’ve officially started planting in our new Vegpod setup on the Rose Wing dining room deck at Kauri Lodge — and we even managed to dodge the light showers to get it underway! 🌧️🌱

Gardening is more than just growing food — it’s a powerful tool for wellbeing. Research shows it can reduce stress and anxiety, improve mood and cognitive function, and support both physical and mental health. This project brings those benefits right to our residents' doorstep with the added luxury of being able to pick a fresh strawberry or two.

A huge thank you to the FNDC Community Grants Fund for supporting this initiative and helping us make it happen. Your support is deeply appreciated!

Stay tuned for updates as our garden grows! 💚

01/10/2025

🦷 Healthy Smiles Start Young! 🦷
Good oral health is a key part of your child’s overall wellbeing. Regular dental check-ups help prevent cavities, pain, and infection — and support healthy eating and speaking.

We’re lucky in Aotearoa to have free dental care for tamariki until their 18th birthday. This includes:
✅ Check-ups
✅ Preventative treatments
✅ Treatment for tooth pain and damage

📞 Need an appointment?
Call 0800 698 3384 (0800 MY TEETH) at 8am on the day you want the appointment. The dental team will do their best to get you to the closest clinic.
🦷 One appointment is available each day for urgent pain.

🚐 Mobile Dental Service Alert!
The mobile dental clinic will be visiting Matauri Bay School in November — a great opportunity to get your tamariki seen locally.

📋 Need to enrol your child?
Call 0800 MY TEETH or pick up a form from Whangaroa Health Services at Omaunu House.

Ngā mihi,
Lisa Shepherd
Oral Health
📱 021 456 447

Send a message to learn more

30/09/2025

Celebrating International Coffee Day – and who doesn’t love a good cup of coffee
The residents of Kauri Lodge and staff were treated to a special morning tea at the pop-up Rose Café.
A big thank you to the kitchen team for the delicious pastries, and to the Wellbeing Team for serving the coffee and hot chocolate.
Great way to beat the miserable weather and enjoy a warm drink and great company

30/09/2025

Statement – Update on the Pā gym

Kia ora koutou katoa
On behalf of the Board of Trustees, we wish to acknowledge and thank our dedicated CEO, staff of the Pā gym, maintenance and management who have had to deal with the dire state of the Pā gym over the past few months
Whangaroa Health Services (WHST) is a charitable trust, with funding for the Pā Gym sourced primarily through Te Whatu Ora.
On 9 July 2025 a Community Hui was held at the Pā gym with 25 people in attendance - that evening we experienced bad weather which resulted in surface flooding, and the lights went out as the electrical tripping safety mechanism kicked in. The next day, WHST asked the landlord to fix and resolve the two issues.
Unfortunately, progress was very limited. This resulted in the Board making the decision for the service to end its lease and to exit the site until such time that the building was certified as being fit for use as the Pā gym.
As the Board, we have legal and ethical obligations to ensure the safety of both the staff and users, and to protect the financial accountability of our service and funder.
The Trust is also required to ensure the Pā gym is compliant with building regulations as governed by Far North District Council, and safe for the Community to access and use the service.
We acknowledge the strong Community voice and feedback received as well as the many offers of support, including those who are actively assisting the Landlord at this time.
We are committed to exploring ways by which we are able to re-open the doors and do recognize the frustration that the Pā gym closure has caused. We want the Community to know that we will continue to deliver classes and activities at alternative sites as we navigate this space.

Nāku noa, nā,

Jess Williams
Chair, Board of Trustees
Whangaroa Health Services Trust

Send a message to learn more

26/09/2025

Weekly Bite-sized Nutrition Tips with Lavern 🫶

26/09/2025

🌿 Meet Lavern – Our Qualified Nutritionist 🌿
Lavern is here to support you on your hauora journey with practical, down-to-earth tips to help you make better food choices every day.

🥗 What Lavern Offers:

Engaging group workshops
Personalised nutrition programs tailored to your unique needs
These programs can support the prevention and management of health conditions such as:
✅ Diabetes
✅ Cancer
✅ Heart Disease

Whether you're looking to improve your overall well-being or manage a specific health concern, Lavern is here to help you take the next step toward a healthier lifestyle.

📧 Book your appointment today: wellness@whst.org.nz

Send a message to learn more

25/09/2025

Hope everyone is enjoying the school holidays!
It's been a quieter week, but it's been so good to share some time with those who were able to make it to class. Keep up the great work, whānau – you're all doing amazing!

22/09/2025

Whangaroa Health Services
Wellness Team
Matauri Bay Clinic

Appointments available with our Physio, Whanau Ora Naivigator and Nutritionist.

October 1st, Wednesday
10am to 2pm

Te Whare Ruruhau
Subdivision
Matauri Bay

Send a message to learn more

21/09/2025

Another Fantastic Grafting Workshop with Mehdi

We were treated to another fantastic workshop with Mehdi on Saturday, under the warmth of the spring sun. It was a beautiful afternoon spent learning about a variety of grafting techniques.
As always, Mehdi generously shared his deep knowledge, encouraging questions and clearly explaining the principles behind each method before demonstrating them on trees, shrubs, and vines. His hands-on teaching style made it easy for everyone to engage and understand how to apply these techniques in their own gardens.

After the workshop, we gathered for a delicious afternoon tea and enjoyed each other's company. The sense of community and shared inspiration was truly special — everyone left feeling empowered and excited to enhance their gardens on a shoestring budget.

A huge thank you to Far North District Council for your support to make the event possible!

19/09/2025

The Week that was....
Tuesday - Day Out at the Airport Cafe ✨✈️☕
There’s something truly special about sharing a cup of coffee, a good conversation, and a beautiful view with friends — and that’s exactly what some of the residents of Kauri Lodge experienced on their recent outing to the Airport Café in Kerikeri.
This memorable trip was made possible thanks to the kind invitation and warm hospitality of Maureen’s wonderful friends, Marine and Jodie.
Lorraine, one of our lovely residents, couldn’t stop talking about how much she enjoyed her coffee — we think it tasted even better surrounded by good company and laughter.
Outings like this aren’t just about a change of scenery; they’re about creating meaningful moments and celebrating the joy in everyday experiences. For our residents, it’s a chance to reconnect with the world beyond our walls and to feel inspired by the simple pleasures of life.
Special thanks to our amazing volunteers Pete and Lorraine for your assistance and making this day so memorable.
Everyone is eagerly looking forward to the next adventure!
Any suggestions?

A huge shoutout to the18 amazing tamariki who were recognised at this morning’s Kaeo School assembly with their ReadyFit participation certificates.
You showed up, gave it your all, and proved that with determination and teamwork, anything is possible. We're incredibly proud of your commitment and energy.
Take a well-deserved break, recharge, and come back in Term 4 ready to smash it all over again. Let’s keep growing stronger, together!

Lastly - reminder the Grafting Workshop is going ahead tomorrow in the Teaching Garden at Whangaroa Health Services, 180 Omaunu Road Kaeo. If interested don't forget to register at wellness@whst.org.nz.

Go the Black Ferns!!!!!!!!