Pillars New Zealand

Pillars Ka Pou Whakahou, a charity supporting children and families with whānau in prison.

We provide support to tamariki and their whānau through two core programmes:
- Community based (in house) social work support tailored to the needs of each whānau.
- Mentoring for children and youth aged 5-17 years old.

These programmes are currently operating in Auckland and Christchurch. We also have Pathway Centres based in certain prisons offering direct support. And we provide Wrap Around W

How Do I Become a Mentor? 29/07/2024

Have questions about mentoring? Our latest korero has all the answers!

Discover your path to becoming a mentor and learn about the life-changing experience of mentorship with us.

How Do I Become a Mentor? Interested in making a difference in the lives of tamariki impacted by whānau incarceration? Learn how you can become a mentor with us!

Photos from Pillars New Zealand's post 24/07/2024

Check out rangatahi in action at the Adventure Works Holiday Program 🚵‍♀️✨

Events like these offer a safe space for rangatahi to challenge their fears, discover new passions, and connect with peers. It was amazing to see them work together, support each other and build their talent for biking on this beautiful winter day!

Huge thanks to AdventureWorks Ltd for facilitating this incredible event. Your commitment and generosity gave the young people a chance to experience something new and exciting through mountain biking.

Photos from Pillars New Zealand's post 21/07/2024

📸 Snapshots of Ngā Rangatira Mō Āpōpō Day 3

The rangatahi were hard at work, shaping the “Bill of Rights for Tamariki Impacted by Whānau Incarceration.”

📜 Next Steps:

The rangatahi are committed to ensuring their voices are heard in legislative spaces through their revised “Bill of Rights for Tamariki Impacted by Whānau Incarceration.” Later this year, they will submit their final version of the Bill of Rights in an open letter, advocating for legislative changes that will protect future generations of tamariki and rangatahi.

Joint submission: Section 7AA — Children's Rights Alliance Aotearoa 17/07/2024

Tiriti o Waitangi is our framework for partnerships between tangata whenua and tangata tiriti. We believe this pillar offers us the best and evidence-led way to walk alongside whānau with whānau-centred support.

Section 7AA ensures that Oranga Tamariki prioritizes whakapapa solutions, respects cultural identities, and builds partnerships with Māori-led organizations in alignment with Te Tiriti o Waitangi. It safeguards the holistic safety and well-being of tamariki by holding the system accountable and prioritising whakapapa solutions. It has been proven to reduce disparities for mokopuna Māori.

Repealing Section 7AA undermines this goal by removing those crucial protections for tamariki.

We stand united with the Children’s Rights Alliance Aotearoa New Zealand (CRAANZ) and many other leading organizations in opposing this repeal. Read our joint submission and become part of our collective effort to understand how the repeal of Section 7AA will negatively impact tamariki and whānau.

Joint submission: Section 7AA — Children's Rights Alliance Aotearoa Children’s Rights Alliance Aotearoa New Zealand (CRAANZ) is opposed to the repealing of 7AA, believing it will cause further harm to tamariki Māori and their rights. Together with our membership and children’s rights networks, we developed a joint submission against the repeal which you can acc...

Photos from Pillars New Zealand's post 15/07/2024

We are beyond grateful to the Kindness Collective Foundation for their incredible donation of 120 pairs of children’s PJs through The PJ Project! 🌟💖

Our team is thrilled to share these cozy PJs with the whānau and tamariki we support. Ngā mihi nui, Kindness Collective, for helping us make a positive difference this winter!

Ngā Rangatira Mō Āpōpō: Redefining Rights for Tamariki Impacted by Whānau Incarceration 11/07/2024

What do rangatahi have to say about the "Children of Incarcerated Parents: A Bill of Rights"?

The rangatahi of Ngā Rangatira Mō Āpōpō - Leaders for Tomorrow are using their lived experiences to make a tangible impact on legislation. Here’s a glimpse into their incredible mahi.

Ngā Rangatira Mō Āpōpō: Redefining Rights for Tamariki Impacted by Whānau Incarceration Here’s a glimpse into the powerful work of rangatahi revising the Children of Incarcerated Parents: Bill of Rights for tamariki in Aotearoa.

08/07/2024

🎨Check out the winning pictures and the amazing prizes that talented tamariki received in Ōtautahi!

The team in Christchurch recently hosted a fantastic colouring competition, where tamariki showcased their creativity and learned about the significance of Matariki.

05/07/2024

🎥 Behind the scenes at our Matariki celebration!

Embracing the spirit of Matariki, our outstanding Social Workers organised something extraordinary for our team in Tāmaki Makaurau...A morning together full of kai and scavenger hunts.

Each activity was designed to represent the meaning of the Matariki stars, bringing us closer together with shared laughs and learning - the perfect way to start the new year together!

Photos from Pillars New Zealand's post 27/06/2024

💫 Mānawatia a Matariki

Nau mai ngā hua
Nau mai ngā pai
Nau mai kia nui
Kia hāwere ai

As we welcome Matariki, we reflect on the past and welcome the abundance of the future. At Pillars Ka Pou Whakahou, we embrace the spirit of kaikōhau – expressing our hopes for our community. We are grateful for our community's unwavering support and the incredible resilience of the tamariki and whānau we serve. As we look ahead to the coming year, we are hopeful for even greater things.

We're expanding into West Auckland 25/06/2024

Something 🆕 is happening!!!

We're expanding into West Auckland Pillars Ka Pou Whakahou expands into West Auckland! New support services & a dedicated Youth Mentor role to uplift whānau & tamariki.

Photos from Pillars New Zealand's post 22/06/2024

Ngā mihi ki o tatou kaiawhina 🏆

Pillars Ka Pou Whakahou has been recognised at the 2024 Volunteer Recognition Awards!

This recognition, organized by Volunteering Canterbury, honours the outstanding dedication and contributions of our exceptional volunteer mentors. It celebrates not only the mahi we do but also the incredible humans we meet along the way—mentors and whānau alike.

19/06/2024

Whiria te tangata – 'weaving the people together.'

Te Wiki Tūao ā-Motu – National Volunteer Week highlights the powerful connections that volunteering weaves together for each other and the fabric of our community.

At Pillars Ka Pou Whakahou, volunteer mentors embody manaakitanga and our values of whānaungatanga and tautoko, building meaningful relationships with their mentees and creating a connected future.

💬 Feedback from a current Mentor:

“When I joined the Pillars Programme as a mentor, I was really excited about the opportunity to support a young person in their development. What I have quickly found is that this young person is also helping me in my own development. Learning about their life, views on the world and what their goals are for the future is exciting and rewarding. For me, this programme has offered a great opportunity to add some value to our community whilst having fun and learning myself.”

Thank you, volunteer mentors, for joining the tamariki's waka at Pillars Ka Pou Whakahou!

Volunteering New Zealand

17/06/2024

Te Wiki Tūao ā-Motu – National Volunteer Week honours the collective energies and mana of volunteers. Ngā mihi nui to our dedicated volunteer mentors!

Your time, energy and compassion have transformed lives, opened doors to brighter futures and created joy for tamariki and rangatahi at Pillars Ka Pou Whakahou.

Volunteering New Zealand

14/06/2024

One mentor's story can create a ripple effect of tautoko.

Meet Jo, one of the amazing Ōtautahi mentors. After sharing her rewarding experience as a Pillars Ka Pou Whakahou mentor with her boss, Simon, at Speedy Signs, he was so moved by our mahi that he decided to support us in a special way. 🙌

We now have fantastic new Pillars logo stickers and an inspiring car bumper sticker designed by Jo herself, proudly stating: "I'm a Pillars mentor."

A huge thank you to Speedy Signs Riccarton - Christchurch for your kindness and support! 💖 And to Jo, for being an inspiring mentor and advocate for our kaupapa.

Open Letter: Dear Leaders, don't criminalise our children. Stop the Ram Raid Bill! 07/06/2024

We all want a safe and effective justice system that addresses the root causes of harm in our communities.

The Ram Raid bill, as it stands, perpetuates further cycles of crime and harm for the most vulnerable. Decades of evidence show that deterrence-based models do not prevent offending and harm.

We advocate for evidence-based solutions that provide wrap-around support systems for tamariki and their whānau.

Join us in stopping the ram raid bill by signing this petition. Together, we can build a safer and more positive future for all.

Open Letter: Dear Leaders, don't criminalise our children. Stop the Ram Raid Bill! The Ram Raid bill is currently before select committee. It was introduced with the aim of reducing the impact of ram raids. The measures proposed will not achieve this aim. They are not supported by evidence, they include breaches of human rights and the UN rights of the child, and they are out of s...

Become a Mentor | Pillars Ka Pou Whaka 31/05/2024

Curious about becoming a mentor?

Join us at our upcoming mentor information sessions in Ōtautahi and Tāmaki Makaurau on Thursday, 6 June, and discover the impact you can have.

🌟 Understand our kaupapa and mahi.
🌟 Hear inspiring stories from our current mentors.
🌟 Find out how you can start your journey as a mentor.

Don't miss this chance to learn, connect and make a real difference. Click the link to book your spot now!

Become a Mentor | Pillars Ka Pou Whaka Without intervention, children of people in prison are 9.5 times more likely to end up in prison themselves. Our mentoring programme is committed to lowering this statistic. Our mentors not only change children’s lives, but they change their own.

28/05/2024

This year, we honour the beautiful theme of ‘Tautua i le alofa’ – “Serve in love.” Love is the driving force behind true service.

As we celebrate Vaiaso o le Gagana Samoa—Samoa Language Week, let's remember that tautua is achieved through values of love and respect. In providing service to the tamariki and their families at Pillars Ka Pou Whakahou, our every action comes from a place of love, compassion and support.

Marking a Milestone: Pillars Ka Pou Whakahou and First Foundation Unite for Transformative Youth Development 27/05/2024

Three rangatahi have just been awarded a life-changing opportunity.

Read their inspiring story in our latest blog post!

First Foundation

Marking a Milestone: Pillars Ka Pou Whakahou and First Foundation Unite for Transformative Youth Development Three rangatahi have been awarded life-changing scholarships through a transformative new partnership with First Foundation.

Photos from Pillars New Zealand's post 20/05/2024

We received the most amazing surprise from Judy and the ‘Hugs All Round’ group at Avebury House - handmade, personalised quilts that are nothing short of beautiful!

For the past 3 years, this incredible group has showered us with their aroha and talent. It's moments like these that remind us of the incredible generosity and manaakitanga within our community.

To Judy and the 'Hugs All Round' crew - your ongoing support means the world to us, and these quilts will bring comfort to many whānau this winter.

Photos from Pillars New Zealand's post 15/05/2024

🧡A Massive Thank You from the Pillars Ka Pou Whakahou Team!🧡

For the mums, grandmas, aunties, and whāea at Pillars Ka Pou Whakahou - you are the pou of your families. Your hard mahi doesn't go unnoticed, and this Mother's Day, the community wanted to honour and celebrate you.

Thanks to the incredible support of sponsors in Ōtautahi, we were able to create an extra special Mother's Day for the mums at Pillars.

⭐Ethique
⭐Honest Chocolat Matakana
⭐Nevé Home Fragrance
⭐CANDLE CRUSH
⭐Amberjack Candle Company
⭐Lush
⭐Scorpio Books
⭐The Birdwood

This celebration honoured the connections that define us as families. Thanks to you, the mums felt the aroha and truly spoiled!

12/05/2024

We asked our team, 'What is one word to describe mums?' Here are the powerful descriptors they chose, illustrating the remarkable mahi of mums at Pillars Ka Pou Whakahou.

To all the Mums, Nanas, Whāngai Mums, Aunties, Caregivers and Mother-figures in our community, Happy Mother's Day!

Photos from Pillars New Zealand's post 08/05/2024

🎉Ka Pou Whakahou Easter Competition Winners! 🎉

We're excited to announce that the winners of the Ka Pou Whakahou Easter Competition are the gifted whānau behind this stunning artwork. Their creativity and skill truly captured the spirit of Easter.

As a token of our congratulations, this deserving whānau received a package worth over $100! We hope it brings joy and celebration to their home.

A heartfelt mihi to everyone who participated in this competition. Your contributions added vibrancy and excitement to this year's festivities. Thank you all for being part of the Pillars Ka Pou Whakahou community and making this Easter celebration truly special.

13/03/2024

Introducing to you all our 2024 cohort of Ngā Rangatira Mō Apōpō: Pillars Youth Advisory Panel ✨ Pictured along with our friends at YouthLaw

This year our members are: Alex, Tyreace, Cheevanah, Tayshon, Nathan, Juliann, Courtney and Cherise. All other members remain as tuakana.

Today was Day 1: We focused on getting to know each other and setting our goals and intentions for 2024. We also had an incredible session with Sarah and Stevie from YouthLaw, discussing the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, and what these translate into in NZ law for young people.

We have some big goals this year and need your help to elevate these young people into more transformative spaces!

12/03/2024

We believe everyone in Aotearoa deserves a safe and effective justice system and are constantly advocating for justice policies to be evidence led; especially when they harm rangatahi in our Justice System. Today we spoke to the Justice Committee at Parliament on The Ram Raid Offending and Related Measures Amendment Bill that we believe will cause detrimental harm now and for generations to come.

Decades of evidence underlines that deterrence-based models do not prevent offending and harm from occurring. The nature of the Ram Raid bill perpetuates further crime and harm cycles to occur, as it stands as a barrier to effective intervention. We believe this bill will not reduce offending, but in fact contribute to increased reoffending and intergenerational incarceration.

Massive mihi to all the organisations who spoke today for a safer and more effective justice system; which focuses on effective harm reduction through intervention. Our own young people are calling out for more support. We need wrap-around support systems for tamariki and their whānau.

Read our submission here: https://www.pillars.org.nz/post/don-t-criminalise-our-children-stop-the-ram-raid-bill

07/03/2024

Me aro koe ki te hā o Hine-ahu-one. Pay heed to the dignity and power of women.

This International Women's day we want to acknowledge all our strong, powerful, brave and beautiful Pillars Mums, Nanas, mentors, young people, staff and more! To every single wahine toa who makes up part of our Pillars whānau: You are seen. You are respected. You are loved. You are powerful.

20/02/2024

We are deeply saddened by the news of Fa'anānā Efeso Collins passing. A passionate, hopeful and relentless advocate for his community, Efeso's love for South Auckland, his community and all rangatahi extended into everything he did. A true justice advocate who did so much for those around him. We are sending aroha and condolences to all his friends, whānau and community.

- The team at Pillars Ka Pou Whakahou

04/02/2024

Our Pathway Centres in Prison provide a safe space for tamariki and their dads to positively engage and connect. Some recent feedback we received:

"My husband and my childrens father is in prison. The visiting area has always been very plain and concrete.

I know Fathers can probably struggle to continue a strong relationship with their children without the added pressure of not having any tools or items to interact together when they do see them. Most of the time we have to either play with a polystyrene cup or find a stone to kick etc. Today was very different!!! We had the opportunity to use colouring in items, a few toys, stickers and a pack of cards.

I looked around at other families and those that are usually quite emotional/upset I saw them laughing and smiling together as their Dad was showing the teenagers his amazing card tricks. Today they were not sad. I saw the children who usually have a short attention span calm and entertained which in turn kept their guardians at ease and enjoying time together as a whānau.

I want to thank Pillars and Chch men’s prison for trusting us to use these items correctly and making it possible to have a much more memorable visit today."

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Our Story

A charity for children of prisoners to support positive, crime-free lives.

We aim to break the cycle of intergenerational offending in New Zealand.

Videos (show all)

🎥 Behind the scenes at our Matariki celebration!Embracing the spirit of Matariki, our outstanding Social Workers organis...
The mentees arrived with their mentors with nerves AND excitement 😃With heaps of encouragement, each mentee and mentor p...
🏉Throwing the rugby ball, 🛝walking to the park, 🍔going for a feed and sharing endless laughs. Those moments made a diffe...
Have you ever worn your pyjamas to the movies? Our Pillars tamariki and mentors did on Saturday! 🎥 🍿 Join us at our Pill...
This week is Te Wiki Tūao ā-Motu, National Volunteer Week. We are celebrating our amazing volunteer mentors, who grow ou...
Children of Prisoners Week in Christchurch ART DAY
Pillars Amazing Race Police TikTok challenge!
Spend my Super
You could make a child’s Christmas

Telephone

Address


6A Jack Conway Avenue, Manukau
Auckland
2104

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

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