Father’s Day Reflections
I’ve noticed that nearly every care-experienced young person I talk to carries some kind of hesitation or raruraru around days like Father’s Day. For some, it’s a reminder of what’s missing. For others, it’s wrapped in grief or anger. For those stepping into their own journey of parenthood, it can bring feelings of fear, love, […]
Te Waipounamu Regional Youth Council (RYC)
Recently our socials have been filled with recruitment for our Te Waipounamu RYC, and we know that sometimes young people can be a little hesitant to put themselves forward, or might think that they wouldn’t be the right person/good enough. We spoke to Gray about what they got out of being a part of the […]
No Aotearoa au – I am an indigenous person of Aotearoa.
August 9th 2025 is International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, which was created in 1995 by the UN (United Nations) to raise awareness and protect the rights of indigenous people globally. The date chosen also commemorates the first meeting of the UN Working Group on Indigenous Populations in 1982. VOYCE’s Pou Whirinaki team have […]
Why are pronouns important for kids in care?
For young people in care, feeling seen, respected, and safe is essential – but not always guaranteed. This is often an even harder or unlikely guarantee for young people in care who also identify as part of the rainbow (LGBTTQIA+) community. One of the simplest yet most powerful ways adults in their lives can offer […]
Eats and Treats
Recently, our Bay crew had an awesome time at the Eats and Treats event in sunny Havelock North! Thirteen tamariki aged 4 – 17 came together to roll up their sleeves and get creative in the kitchen – making their very own pizzas for lunch, followed by some delicious sweet treats to take home. From […]
Matariki: Papamoa
For Matariki this year, VOYCE Papamoa, hosted a memorable Craft and Movie Night, bringing together tamariki and rangatahi (ages 8–16) in care from the Tauranga rohe for an evening of fun, creativity, and connection. The event embraced the themes of Matariki, the Māori New Year, which celebrates remembrance, renewal, and hope for the future. To […]
Call for Workshop Proposals 🌟
Kōkiri – The Future Speaks A National Conference on Transforming the Care Experience in Aotearoa 16–18 March 2026 | Oceania Room, Te Papa, Wellington VOYCE – Whakarongo Mai is proud to host our first national conference, Kōkiri – The Future Speaks — a gathering dedicated to transforming the care experience in Aotearoa. This event centres care-experienced rangatira […]
Our Experiences: Coming out in care
For anyone, coming out can be hard and even unsafe, and for care experienced taiohi it’s no different. When you are raised in care, there is no expectation of unconditional love. In fact, for a lot of us, the love we receive in care is particularly conditional. This can make coming out really complicated. I […]
Matariki: Ōtautahi
What a truly unforgettable evening it was at the South New Brighton Surf Lifesaving Club, as our VOYCE Ōtautahi whānau and Caring Families came together beneath a starlit sky to celebrate Hāngī and Hot Pools — a vibrant, heartfelt gathering that honoured the spirit of connection, remembrance, and renewal. With over 100 taiohi and caregiver […]
Matariki: Dunedin
On the evening of Wednesday 18 June, the VOYCE – Whakarongo Mai Ōtepoti office opened its doors to care-experienced rangatahi and their caregivers for a special night of whakawhanaungatanga, reflection, and celebration in honour of Matariki. The event brought together eight care-experienced young people, four caregivers, and two VOYCE kaimahi, Amelia and Zoe. This was […]