In this episode, we kōrero with Wiremu Gray about his journey from a challenging childhood to his work today as a counsellor and cultural advisor. Wiremu shares insights from his mahi supporting rangatahi in schools and offers practical guidance for practitioners working in this space. He also introduces the Te Whare Mauri Ora model, an innovative approach to mental health and cultural wellbeing grounded in Te Ao Māori.
Wiremu Gray has been working in the space of Māori woodcarving, wellbeing, leadership, supervision, and counselling for over 20 years. He is passionate about changing negative health statistics, especially for Māori. He believes that having a bicultural approach to wellbeing using the Te Whare Mauri Ora model is a positive step forward for institutions and health providers in Aotearoa.
In this episode, we talk to Kathryn Wright, who provides some advice for practitioners on handling rural mental health crises and spotlights the specific challenges these communities typically face.
Kathryn has studied and worked in the field of rural mental health for 10 years and has experience working with people aged five to 85, in schools and private practice. She is a full member of the New Zealand Association for Counsellors and is on the Community Health Council for Otago and Southland. Kathryn is also an accredited mental health first aid instructor.
In this episode, we’re joined by Enys Delmage and James Gardiner to talk about the current trends in youth offending, and how public perception shapes government policy in thisarea. Enys and James also highlight the importance of evidence-based early intervention and whānau-centred approaches to youth forensics.
Enys Delmage is an adolescent psychiatrist based at Ngā Taiohi, a secure inpatient mental health service for young people. He works out of Porirua, New Zealand. He has a specific interest in the interface between young people and the law, and his research is predominantly focussed on the minimum age of criminal responsibility on an international scale.
James Gardiner is a forensic psychiatrist working at Tū Māia, formerly known as Regional Youth Forensic Services in Auckland. Most of his work involves delivering in-reach mental health care to the two youth justice residences in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland. James has worked as an in-reach psychiatrist in various correctional settings for around 20 years, with the last 10 years working with young people.
Resources:
Sarah Jane Blakemore – Inventing Ourselves | The Secret Life of the Teenage Brain
*Content warning: Discussion of drug use; addiction.
In this episode, we sit down with Ben Birks Ang to explore substance use among rangatahi in Aotearoa. We examine emerging trends and discuss how the Drug Foundation works proactively alongside schools, whānau, and communities to encourage early intervention and improve outcomes.
Ben Birks Ang is the deputy executive director, programmes for Te Puna Whakaiti Pāmamae Kai Whakapiri | New Zealand Drug Foundation. Ben and his team lead projects that bring different sectors together to improve wellbeing and reduce harm from alcohol and other drugs.
*Content warning: Discussion of suicide.
In this episode, we speak with Mathew Kiore about his suicide prevention mahi at Te Rau Ora. He shares how he supports whānau on their healing journeys and highlights the importance of building strong, trusting relationships between practitioners and the wider community.
Mathew Kiore is manager, Centre of Māori Suicide Prevention at Te Rau Ora. Matt is a hands-on indigenous leader who shares his cultural knowledge to advance wellness outcomes for impacted indigenous communities.
*Content warning: discussion of suicide
In this episode, we talk to Mark Wilson about how social media can distort our understanding of suicide. Mark also shares insights on how we can better educate people to talk about this complex issue with safety and accuracy.
Mark is senior media advisor at the Mental Health Foundation. His commitment to his mahi is deeply personal;he lost his wife to suicide 19 years ago, motivating him to make a difference in the field of suicide prevention and postvention.
Resources:
https://mentalhealth.org.nz/media/media-resource
https://www.orygen.org.au/chatsafe/Resources/International-guidelines/UK-%E2%80%93-English
*Content warning: discussion of eating disorders.
“Our focus on weight and shape has come to a boiling point”
In this episode, David Stoner unpacks common myths about eating disorders, highlighting the flaws of Body Mass Index (BMI) as a tool, and discussing how misinformation – especially on social media – can cause body image issues in young people.
David is a consultant psychiatrist at the South Island Eating Disorders Service. He is currently absorbed full time in assessing and treating eating disorders, as well as providing support to other professionals working in this area.
Whāraurau has a multitude of different resources in relation to eating disorders which you can find on our website, located here.
In this episode, we talk to Eden Grimwood about neurodiversity – from common misconceptions to the varied challenges that neurodiverse youth experience. Drawing from her lived experience, Eden shares practical insights into how educators and mental health professionals can cultivate more inclusive environments that will truly support neurodiverse individuals going forward.
Eden Grimwood is a Youth Mentor & Consumer Advisor at Whāraurau. Her focus is on ensuring youth have their voices reflected in the work we do.
In this episode, we talk to Megan Tombs and Genevieve Mora regarding their lived experience in both handling and healing from eating disorders.
Megan is a registered Counsellor, who has knowledge of Family-Based Treatment (FBT) in the context of eating disorders. She helps families by providing a calm, non-judgemental space in which practical strategies and emotional support options can be explored Megan is also Chair at the Eating Disorder Association of New Zealand (EDANZ).
Genevieve is the co-founder of Voices of Hope, where she uses her lived experience to show people that recovery is possible, and that there is no shame in having a mental illness. In 2023, she was named in the Forbes 30 under 30 Asia list, 2023 edition.
*Content warning: discussion of eating disorders.
Holding space is a podcast from Whārarau. In each episode, we sit down with people from across the infant, child, and adolescent mental health and addiction sector, and related sectors, to korero about the work, the challenges, and the heart behind supporting our tamariki and rangatahi. Join us as we hold space for honest conversations, shared learning, and collective growth.
This podcast series is hosted by Dr. Bronwyn Dunnachie and Tepora Pukepuke.
Whāraurau is the national centre for infant, child and mental health workforce development. We provide training, advice, and resources in best practice approaches and service improvement for services and teams providing mental health and addictions support to infants, children, young people, and their whānau.
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