Te Whāriki o te Ara Oranga – Contract Conclusion and Transition

E kore e taea e te whenu kotahi
ki te raranga i te whāriki.
Kia mōhio tātou ki a tātou,
mā te mahi tahi o ngā whenu,
mā te mahi tahi o ngā kairaranga,
ka oti tēnei whāriki.

The tapestry of understanding cannot be woven by one strand alone; only through the weaving together of many strands, and many weavers, is it completed.

Kia ora e te whānau,

Due to system-wide changes to funding, the contract for Te Whāriki o te Ara Oranga will conclude on 28 February 2026. This change reflects a shift in funding priorities rather than the performance, impact, or value of Whāriki.

We want to personally acknowledge the relationship we hold with you and your teams, and the ways your leadership and mātauranga has strengthened Whāriki.

Your contribution has helped create a more connected, courageous, and collaborative sector. The Whāriki rōpū are deeply grateful to have been on this journey over the past five years, bringing people together to share the leadership and innovation happening across the motu. Many hands and many weavers have made this possible.

We would like to acknowledge and thank our manager, Richard Woodcock, for his unwavering trust and support of the team and our mahi. To our early builders and believers, Amy Simmons, Miriam McNichol, Denis Grennell and Dr Reena Kainamu, thank you. We are truly grateful for everything you have contributed.

We also acknowledge the late Maaka Tibble for the gifting of the name Te Whāriki o Te Ara Oranga, and his son, Kahurangi Fergusson-Tibble, for continuing to support and uphold this kaupapa.

To everyone who has shared your stories, successes and passions with us, thank you. We are endlessly grateful for the connections we have made and for the inspiration we have drawn from your work and commitment.

Over the coming weeks, we will work through a structured transition. This will include support for subnetwork leads, clarity around archived content, and regular updates to the sector. We will continue to act with care, honesty, and transparency throughout this process.

If you have content on our website, please let us know by 6 February whether you would like this content deleted, archived, or provided to you as a copy. If we do not hear from you, your content will be deleted from the system.

If you would like to kōrero, ask pātai, or discuss any part of this transition, we are very open to connecting.

E tika ana kia mihia tonutia koutou i whai wāhi mai, ki ngā whenu i rarangahia e koutou i tā tātou whāriki. Ahakoa ngā āhuatanga ikimokemoke ā te hunga tōrangapū, mā koutou ngā ringa raupā o tō tātou rāngai hauora, e anga whakamua, e toitū tonu tēnei kaupapa.

Ngā mihi nui,

Isabella, Kahu-Rangi, Katheryn, Lianne, and Laura

FAQs

Why is Whāriki closing?
System-wide changes to innovation funding have meant the contract will not continue beyond 28 February 2026. This reflects a shift in funding priorities, not the performance, impact, or value of the kaupapa.

Does the closure reflect poor results or issues with Whāriki?
No. Whāriki has grown to more than 3,500 members and is widely recognised as a successful, impactful movement.

What happens to the resources, videos, and stories I contributed?
You can choose to:

• keep your content in our archive
• request a downloadable copy
• ask us to remove it entirely
• kōrero with us before deciding

If we do not hear from you, your content will be deleted from the system.

Will relationships and subnetworks continue?
The formal infrastructure will close, and mailing lists will be deleted, but the relationships, whanaungatanga, and collaborations built across Whāriki remain with the people who carry them. Te Pou is exploring opportunities to support the subnetworks in alternative ways.

How will updates be shared?
Through newsletter updates, direct emails, and online hui throughout the transition.

Will there be a final acknowledgment?
Yes. A final pānui will be shared on 28 February 2026, recognising contributors and the legacy of this kaupapa.