Te Whare Taonga

Te Whare Taonga

Respite care for disabled children and youth in Northland

Teenager baking in the kitchen, stirring a mixing bowl. A box of cake mix is on the counter.

Te Whare Taonga is a respite house for tamariki and rangatahi in Northland.

It is a home away from home where disabled children and young people aged between 5 and 17 can come for a safe and enriching experience.

At Te Whare Taonga we create fun filled experiences, where tamariki and rangatahi can form lasting friendships and memories.

This is called ‘Respite care’.

Respite means parents and caregivers can recharge while their children can connect with others, have fun, and learn some new skills.

Te Whare Taonga is fully accessible, fenced and only takes up to five people at one time.

Our dedicated and skilled team of support workers aim to provide flexible and personalised support to each young person who visits us.

Closeup of young girl with big smile and colourful scarf outside, using a wheelchair.

What you can expect

We provide a space where tamariki and rangatahi can enjoy experiences they may otherwise miss out on.

At Te Whare Taonga we value:

  • having choices

  • having fun

  • making connections

  • promoting independence

  • being yourself.

We offer a wide range of opportunities, depending on your child’s interests and needs. This could include activities like baking, arts and crafts, imaginary play, outdoor activities and heading out and about in the community.

Visits can be any day of the week, including during term-time and school holidays. We are happy to follow your usual routines from home, including meeting any cultural needs. We also provide nutritious meals which we can tailor to meet individual choices.

Woman and young girl sitting together on blanket outside, on a grassy lawn with trampoline visible in the background. Girl is playing with soft toys.

Accessing Te Whare Taonga

Respite care is funded by Whaikaha – Ministry of Disabled People and is accessed by a referral from Needs Assessment and Service Coordination (NASC) agency NorthAble.

Once we receive a referral, we will work directly with you to create a plan for what respite could look like for your whānau. Our team are flexible and approachable and can draw on our experience to step you through the process.

There is no contract or obligation to attend if things change for you.

There is no cost to access Te Whare Taonga.

Get in touch to find out more

If you’re interested in more information about Te Whare Taonga or any other disability support, we would love to hear from you.

Ask to speak with a member of our Child, Family and Whānau team.

Northland branch

Phone number: 09 437 1899 or 0800 227 2255
 Email address: Northland@ccsDisabilityAction.org.nz

Back lawn of respite, a grassy, fenced area with slide and swingset.
Girl and woman playing together at an outdoor table, smiling at each other.
A photo of one of the Te Whare Taonga bedrooms.