Our Story
BRIDGING HOPE AND HEALING IN NEW ZEALAND
NZCAST was founded in 2019 with a clear purpose to support survivors of abuse in state and
faith-based care through connection, understanding, and culturally grounded aftercare.
Our kaupapa began with the voices of mōrehu who needed a safe place to be heard, believed, and supported. Their experiences revealed a gap in services — a lack of survivor-led spaces where people could heal, access guidance, and connect with a community that truly understands.
Today, NZCAST continues to grow as a national collective shaped by lived experience, grounded in compassion, and committed to creating meaningful change for survivors and their whānau.
Supporting our Mōrehu
Our purpose is to provide manaaki and compassionate support for those who have experienced trauma in state care. Through culturally grounded guidance and tailored assistance, we empower survivors as they navigate their healing journeys and rebuild resilience.
At NZCAST, every kōrero is respected and every journey is honoured. Together, we cultivate a community built on empathy, whanaungatanga, and collective strength — advocating for justice, promoting healing, and ensuring no survivor walks alone.
Our top priority is the wellbeing of survivors through education, advocacy and direct support.
Why Us?
Survivors leaving state care often face significant challenges, including barriers in education, employment, and mental health. Too often, there is little support available, and many find themselves navigating other government systems without guidance.
As a collective of survivors, we understand these realities first-hand. We speak the language of survivors, understand the culture, and are grounded in lived experience — allowing us to walk alongside our people with genuine connection and care.
Challenges in the State Care System
The state care system in Aotearoa has faced long-standing challenges. In recent years, thousands of tamariki and rangatahi have spent time in state care, with more than four thousand in care at any one time.
Māori remain significantly over-represented, making up around two-thirds of children and young people in care.
Many survivors carry the ongoing impacts of their time in state care, including barriers in education, employment, and mental health. With limited support available once they leave the system, survivors are often left to navigate government services on their own, continuing cycles of hardship and disadvantage.
What we Do Differently
We are survivor-led and designed
We know how to reach survivors of abuse, and they trust us to walk alongside them as they grieve, heal, and take back leadership over their own lives.
As survivors ourselves, we bring intimate knowledge of state care, strong relationships with marae, and deep connections across communities throughout Aotearoa.
Our facilitators are part of the very communities we serve, ensuring we remain visible, accessible, and grounded in the realities survivors face.
Aftercare done differently
There are significant gaps in support for adult survivors of abuse in state care, and NZCAST works to bridge these. We provide continuous pathways of care that strengthen connection and build a genuine sense of community for and with survivors.
Alongside this, we have developed an active peer-to-peer support network and offer one-to-one follow-ups to ensure survivors are never left to navigate their journey alone.
We open the door for Māori, who were the most harmed in the state care system.
While our services are open to survivors from all backgrounds, we place a strong focus on supporting Māori and Pasifika, who have been most affected by failures in the state care system.
There are cultural factors that cannot be ignored, and these harms continue to show up today — including the high number of Māori in prison, where Māori make up around half of the prison population.
By understanding the culture, language, and whakapapa of survivors, we are able to bring these strengths together in a way that supports healing and connection.
Services we provide
Our approach includes a variety of services to support the different needs of the people we work with.
Advocacy and Empowerment
Our approach empowers survivors make positive changes in their lives, supporting long-term growth and reducing the need for harmful coping habits.
Making Change Possible
Our Mission
Our mission is to provide strong, comprehensive support for survivors of state care, helping them heal, grow, and thrive.
We believe in the power of education, community, and personalised care to create positive change in the lives of those we serve.
Our Vision
We envision a world where every person who has been in state care can live a fulfilling and empowered life.
A world where they have access to the support, resources, and community they need to heal and discover their true potential.
Our Commitment
We are committed to creating a safe, respectful, and nurturing environment for everyone.
Our work is guided by cultural understanding, inclusivity, and a deep awareness of the challenges faced by survivors of state care.
It is time for us to take back our power.
Meet our Team
The people behind our kaupapa, here to support you.
Karl Tauri
Chairman
I help guide NZCAST and deliver Te Rākau o te Ora.
I do this mahi because I want survivors to feel the healing and strength that comes from culture, connection, and being truly seen.
Natana Horua
Kaumatua
I serve as Kaumātua for NZCAST and deliver Te Whare Tapa Whā.
I do this mahi to guide, support, and uplift our people through cultural knowledge, tikanga, and a holistic approach to wellbeing.
Chance Tauri
Youth Support Facilitator
I work with our tamariki and rangatahi, supporting young people to feel safe, valued, and connected.
I do this mahi because I want our youth to grow up knowing they belong and have a bright future.
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Ebony Hatata
Secretary & Lead Administrator
I am the Secretary and Lead Administrator for NZCAST.
I do this mahi to support our team, keep our kaupapa running smoothly, and make sure survivors get the help and information they need.
Penny Haua
Wāhine Group Facilitator
I facilitate our wāhine spaces and will be leading the launch of our new women’s support group in 2026.
I do this mahi to create safe places for wāhine to connect, share, and grow together.
Nathan Taitua
Operations Manager
I manage events that bring survivors together.
I do this work because I believe in the power of community and creating safe spaces where people can stand strong.
Jazmine Te Hiwi
National Hub Coordinator
I coordinate our regional hubs and help strengthen connections in each community.
I do this work because I want survivors to have support close to home and people they can rely on.