Wai Ora - Whakapapa

The Wai Ora Christian Community Trust was established 1989 by Marama Dey for the purpose of working with "at risk youth" in Wanganui. In the beginning Marama and a group of volunteers took in youth who were homeless or who were not living at home due to violence or abuse from their parents or caregiver. She housed them in her own home and fed them and began to teach them some life skills. The training was to prepare and equip them for the time when they left so that they could live independently.

Marama's ministry and reputation came to the notice of the city fathers, the churches and various Government Departments. Soon she was receiving referrals from Police and other Social Service Agencies who saw her programme as a valuable service to the community. The Department of Social Welfare contracted her to work with "youth at risk" and to run programmes on their behalf.

In 1991 The Wai Ora Christian Community Trust became a registered charitable trust under the Charitable Trust Act 1957. This legal entity allowed the Trust to become a Private Training Establishment and to contract to, and offer courses on behalf of Skill New Zealand and Work and Income New Zealand. The Trusts credibility was further enhanced when in 1995 they gained registration and accreditation to The New Zealand Qualifications Authority. The Trust continues to run courses for The Tertiary Education Commission, The Ministry of Education and to provide a Social Work support service for youth and families on behalf of The Department for Child Youth and Family.

Wai Ora has gained a reputation for handling the most difficult cases to the point where we now operate the largest Alternative Eduction School in the region, with over 16 students, 5 staff and a number of volunteers. Wai Ora employs a full time Senior Social Worker, a Social worker for Alternative Education and a number of social work support staff engaged as mentors and buddies. The Trust also has trained counsellors on staff.
Wai Ora was born out of a mission that God placed on the heart of Marama Dey. That mission has grown to encompass more than just youth at risk. To help with the delivery of the mission, God has raised up a Maori Christian Fellowship that operates from Wai Ora every Friday night and will soon expand to include other services that are needed in our community. The name of the Maori Christian Fellowship is Te Puna O Wai Ora which literally means "The Pool of Living Water".

The Wai Ora Christian Community Trust is seen as a creditable and ethical deliverer of training, education and social services in Wanganui.

Setting the Captives Free