Nōku te Ao Wellington Regional Wānanga

• Free to attend – registration essential

• Limited spots

• Morning tea and lunch provided

Following the success of the Nōku te Ao Symposium in Auckland last year, the Regional Wānanga series He reo tini, he wawata kotahi – Many voices, one goal to end mental distress discrimination continues the momentum to create lasting change for people living with mental distress in Aotearoa.

As the final event in a series of four across the motu, the Nōku te Ao Wellington Regional Wānanga will bring together systems change leaders, mental health professionals, and lived experience advocates to focus on practical actions and tools to end mental distress discrimination at every level.

Join us for a day of powerful kōrero, practical learning, and collective action.

We are honoured to welcome Kerri Butler and Paul Rangiwahia as our keynote speakers.

Kerri Butler’s keynote will explore the stigma and discrimination experienced by people living with mental illness or distress – and how each of us can play a role in challenging it. She’ll share practical tools and everyday actions to help foster greater social inclusion, and highlight why it’s so important to keep this social movement alive, visible, and growing.

In his keynote, Paul Rangiwahia will explore the power of art in normalising mental health conversations, and approaches to wellbeing that focus on small, repeatable actions rather than big motivation or hype.

The day will include two interactive workshops. The first workshop, led by John Kingi and Heemi Kapa-Kingi from Soften Up Bro, will challenge the perception that experiencing mental distress is a sign of weakness. Through storytelling and reflection, this workshop will explore how vulnerability can strengthen whānau and communities, and how speaking honestly about mental distress can deepen connection and a sense of identity.

The second workshop will be spearheaded by Hannah Whittaker-Komatsu. This workshop will examine how lived experience functions as a continuous loop of influence, shaping the actions we take to create change for our whānau and communities. Together, we’ll reflect, share, and celebrate the many ways we collectively shape our world, moment by moment.

• Evidence-based tools to challenge mental distress stigma and discrimination in your workplace and community

• Connections with sector leaders and lived experience advocates across Wellington and the wider region.
• Inspiration and practical steps to help create lasting change.

Nōku te Ao is a public awareness movement dedicated to increasing social inclusion and ending discrimination against people with lived experience of mental illness or distress.

Grounded in Te Tiriti o Waitangi and led by tāngata whaiora (people seeking wellness), Nōku te Ao works with lived experience communities, whānau, and kaimahi across Aotearoa – to end stigma and discrimination in homes, schools, workplaces, hospitals, and the media.

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Host or Publisher Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand