Low-taken image outside one of the houses, showing plants and rocks

Our Services

Moana House is a well-established residential therapeutic community for tanē with a connection to the criminal justice system who wish to change their lives.

Working Together To Support Positive Change

Inside one of Moana House's buildings, showing blue painted walls and plants

Moana House is a therapeutic community in Dunedin, dedicated to supporting tāngata whaiora to achieve their full potential and enable them to contribute to the community positively.

For over 30 years, our kaupapa (purpose) has been to provide a safe and mana-enhancing environment where residents can work through their challenges and develop the skills needed to lead fulfilling, independent lives.

Outside one of the property's at Moana House, looking up at a red brick house used for the Residential Service

Our live-in facilities offer a supportive approach to rehabilitation, where our experienced staff work closely with tāngata whaiora to create personalised care plans that address their individual needs.

We provide a range of educational and therapeutic programmes, both on-site and off-site. At Moana House, we believe that every individual has the mauri (life force) and potential to live a fulfilling life and we welcome referrals from whānau, organisations and self-referrals.

Our Services

Residential Programme

Moana House offers a Residential Programme for tāne with a connection to the criminal justice system who want to turn their lives around. The programme lasts approximately one year and is divided into four stages.

More About Our

Residential Programme

More About Our

Residential Programme

Aftercare Service

Moana House provides an Aftercare service designed for tāngata whaiora who have previously been in our Residential Programme. The Aftercare service works from a harm reduction point of view and aims to support Whaiora in their journey towards a better life. We also offer a service for Pasifika men experiencing addiction and other issues.

Te Taketake Diploma in Applied Addictions Counselling

Moana House Training Institute offers a two-year, part-time programme called Te Taketake. Successful completion of Te Taketake will give you the qualification you need to take up a professional role within the mental health and addictions sector.

More About Our

Te Taketake Diploma in Applied Addictions Counselling

More About Our

Te Taketake Diploma in Applied Addictions Counselling

For further information about any of our additional programmes, please contact Moana House directly on (03) 477 0842 or email info@moanahouse.org.nz

Whānau Ora

Whānau Ora is a way of including tāngata whaiora’s family in their journey forward in a healthy and supportive way. It is often important to see the individual in the context of their whānau. At Moana House we have two Whānau Ora workers and two peer support workers whose roles are to support tāngata whaiora and their family to enhance whānau relationships, health and wellbeing.

The Whānau Ora workers, together with the tāngata whaiora’s Key Worker, will assist the resident with individualised goals and plans in relation to the wellbeing of their family. The Whānau Ora workers will connect with family members to assist in implementing plans and support tāngata whaiora and whānau through their journey together. This contact may be via phone calls, text messages, emails, and visits to the House.

Inside Moana House, showing one of the lounges with a guitar, artwork and couches

Our Whare

At Moana House, we take pride in providing a warm, inviting environment for our tāne to feel safe and at home.

Make A Referral More About Us

There are beautiful vegetable, herb, and flower gardens and we even have our own chickens living in a cozy chook house, which was built by some of our whaiora. In fact, two of our whare are even home to house cats!

We offer a community Pataka out front, where members of our wider community can access kai. Each of our whare is equipped with its own kitchen, and we encourage our men to learn new skills, such as baking and cooking. We also provide spaces for creative activities, including music, carving, and art. Our whare are stocked with plenty of games, books, and activities for men, children, and whānau to enjoy.

Frequently asked questions

What about finances?

You will be on a Work and Income New Zealand benefit while you do the programme.

‍

The majority of this goes to Moana House for board, and you are entitled to a personal allowance. Out of this you will pay child support, fines and reparations, and any hire purchase or other outstanding debts. This is another area of your life that you are expected to take responsibility for. Staff will be able to assist you with this initially.

Can I leave before I have finished the programme?

Who is eligible to join the programme?

As whanau, how can you be involved in the programme?

Moana House encourage family to become involved in the Programme. However, we also have to respect our residents’ rights to privacy – this means we cannot share information with whanau if the resident does not wish so. Throughout the Programme, the resident will identify whanau members they view as being important to them within their recovery process and for their future. The Whanau Ora worker will assist them with personal goals to enhance whanau relationships and together will engage with whanau to work towards achieving positive outcomes. Communication by the Whanau Ora worker with whanau may include phone calls, text, emails, or planned whanau visits.

‍

Whanau are able to visit their family member at Moana House however this must be arranged well in advance with Moana House staff. This may be for an afternoon or for a longer period of time. The resident, their Key Worker and Whanau Ora worker will complete a Safety Plan for each visit which includes identifying possible risk factors, special requirements of whanau and entertainment activities.

‍

Please note: It is important that whanau best support their family member by respecting the kaupapa of the Programme and allow their family member to have ‘a real chance’ to change. We have had some problems in the past with family members having supplied cigarettes, explicit or pornographic material, drugs or cell phones to residents. Such breach of rules has serious consequences and has led to residents being recalled to prison. If you have any questions about what you should or shouldn’t bring to the whare when you visit, please contact the Whanau Ora worker.

How can your family members be contacted?

Residents are able to phone whanau/support people when they are in the Programme. The purpose of contact with whanau is discussed with the resident, their Key Worker and the Whanau Ora Worker in the early stages of their Programme. Maintaining contact with whanau needs to be purposeful, positive and seen to enhance their recovery in a meaningful way. Residents request phone calls to their whanau via a daily process and are able to make toll calls by using a phone card. As the men have a full programme throughout the day, the best time for phone calls is usually in the evening. The men are able to receive letters from their whanau.

‍

Gifts are not encouraged other than if it is a special occasion, such as a birthday or Christmas. Even so, this is asked to be something that will be useful for your family member (such as an item of clothing). If you are uncertain of how you can best support your whanau member or what items are suitable for them to have, please speak with Moana House staff who will be able to assist you further.

Who is not eligible to join the programme?

We’re here to help. If you’re interested in our programmes or know someone who could use our support, please don’t hesitate to contact us for more information or to make a referral.

Get in Touch

Make A Referral