Health and Wellbeing counselling support for young people.
Supporting rangatahi across all dimensions of hauora: taha tinana, taha hinengaro, taha wairua, taha whanau.
Whole-person support for young people and families
Waipuna Youth Services delivers a range of health and wellbeing services for rangatahi and their whānau across Canterbury. Our approach is holistic: we know that physical, emotional, social, and spiritual wellbeing are inseparable, and that real change happens through relationships built on trust and genuine care.
Our team includes counsellors, senior practitioners, and health and wellbeing workers who work alongside young people in schools, in community settings, and one-on-one. Whether someone is navigating anxiety, family challenges, grief, or substance use, we meet them where they are.
Our services
Wraparound health and wellbeing support delivered by a skilled and compassionate team.
Counselling
Individual and group counselling for rangatahi and young adults navigating anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, and relationship challenges.
Mana Ake
School-based wellbeing support for tamariki in Years 0–8 across Canterbury, delivered in partnership with 26 school clusters.
Health and wellbeing practitioners
Senior practitioners and kaimahi providing group programmes, individual support, and wellbeing interventions across our services.
AOD support
Practical support for young people affected by alcohol and other drugs, through our CAYAD programme and counselling services.
Mana Ake: supporting tamariki wellbeing in Canterbury schools
Waipuna is one of 13 NGO partners delivering Mana Ake across 26 Canterbury school clusters. Our kaimahi and kaiarahi work alongside schools to identify and support tamariki who are experiencing challenges that affect their learning, relationships, and wellbeing. Read about our involvement and the impact of this programme.
Latest from Health and Wellbeing
Talk to us about support
Whether you are a young person looking for support, a parent concerned about their child, or a school or agency wanting to discuss referrals, our team is here to help.
Meet the team
Mohammad Zareei
Manager Health and Wellbeing (Canterbury)
Clare Finlay
Counsellor
Craig Thompson
Counsellor
Mindi Spenner
Manu Ka Rere Kaiārahi
Liz Riley
Mana Ake
Rachel Warwick
Counsellor
Ysidora Naidu
Mana Ake Kaimahi
Amanda Donaldson
Counsellor