Mauri Tui Tuia - Creative Therapies NZ

07/11/2025

Amazing recognition of our mahi, the power of the creative therapies and our amazing team - Congratulations all!

Next up is the Creative Northland Excellence in Creative Industries Award

Congratulations to this year's winner: Mauri Tui Tuia - Creative Therapies NZ 🎉

🎙 From the Judges:
“Mauri Tui Tuia exemplifies innovation and impact in the creative industries, bridging art, health, and education through trauma- informed, culturally grounded creative therapies. Serving diverse communities across Tai Tokerau and Tāmaki Makaurau, their work reaches tamariki, whānau, educators, and iwi partners creating measurable social and wellbeing outcomes.

As Aotearoa’s only organisation uniting arts, music, and dance movement therapy, Mauri Tui Tuia is forging new pathways in an emerging market, demonstrating commercial sustainability while redefining how creativity drives community resilience and inclusion based right here in Tai Tokerau.”

Also, a massive well done to our finalist:
✨ Turner Centre

Northland Business Excellence Awards powered by Northpower & Top Energy NZ and proudly presented by NZ Chambers of Commerce Northland.

30/10/2025

🚨 We’re hiring!

Mauri Tui Tuia is looking for a Registered Creative Arts Therapist to join our Northland-based team in Whangārei from Jan 2026.

✨ 28–32 hrs/week during school terms
✨ $60–$70/hr + CPD, supervision, mentoring, travel reimbursements
✨ Supportive, creative, bicultural team

New grads welcome!

🔗Find out more: https://maurituituia.my.canva.site/hiring

Tag a therapist who might be keen 💛

13/10/2025

🌊✨ New Podcast Episode!

https://open.spotify.com/episode/5NHVIcxo46JqCmBDhDnawJ?si=m0xmrwa9RWCCLhw4WIMmow

Meet Marcia Underwood—occupational therapist, creative arts therapist, and all-round creative soul. In this episode, we talk beach swims, sewing childhood memories, and the magic of making just because.

🎨 From crafting cushions to holding space for mothers of disabled children, Marcia shares how creativity can heal, connect, and disrupt in the best ways.

💬 “They were stepping into freedom. And they were claiming it.”

🎧 Listen now on Mauri Tui Tuia – wherever you get your podcasts. 📲 Follow us

06/10/2025

🎙 New Episode

https://open.spotify.com/episode/51SCP6USjtPlPvDWT8Olu2?si=Q6cz-IZiT-mzqJF703W_0w

How can art therapy transform lives? In this conversation, Katie Pureti chats with Marion Gordon-Flower about:

✨ Her journey from art teacher to creative arts therapist
✨ Why a strengths-based approach changes everything
✨ The Five-Point Star Model for well-being
✨ How creativity empowers choice, voice & connection

💡 Hear stories of resilience, visibility, and the healing power of art, plus practical insights for anyone passionate about creativity and mental health.

🎧 Listen now on Spotify!
👉 Follow for more creative inspiration.

29/09/2025

🎧 New Podcast Episode!
✨ Calm Connections in Early Childhood ✨

https://open.spotify.com/episode/3NfvyN6kTGRfIOgtG6XgZy?si=oZF99TBGSuGu2kX5eQTIYw

Join Katie Pureti & Jan McConnell from Mauri Tui Tuia Creative Therapies as they dive again for their second conversation about the magic of music, movement & rhythm in early learning. 💃🎶

Discover: 🌱 How co-regulation supports neurodiverse & trauma-affected tamariki
🧠 Why rhythm is our first language
🦋 The power of the “Baby Butterfly” song
🤝 Practical tools for kaiako & parents to foster calm & connection

This episode is a must-listen for anyone working with young children. Let’s honour the wisdom of our bodies and the beauty of relational learning. 💛

📍 Listen now & share with your community!
🔗 https://open.spotify.com/show/1JG6T5NZwwGIaTyn1giEZA?si=ALCeGz5aSmCiH6dA85PxiQ

21/09/2025

Tune in tonight at 5pm NZ time for the FIRST EVER episosde of Mauri Tui Tuia- The Podcast🎙

https://open.spotify.com/episode/61UNV6Xi3iesDIV2XPHHo9?si=SQhDRW5yTWmgln57e5LqjA

What happens when music, movement, and creativity come together? In this powerful conversation, our co-founders Katie Pureti and Jan McConnell share:

✨ The story behind Mauri Tui Tuia
✨ Why “if there is breath, there is dance”
✨ How creativity builds resilience & connection
✨ Why human creativity matters more than ever in a tech-driven world

💡 Learn how simple practices—like grounding, rhythm, and movement—can transform well-being and relationships.

🎧 Listen now on Spotify

👉 Follow for more creative inspiration.

18/09/2025

✨WE HAVE EXCITING NEWS!✨

Mauri Tui Tuia - The Podcast is dropping this coming Monday 22nd Sept 2025!

Tune in every Monday at 5pm for the next 5-6 weeks for new episodes with dance therapists, creative arts therapist, music therapists, artists and trailblazers. The conversations are rich, honest and uplifting.

Check out our trailer and save the channel for your new Monday evening inspiration.
https://open.spotify.com/episode/1FbUd13Mx4gl28ku1MMgr5?si=wFG0AmHBRpiF0_jTWaap5A

15/09/2025

https://youtu.be/wP7oeu4Up5k?si=9cXdQ1c-6jr0p0FA

Kia ora e te whānau, ko tēnei te wiki o te reo Māori!
Happy Māori Language Week 2025! 🥳🥰😁✨

At Mauri Tui Tuia we believe all languages hold the elements of song, so how better to celebrate Te Wiki O Te Reo than through a song?

E Minaka by Pania Papa is a fun folk song that speaks about speaking Te Reo Māori with pride.
Sing along and try out the kanikani too, and how gorgeous is that toi peita in the background?

Kia kaha tātou
ki te (HI!) kōrero Māori!

E minaka ana taku waha
ki te kai a te rangatira,
Taku reo rangatira,
taku kuru pounamu tuku iho

Mīharo kē ana
ki tōna pakari kia ora
Tē memeha, te wairua
ki te kōrero Māori

Kia kaha tātou
ki te (HI!) kōrero Māori!
Hi aue Hi!!

Let us be staunch
in speaking Maori!

I desire that
my talk be like that of a leader,
my noble language
my precious inheritance.

Astound me
with your maturity by
the evanescence, the spirit you show
when speaking Maori.

Let us be staunch
in speaking Maori!
(lyrics and translation taken from New Zealand Folk Song website)

E Minaka AnaKia kaha te reo rangatira!I've mirrored the actions so you can learn while watching alongBe staunch! Speak Te Reo!

12/09/2025

A big warm welcome to Zach, our newest addition to the team. We are privileged to gain another Music Therapist (whoop whoop!) and another passionate kaimahi. We are full of gratitude and excitement about working with you Zach.
Give us a like and follow if Mauri Tui Tuia sounds like a team you'd like to work with 🥰

11/09/2025

"I did the heart hug the other day and it helped the WHOLE family" 🥰

Kia ora whānau! It's Friday, the end of Child Safeguarding Awareness Week. Thanks for journeying with us. Self-care is a huge part of making our work sustainable. Try out a tried and true neurobiological safety hack 'The Heart Hug'. The quote about is from a whānau member in one of our programmes who used this tool after learning it with one of our facilitators.

Share this with a friend of whānau member today and share other self-care hacks in the comments below!

10/09/2025

Parents and caregivers are a child's first teachers. Kia kaha whānau. More than ever our tamariki and rangitahi need you to have honest kōrero and nuture around cyber safety. Here we have linked some free resources for you.

Screen time and Brain Development:
https://www.childsafeguardingweek.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/sites/413/2025/09/Screen-Time-and-Brain-Development-%E2%80%93-What-Parents-Should-Know.pdf

Free - elearning course - parenting in a digital world
https://www.safeguardingchildren.org.nz/portfolio-item/on-demand-catalog/parenting-in-the-digital-world/?utm_source=mailchimp&utm_medium=edm&utm_campaign=csw2025&utm_term=early-drop&utm_content=e-course

Headspace Invaders: Critical thinking skills for navigating online content for 12-16 year olds
https://netsafe.org.nz/headspace-invaders

And an awesome podcast: Together with Safeguarding Children
Protecting children in New Zealand and overseas
https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-n3we6-14dcfe1

10/09/2025

We have an incredibly talented and experienced team at Mauri Tui Tuia. One of our beautiful therapists Marion Gordon-flower will be holding some professional development in a few weeks time. Click the link below for registration and give this post a share and a like for others who may benefit 💞💚🌱

https://anzacata.org/event-6306948