Improving The Lifelong Outcomes Of Tamariki
Financial Wellbeing
How it Works
In 2024 Kootuitui was pleased to announce that the budgeting service previously known as Christian Care joined Kootuitui ki Papakura, and was renamed Financial Wellbeing. For years, a beloved kuia selflessly ran this essential service, offering her time and wisdom to those in need.
With a deep commitment to addressing financial challenges, we aim to empower residents with the tools and knowledge needed to take control of their finances.
By offering expert guidance on budgeting, saving, and debt management, Kootuitui ki Papakura is not only helping individuals secure their financial futures, but also strengthening the entire community. These services provide a vital lifeline, fostering resilience, self-sufficiency amoung South Auckland’s diverse population.
How We Help
Kootuitui recognises the unique needs of families and offers a comprehensive suite of resources designed to enhance financial literacy and capability.Through these comprehensive resources, Kootuitui empowers whaanau to gain confidence in their financial decision-making. This newfound knowledge leads to greater financial stability and security, enabling families to thrive and support each other in achieving their dreams and aspirations.
- Financial Education Workshops: These workshops provide an interactive and engaging environment where participants can learn essential skills related to budgeting, saving, investing, and understanding credit. Each session is structured to build foundational knowledge, with practical exercises that encourage participants to apply what they learn to their own financial situations.
- Personalised Financial Coaching: Kootuitui offers one-on-one coaching sessions tailored to the specific circumstances and goals of each individual or family. Coaches work closely with whaanau to develop personalised financial plans that reflect their unique aspirations, whether it involves buying a home, starting a business, or saving for education. This individualised attention ensures that all advice is relevant and actionable.
- Goal Setting and Accountability: Establishing clear financial goals is crucial for progress. Kootuitui emphasises the importance of setting specific, measurable objectives, and provides regular check-ins to maintain motivation and accountability. This structured approach helps whaanau stay focused on their financial journeys and celebrates milestones along the way.
Info Details
Hours: 9:30am to 3pm
Days: Monday to Friday
Phone: 0274738963
Address: 29 Broadway, Papakura
Closed Public Holidays
By appointment only
- Cultural Considerations: Kootuitui is committed to respecting and integrating cultural values in financial discussions. By honouring the diverse backgrounds of participants, the organisation creates a safe space for open dialogue about finances, which enhances understanding and promotes a sense of belonging. This cultural sensitivity ensures that financial education is relatable and relevant.
- Long-term Planning: In addition to immediate financial strategies, Kootuitui highlights the significance of long-term planning, particularly regarding retirement savings. By educating whaanau on the benefits of early investment and the power of compound interest, participants are encouraged to think beyond their current financial situation and plan for a secure future.
Current Initiatives
Utility Relief, Advocacy and Support.
Kootuitui’s vision is to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education, health, and financial opportunities for young people experiencing the adverse impacts of postcode inequity. Of critical importance to the health and wellbeing of tamariki is growing up in a safe, warm, dry home environment. Too often, this is not a reality for our young people who regularly experience food and essential utility poverty.
Kootuitui works with energy and water providers to prevent whaanau from being disconnected. Kootuitui works with whaanau pre & port disconnection to provide immediate intervention, advocacy and support. Kootuitui has strong relationships with a number of utility companies that we leverage to secure solutions for whaanau that support long-term sustainable relief.
National utility reform, advocacy and relief.
Kootuitui is a founding Trustee of the Thriving Aotearoa Partnership. Thriving Communities Aotearoa is based on the belief that every New Zealander deserves fair access to essential services that enable them not just to survive but to thrive.
The Trust aims to bring together leaders from essential service sectors such as banking, telco, energy, insurance and water, alongside community and subject matter experts, to collectively explore two issues affecting good outcomes for whaanau: economic abuse and financial stress in the first 2000 days.
Why the focus on Economic Abuse & First 2000 Days
Economic Abuse is a form of coercive control that involves controlling a person’s access to and use of money and economic resources. It can include controlling income, spending, bank accounts, bills, borrowing, or pressuring someone to give large sums or get them into debt. For example, AUT research released in 2024 indicates that for 17% of people who experience economic abuse, it shows up as their partner intentionally paying bills late or not paying bills that are in their name or both their names. This can affect a person’s credit score and their ability to access important services like private rental properties and more affordable lines of credit such as postpaid services.
The First 2000 Days are households from pregnancy to child aged 5 years. Of children in NZ, 12.5% live in homes experiencing material hardship, and Ministry of Social Development report that the majority of these households are in some form of work. Evidence shows the impact on children in families facing high and persistent levels of stress caused by hardship and other social issues is literally toxic and changes the brain structure and chemistry, and results in health and behavioural impacts throughout life.
The Child and Youth Strategy 2024-2027, released in November 2024, focuses on the first 2000 days, setting a target to lift around 17,000 more children out of material hardship by 2027. The cost of child poverty in New Zealand is estimated to be at 4.27% of GDP – or $ 17.7 billion each year.
Our Supporters
We benefit from the support of funders, partners and community organisations, and the commitment of the schools’ boards, leaders, teachers and staff.
