Building Better Futures – Waata Heathcote on Waiariki Whānau Mentoring and Māori Well-Being

This episode is with Waata Heathcote, a Whakatāne local who I grew up seeing around the community. Back then, he was a police officer, but today, he’s a mentor, broker, and advocate for marginalised communities across the Bay of Plenty and Waikato through his kaupapa Waiariki Whānau Mentoring.In this kōrero, we talk about his upbringing, what led him to start Waiariki Whānau Mentoring, and the impact it’s having within whānau who are in need, many of whom come from gang-affiliated or at-risk communities.Waata shares his experiences of how the system is failing our people, and the “net” his team are creating to catch and support whānau who would otherwise fall through the cracks. This is a powerful kōrero about service, compassion, and creating real change where it’s needed most.We dive into:✨ Growing up in Whakatāne and his early years✨ Life as a police officer and what he learned from it✨ The beginnings of Waiariki Whānau Mentoring✨ Working with whānau in need and the impact being made✨ The system’s gaps and how they’re filling them✨ The “net” that’s catching our people before they fall🔗 Follow Waiariki Whānau Mentoring: https://waiarikiwhanau.org.nz/📞 Call: 0800MYWHANAU (24/7)🔗 Join Seeds of Self: https://www.skool.com/seeds-of-self