Kaimanaaki | Champions are the heart of He Wāhi Haumaru in their rohe | region. They’re the ones having coffee with café owners, explaining why creating welcoming spaces matters. They’re popping into libraries with our resources, checking in on venues who’ve joined our kaupapa, and generally being awesome humans who make change happen.

“I’m not a compliance officer, I’m a friend who happens to know a lot about creating feeding-friendly spaces. My job is to make it easy for venues to do the right thing.” – Jaimee, Canterbury

Becoming a Kaimanaaki | Champion is a volunteer role in your community. Thinking about it? Here’s what your journey might look like:

First, we get to know each other. What’s happening in your rohe? What do whānau need? What’s your vision for making spaces more welcoming? This isn’t an interview — it’s a conversation about possibilities.

After becoming a Champion, we’ll share everything we’ve learned, not through boring manuals, but through real conversations, online wānanga, and connecting you with other champions who’ve been doing this mahi. You’ll get access to all our resources, from conversation starters to beautiful printed materials for venues.

But the best part? You’re never alone. Our Kaimanaaki | Champions support each other through a private online group, regular catch-ups, and that kind of “text me if you need anything” support that makes all the difference.

Interested in becoming your local He wāhi haumaru Champion? Get in touch at kiaora@hewahihaumaru.org.nz

Resources for Kaimanaaki | Champions

From conversation starters for that first kōrero with a venue, to beautiful printed materials you can share, everything’s designed to make your mahi easier. Our assessment tools aren’t checklists — they’re conversation guides that help venues identify their own opportunities to be more welcoming.

Toolkit:

• Introduction to He wāhi haumaru (presentation)
• Venue Conversation Guide
• Marketing Materials for Venues
• Success Stories to Share

[Download Resource Pack]

Questions? Kōrero with us at kiaora@hewahihaumaru.org.nz