New announcement. Learn more

Nau mai ki te Whare Āwhina o 155

E ngā mana, e ngā reo, e ngā iwi ō te motu. Tēnei te mihi aroha ki ā koutou katoa.

We are a Kaupapa Māori provider of wraparound support services for whānau in Taitokerau. 

You can find us at our hubs across Whangārei and in Kaikohe - so come in for a cuppa and explore your future options.

Kia Ora

155 Whare Āwhina is a place where you and your whānau are valued, respected and accepted for who you are. 

We're community change makers, lawyers and social workers here to help you and your whānau.

We run the busy social supermarket 155 Whare Kai where anyone can book an appointment to shop.

Through our 155 Community Law centres in Whangārei and Kaikohe we provide free legal advice and education.

While down at 155 Open Arms our Awhi Whānau team can assist with housing navigation, WINZ, and develop a wellbeing plan for you. Here you can also rest, use our shower facilities and enjoy breakfast and lunch six days a week.

Kia Ora | 155 Whare Awhina |  Help for your whanau in Northland

So come in to our whare for a cuppa and explore your future options with us.

Karere ō te wā | Latest news

155 Whare Kai calls for shelf sponsors: We’re running on empty

Whangārei’s busy social supermarket is calling on local businesses and community donors to help keep their shelves stocked as they mark their first birthday.Read more

Whangārei youth homelessness worse, not better

Nearly 8,000 New Zealanders are supporting a Manaaki Rangatahi petition calling for the end of youth homelessness. Manaaki Rangatahi is New Zealand’s only youth housing and homelessnessRead more

155 Whakaora Kai calls for more Northland food producers to join food rescue mission

155 Food Rescue Northland has unveiled a refreshed brand and plea to local food producers following a whakawātea onsite at their Woods Road warehouse on Friday, 16 June.   155 Whakaora Kai managerRead more

Seeking volunteers: 155 Whare Kai

Location 3 Woods Road, Whangārei Hours Morning shift: 9am to 12pm Monday to Thursday Afternoon shift: 12.30pm to 2.30pm Monday to Thursday Are you friendly, able to get along with others and work asRead more

Seeking volunteers: 155 Whakaora Kai

Location 1 Woods Road, Whangārei Hours 12.30pm to 3pm Monday to Friday Whakaora Kai is the only organisation of its kind in Taitokerau, collecting surplus food from growers and retailers and givingRead more

Seeking volunteers: 155 Open Arms

Location 155 Open Arms Hub, Cnr Robert St and Walton St, Whangārei Hours 8.30am to 1pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. Know your way around a kitchen? We're seeking friendly volunteers toRead more

Liz talks Budget 2023

I’m not at all surprised at what’s been flagged for Taitokerau in Budget 2023.  The absence of targeted assistance for social housing, especially youth housing, and homelessness is disappointingRead more

Free Evening Legal Clinics

We're excited to be co-hosting regular free evening legal clinics in partnership with Ngāti Hine Health Trust.  Anyone is welcome to come along to have your legal questions answered or if you areRead more

Second place for 155 at Waka Ama corporate challenge

The team kicked off 2023 with a silver medal win at the Waka Ama Sprint Nationals at Lake Karaprio in January.  It was a last minute decision to participate in the Waka Ama Corporate Challenge, withRead more

Couch in central Whangārei puts spotlight on homelessness

Monday 10 October was World Homeless Day so we placed a couch outside 155 Open Arms to raise awareness of the taitamariki across Taitokerau facing homelessness. Read the full story in the NorthernRead more

Introducing 155 Whare Kai, A Social Supermarket For Whangārei

The social supermarket is a partnership between 155 Whare Āwhina and Foodstuffs North Island. Social supermarkets enable people who are experiencing food insecurity to choose what they need forRead more

Whangārei’s first social supermarket set to open

As part of its commitment to be Here for NZ and a promise to provide New Zealanders with access to healthy affordable food and supporting communities to thrive, Foodstuffs North Island – the 100% NRead more

Every year:

1300+

Requests for legal support are received

126

Tonnes of unwanted food is diverted from landfill

269

Housing needs assessments are completed

9500+

Visits are welcomed at 155 Open Arms

820

Food parcels are distributed

If there's a gap, 155 will fill it

"155 is a place where people can come in and have a cup of tea and a chat. No problem is too tough, hard, too big or too small. There’s always a listening ear and a keenness to see people well and safe. There’s courageousness too. If there’s a gap, 155 will fill it."

- Shirlyanne Brown, 155 Community Development Project Manager

Sign up to our newsletter

{{errors.first('rs-1041-30d4-9891', 'rs-1041-cd0d-d3ef')}}

Thanks for signing up!