Our Workplace

Who we are, how we work, and what we stand for

Last updated: 14 May 2026

Nā tou rourou, nā taku rourou, ka ora ai te iwi

With your contribution and mine, the people will thrive.

At Mīharo Ora, our people are everything. The tamariki we serve, the whānau who trust us, the staff and volunteers who show up every day — all of you make this place what it is. This page sets out who we are as a workplace, what we believe in, and the commitments we make to everyone connected to our organisation.

1. Who We Are

Tē Whare Mīharo Ora Trust is a charitable trust and neurodiverse centre based in Motueka, Tasman. We deliver after-school and holiday programmes for autistic and neurodiverse tamariki, and provide support and referrals to help whānau navigate diagnosis, therapy, and community services.

We were founded on a simple belief: every neurodiverse tamaiti deserves a space where they are celebrated, supported, and free to let their rainbow shine. That belief shapes not just how we serve our community — it shapes how we work together every single day.

Mīharo Ora is governed by a board of trustees and registered under the Charities Act 2005. We are committed to the highest standards of transparency, accountability, and care — for our tamariki, our whānau, and our people.

2. Our Values / Ō Mātou Uara

Everything we do at Mīharo Ora flows from six core values. These are not words on a wall — they are how we show up for each other and for our community.

3. Equal Opportunity & Inclusion

Mīharo Ora is an equal opportunity employer and a proudly inclusive organisation. We welcome and celebrate people of all backgrounds, identities, and lived experiences.

We do not discriminate — in employment, in our programmes, or in any aspect of our work — on the grounds of race, ethnicity, national origin, age, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, disability or neurodivergence, or religious or ethical belief.

We are particularly committed to creating an environment that is genuinely welcoming for neurodiverse people — in our team and in our community. We actively work to remove barriers, make reasonable adjustments, and ensure that everyone can participate fully and authentically.

Mīharo Ora also recognises its obligations under Te Tiriti o Waitangi. We are committed to building genuine, respectful partnerships with Māori and to ensuring our services are culturally responsive for all whānau.

4. Our Workplace Environment

We want Mīharo Ora to be a place where people love to come to work — energising, kind, and full of purpose.

5. Health, Safety & Wellbeing / Hauora me Haumaru

The health, safety, and wellbeing of everyone at Mīharo Ora — our staff, volunteers, tamariki, and visitors — is our highest responsibility. We comply with the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 and go beyond minimum compliance because we genuinely care.

Our health and safety commitments

• We maintain a safe physical environment at our centre and during all programme activities.
• We operate a transport vehicle for school pick-ups and ensure it is maintained, safely driven, and properly insured.
• We provide first aid-trained staff at all programme sessions.
• We identify and manage hazards proactively, and encourage everyone to report concerns.
• We conduct regular emergency drills and maintain up-to-date evacuation plans.
• Any worker has the right to cease unsafe work without fear of adverse consequences.

Mental health and psychological safety

• Prevent and address workplace stress, burnout, and psychological harm.
• Ensure workloads are fair and sustainable.
• Provide access to confidential support through our Employee Assistance Programme.
• Create a culture where it is safe to say “I’m not okay” without judgement.

Tamariki safety

The safety and wellbeing of our tamariki is non-negotiable. All staff and volunteers are safety-checked, trained in child safety, and bound by our Child Safety & Wellbeing Policy. We comply fully with the Children’s Act 2014 and the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989.

6. Privacy & Confidentiality

We take privacy seriously. Personal information about tamariki, whānau, staff, and volunteers is collected, held, and used in accordance with the Privacy Act 2020 and the Health Information Privacy Code 2020.

• We only collect information we genuinely need.
• We keep it secure, share it only when necessary, and never sell or misuse it.
• Everyone has the right to access and correct their own information.
• Our Privacy Officers are Keta Rodriguez (027 628 2258) and Louise Mann (021 043 3945).

7. Our Community Commitments

Mīharo Ora exists to serve our community — and we take that responsibility seriously beyond just our programmes.

• We are committed to working as a good community partner in Motueka and the wider Tasman region.
• We use our charitable resources responsibly and report transparently to Charities Services and our funders.
• We actively work toward reducing barriers for neurodiverse tamariki and their whānau.
• We support the professional development of people working in the neurodiversity sector.

8. Contact Us / Whakapā Mai

We welcome questions, feedback, and conversations about anything on this page.

222 High Street, Motueka 7120, Tasman, New Zealand

TĒ Whare Mīharo Ora Trust  ·  Registered Charity — Charities Act 2005  ·  222 High Street, Motueka 7120  ·  Last updated 14 May 2026