Nau Mai Tau Mai/Coming Home Community Trust

Nau Mai Tau Mai is a registered Charitable Trust, which continues the mahi that Jemma Jeffs (trauma-informed yoga instructor/hairdresser) and Paul Saker-Norrish (singer/songwriter) have been doing since 2015, as Yoga Rhapsody. They offer mindful movement classes, live music and haircuts to people in vulnerable/disadvantaged groups, including in prisons and rehabilitation centres, to the homeless community, elderly and people with intellectual disabilities. In 2021 Jem and Paul were joined in this kaupapa by Chrissy (trauma-informed yoga instructor/musician), and Nau Mai Tau Mai was born.

We recognise there is no one size fits all path to wellbeing, but that an integral part of the journey is human connection. As such, our services always begin with genuine kōrero, hearing people's stories, meeting them where they are, and letting them know that the wider community cares for and values them.

From this place, we then see if we can offer any services which may help to light each individual's path to their own wellbeing. This may include movement, mindfulness, singing/waiata circles/jam sessions, or just a haircut and a good chat. We will also look to identify if people could benefit from services outside of our core offering, in which case we will engage members from our networks in the wellbeing community to share their expertise.

At present, we are seeking funding for ongoing programs in two local prisons, a residential rehabilitation facility, and two organisations supporting the homeless community. While some of these initiatives are partially funded, we still spend a lot of our time volunteering. Your support will help us to ensure a continuous service, and expand our offering to other groups.

We seek support from external funding programs, but there is something very special about these services being supported by individuals in the wider community. It enables us to pass on the message to the groups we work with, that there is a network of people out there who care for them, in a world that can often feel very cold to people in their circumstance.

We thank you for taking the time to read about our kaupapa, and for any support you may be able to give - whether by contributing financially to our charity, getting in touch and suggesting a group who may benefit from our services, or by simply extending a warm gaze to someone you pass on the street.

Ngā manaakitanga

Jem, Paul and Chrissy