Te Rangimarie Charitable Trust

Te Rangimarie Charitable Trust

Te Kaihono ki te Rangimarie - One who works towards Peace.

Based at the Auckland District Court, Michelle Dianne Kidd QSM in her role as Te Kaihono ki te Rangimarie serves as an advocate, mentor, facilitator and support worker providing practical and emotional assistance to bridge the gap between the function and purpose of the judicial system, and the vital need for our community to adopt a new approach to assisting and standing with the vulnerable and underprivileged members of New Zealand’s society.

The Trust has been established not only to continue the significant impact Michelle’s role has on a daily basis for the people of Auckland, but to work towards the realisation of some key goals for the future including a Custodial Medical Dual Diagnosis Detoxification Unit; open Parenting Courses available to all at the same time as ante-natal classes; a safe well-run Night Shelter in Auckland Central for the Homeless, and safe Bail Houses which include educational and behavioural programmes for defendants with non-association orders at their first appearance.

Te Rangimarie Charitable Trust is non-government funded. Therefore we rely on donations, grants and public support to enable the Trust to continue to provide this vital service.

Our purpose is to develop and promote productive dialogue, co-operation and understanding between the communities, social services and the justice system, to support the vulnerable and underprivileged members of New Zealand’s society as they rebuild their lives.

Te Kaihono ki te Rangimarie is one who works to make connections between people and draws the threads together to bring peace and healing. The aim of Te Rangimarie Charitable Trust is to deliver this service in the Auckland District Court with the hope to expand this to other New Zealand courts in the future.

Our mission:

• To be accessible to the more vulnerable people of Auckland City; to listen to their needs in the hope of finding a practical holistic solution to their current situation, in collaboration with all involved.

• To be accessible to the Court of Auckland and those in need of support and information about the processes they face within the justice system.

• To be available to stand with and support those who require access to social services in the community

• To develop connections between communities, courts, social services and the people presenting at Court, to assist them in moving forward with strength.

• To reconnect families and whenua

• To promote a therapeutic and rehabilitative approach in dealing with those presenting at Court

• To seek cultural change within the courts so that the spirit of community threads hope and peace throughout our city.

What we do:

Being present and accessible at all times

Facilitate access to justice for a wide range of people engaged with the Court

Stand with the homeless, the voiceless, the friendless and all who are vulnerable.

Assist defendants, victims and their families.

Support and stand with people as they prepare for court appearances.

Facilitate access to support and rehabilitation services.

Ensure people have food, transport, clothing, blankets and other basic needs

Care for children while people attend their court appearances

Provide assistance with bus fares for those with no way of otherwise getting home

Support the lonely, poor, homeless, addicted, downtrodden and forgotten, those who have very little by way of support structures.

Care for vulnerable people particularly at Christmas and Easter when the courts are particularly busy with alcohol and family violence issues.

Where necessary, deal with funeral arrangements, remaining with the dying and assisting with burial customs.

Provide a consistent presence at Court for people who do not have stable, groundedlives

Provide stability, structure, mentoring and support.

Enable change in the generational cycle of dysfunctional family relationships.

Steer people towards a future that is constructively different to their past.

Work across cultures and across generations.

Engage with government and non-government agencies at a systemic or policy level.

Provide a calming influence with the result that difficult situations involving acute mental health or drug and alcohol issues are resolved.

Advocate for a Custodial Medical Dual Diagnosis Detoxification remand facility where defendants have immediate access to treatment for alcohol or drug addiction and mental health.

Who we are:

Te Rangimarie Charitable Trust is governed by five founding Trustees

Tony Bouchier - Chair

David Jones QC - Trustee

Jennifer Smith - Trustee

Michelle Kidd QSM - Trustee

Angus Fletcher - Trustee

For more information please contact:

Michelle Dianne Kidd QSM

Te Kaihono ki te Rangimarie

Te Rangimarie Charitable Trust

P.O. Box 6871, Wellesley Street, Auckland 1141

Mobile: 0275 344 452