How we can help.
Cancer affects the whole whānau, not just the person diagnosed.
Here's where to find support; from culturally-grounded care to practical help getting through treatment.
Getting oriented after a diagnosis
A diagnosis can be overwhelming. Kaiārahi and navigator services help whānau understand what's ahead, work through treatment options, and get to appointments.
Culturally-grounded care
Rongoā Māori and traditional healing can sit alongside your clinical treatment. Find a rongoā practitioner near you through Te Rau Ora's Māori provider directory.
Whānau & practical support
Whānau Ora navigators and iwi/hapū-based health providers can help with the practical side — transport, accommodation, and connecting you to support close to home.
"Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, engari he toa takitini”.
Emotional & wellbeing support
A cancer diagnosis doesn't just affect the body — it touches your mauri, your wairua, and the wellbeing of everyone around you. Fear, grief, anger, and uncertainty are all part of the journey, and carrying that alone isn't something any whānau should have to do. Culturally safe counselling means talking to someone who understands te ao Māori without you having to explain or justify it first.
Peer support — connecting with others who've walked this path — can also make the load lighter, whether that's through a support group, a kaumātua, or simply another whānau who's been there. However you need to process it, there's a place for that here.
National helplines & further info
Sometimes you need support outside business hours, or before you're ready to reach out to a specific service — and that's what these helplines are for. Cancer Society NZ's info line connects you with trained staff who can answer questions about diagnosis, treatment, and what to expect next.
Healthline (0800 611 116) is free, confidential, and available 24/7 for any health question, cancer-related or not. These aren't a replacement for the kaupapa Māori and whānau-centred support above — think of them as another door in, for whenever and however you need to walk through it.
Are you a provider who should be here?
This list will keep growing. If you're a kaupapa Māori health service, rongoā practitioner, Whānau Ora navigator, or support provider working with whānau affected by cancer and you're not featured here yet, we'd love to hear from you!
