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Locals looking to bring more balance and harmony into their lives have the chance to enrol in a proven self-awareness programme that has already transformed the lives of many in the Mangawhai community.
The Te Awatea course – meaning New Dawn – is run by the Te Whai Community Trust and is designed for adults of all ages. Since its launch in 2020, more than 150 people, aged between 18 and 80, have successfully completed the programme, reporting positive changes in their wellbeing and outlook on life.
Developed and facilitated by experienced counsellor and community advocate Carol Syron, Te Awatea is a 10-week journey that draws on contemporary, trauma-informed therapies and research models. Syron says the structure allows participants to relax, build trust, and take small steps that often lead to significant breakthroughs.
“As humans, we sometimes find ourselves in tough circumstances that can be difficult to navigate,” she says. “Te Awatea is not about blaming or shaming. In fact, there’s often a lot of laughter, and people find it easier to make changes they’ve wanted for a long time.”
Participants join for a wide range of reasons, from managing stress and life challenges to improving relationships and parenting skills, or simply to find greater joy and purpose. The programme is designed to be accessible – no note-taking is required, personal sharing is optional, and strategies are broken down into practical, easy-to-use steps.
“No one is ever asked to disclose their personal history,” Syron says. “That’s particularly important in a small community like ours, where everyone knows someone.”
Syron brings decades of training and experience in counselling, facilitation, alcohol and drug services, suicide prevention, grief, anxiety, depression and disability support. She describes her role as helping people “figure out the nuts and bolts of change when life seems impossible.”
Many past participants have described the course as life-changing, noticing improvements in relationships, reductions in anxiety and depression, freedom from addictive habits, and an increased sense of purpose.
“At its heart, Te Awatea is about understanding our responses and habits, and combining that awareness with practical tools that help us navigate life more creatively.
“It’s about making changes with less effort than it takes to hold everything together with grim determination.”
Registrations are now open for next month’s intake. To enquire or join the waiting list, contact Te Whai Community Trust at info@tewhaicommunitytrust.co.nz or call 09 431 3459.
