In 2007, the community of Gonville, Whanganui, facing low trust in services and in one another, experienced a traumatic event that became a catalyst for change. This moment sparked a shift toward thinking and acting differently, leading to the birth of Stone Soup, a community development initiative designed to build neighbourhood spirit, strengthen connections, and improve wellbeing for tamariki, rangatahi, and whānau.

Featured in our 2014 Child Rich Communities Bright Spots report, Stone Soup and Te Ora Hou were among the first to showcase what's possible when communities lead. More than a decade later, their impact continues with monthly gatherings and a journey of building child-rich places we can all learn from. With five community hubs across the motu, they’ve continued to grow environments where tamariki and rangatahi thrive, nurturing mana and enabling mauri to flourish.

We’re excited to welcome them back to help us deepen our understanding of how community-led engagement can support the wellbeing of tamariki and rangatahi.

Kath Parnell Te Ora Hou

Kath is a community worker for Te Ora Hou, based in her community and supporting the flourishing of other Te Ora Hou sites around the motu. She is passionate about the wellbeing of tamariki, rangatahi and whānau through engaging them in their community and building on their strengths. She has been an intrinsic part of Stone Soup from the beginning, supporting the community to identify their strengths and solutions.

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