Tauranga women are some of the first to have graduated from a new programme run by Te Tuinga Whanau.

Whare 4 Whanau Warrant of Fitness, a 12-week programme, is centred on providing a range of life skills and support to women in emergency housing.

About seven women have celebrated their first graduation on June 12.

TTW executive assistant Erin Taylor says it's been amazing to watch the women transform.

'From Wahine Toa, to Ko Tahi Whanau, our programme has always been about empowering the women in our emergency housing.

'Because of the situation they're in, being homeless, there's a certain level of insecurity which goes with that and empowerment is one of the best things to see them getting out of the programme.

'It also provides a space where they can connect and share.”

Registered counsellor Diahla Newton is the co-ordinator of Whare 4 Whanau's WOF and has developed it over the last two years, guided by the successes and feedback from the ladies she has been working with, says Erin.

'Diahla has a huge passion for and dedication to our women. As well as organising all the details of programme every week, she brings her calm and nurturing aroha to each session.”

The programme weaves a number of different sessions each touching their own life skills.

'Becs McEwan kicks off each session, bringing a safe and warm energy to the space and allowing the women to open up and share with one another.

'Her session is adaptable to each day, but the specialised skillset she brings is interupting lifelong patterns of behaviour by helping to understand what she calls our ‘Human Control Codes'.”

Becs works in groups and individually, providing tools for women to address past traumas and recode their emotional reactions, says Erin.

'The second part of the session offers life skills and workshops which were identified by our women as being the things they would be most interested in learning more about.

'As well as providing in-house workshops from our staff about budgeting, whakapapa, housing, goal setting and well-being, we bring in specialists for other areas.

'Jill and Dave from Parenting and Life Skills NZ deliver workshops on Parenting and Living Without Violence.

'Their down-to-earth engagement includes hands-on activities such as raranga to engage with our women and open up a sharing space.

'Hamner Clinic provide us with a specialist to deliver a workshop on addressing addictions and Trustpower come in to give tips and tricks on how to save power in the home.”

Cooking classes are also included in the programme.

'Stephen Wilson, our very own French-Maori chef takes the cooking class which is filled with singing and laughter.

'He passes on his passion for healthy, nutritious kai, introducing a new recipe each week which the ladies help to prepare and cook.

'Sharing kai at the end of the session provides time for connecting and relaxing together, and giving feedback to Diahla about the session.

'Occasionally, a music session follows the kai with guitar lessons and waiata from our talented staff who double as musicians and singers.”

Stephen also fronts Happy Puku Catering and Events, a new social enterprise for Te Tuinga Whānau, which aims to provide hospitality training, experience and work for graduates of the programme.

'We are starting slowly, but already have our first four casual staff all of whom graduated from our programme on June 12.”

Erin says it's also great to be able to help women back into jobs.

'It's not only about teaching them skills in their own home, but giving them a chance to gain employment too.

'A lot of our women have been stay-at-home mothers for some time so having that opportunity to get out into the workforce is also empowering.”