Tautoko services was formed in January 1996 by a core group of committed professionals with extensive experience and expertise in the area of intellectual disability services and other community services. The group identified the need for a support service for people with an intellectual disability whose behaviour challenges, that was independent from ongoing service provision.

When we started, NZ had a different approach to disabled people. There were a large number of institutions still in existence in which people lived segregated lives. The only community alternatives were group homes or sheltered villages and day services. Our team was involved in the deinstitutionalisation process of Porirua Hospital, Seaview, Ngawhatu, Braemar and Kimberley and supported many people deemed as challenging into community settings. 

For over 18 years Tautoko provided positive behaviour support to thousands of young people and their families and to adults living at home and in other disability services and provided training in new ways of supporting people. Today our Tactics Team continue to offer specialist individual support to a broad range of individuals. 

In 1997 Tautoko recognised a gap in the Nelson area for a service that supported adults to live in their own homes as an alternative to group homes. This service was called Neighbourhood Connections. We started by providing support to six individuals in a variety of locations. Today this supported living service has spread across Nelson Marlborough and supports over a hundred individuals. This service has now changed its name to Options.

Options have been involved with change since their inception. Options was established in the late 1980’s as a unique service brokerage pilot, modelled on a Canadian agency that was set up by families who felt the needs of their children were not being met by institutions and traditional service models. While the initial goal of promoting individualised funding was not realised at the time, the original principles are still held by us today. We have resisted offering centre based activities, developing a community brokerage approach to assisting people to live in their own home and growing their lifestyle choices with a focus on relationships, employment, personal growth and community involvement.

In 2014 our service reconfigured and merged with Options in Community Living and is now Tautoko Support Services - opening new futures. Tautoko services has a governance board.

The rings of the Kauri represent the age and growth. The rings also represent our experiences, our stories, our history, who we are, our whakapapa.

The first layer is to learn of people's history and understand how they arrived at the place they are now. We recognise our journeys to be where we are today is important and sharing of our stories enables us to understand, empathise, support, and walk alongside each other in moving forward.

Whakapapa enables us to connect to our past, places and eents which have influenced and shaped who we are today. Whakapapa is displayed when we take time to get to know a person, listen to their story, learn their whakapapa.

Foundation     Connections     Relationship     Our Past   Our Present  

The Kauri is part of the forest with its own specific role, part of the give and receive cycle. It has a relationship to the broader environment.

We relate this to roles we all have as being part of a community. The Kauri includes all the Ngahere around it offering support and shelter

The second layer is to learn who is important in people's lives, who they relate to, who provides for them, who cares about and supports them.

Whanaungatanga is displayed through our connections to people and our relationship with them. This relates to inclusive practices of providing supports and positive relationships through shared experiences and working together, providing people with a sense of belonging.

Relationship     Support System     Connections     Belonging

The Kauri feeds and beautifies the Ngahere, the birds, and elevates their strengths.

The third layer is to recognise all people have strengths. It also encompasses values of respect, generosity and care of one and other, hospitality and mutual respect.

Manaakitanga is dosplayed by acknowledging Mana, strengths and self-worth of others as having equal or greater importance than one's own, and through supporting the enhancement of people's current abilities and skills and providing opportunities for the development of new abilities.

Self Worth     Respect     Caring     Compassion     Empathy     Nurturing     Generosity

The Kauri is part of a larger eco-system where it can accomodate and support its members and nurture the growth of new seedlings.

The fourth layer of knowledge is reflection and evaluation.

Whakaaroaro is displayed by our careful consideration and reflection which enables us to contemplate and evaluate how we support one another.

Reflect     Consider     Ponder

The Kauri provides shelter and a safe place to many life forms.

The fifth layer is creating an environment where people feel safe and comfortable. Ahurutanga is an internal and external safe place to be yourself, without interference of your thinking when processing information and decision making.

Ahurutanga is displayed when people feel safe, valued and have choice of where they go and who with.

A Safe Place

The Kauri tree is well reknowned as a symbol of strength in New Zealand - Aotearoa. The Kauri takes time to grow but with patience it becomes a vital part of the environment. The Kauri is seen as strong. The harder the Kauri fights to stay alive, the stronger it becomes. It grows strong and straight and is not swayed by other things. The Kauri is a native tree, it has deep roots, strong and firm, (like our values).

As an organisation our services are constricted like the layers that make up the Kauri itself. This visual representation of Te Kauri illustrates the five fundamental values from which Tautoko Options Service operates. Our model is called Te Kauri because it reflects what we do, approaching our work with understanding and empathy, by walking alongside people as they develop and grow.

Whakapapa     Whanaungatanga     Manaakitanga     Whakaaroaro   Ahurutanga