History

The Establishment of Tautoko Services

In 1995 the Central and Midland Regional Health Authorities in New Zealand commissioned Garth Bennie and Associates to conduct a research project on the needs, supports and services for people with an intellectual disability who have challenging behaviour. The research report (Bennie 1995) led to a request for proposals to deliver a service to the prescribed client group across the Central Health region.

In response to this request 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.

The organisation operates on a specific service model which was developed from the experiences of the service developers, the requirements of the funding body and the recommendations of the original research report (Bennie 1995).