Garden Vision: ‘Growing for Good’ at ELC

Papakura Early Learning Centre’s Team Leader has a vision for transforming the centre's unused outdoor spaces into an edible garden, with a worm farm, composting and recycling system to teach the children sustainability... Read more
Covid 19: Social Services Responding to Families in Crisis

Since the Covid crisis began, the Family Service Centre teams have been busier than ever, trying to keep up with demand. The stress of lockdowns on families means that people who had never before been on the radar of social services started asking for help... Read more
Meeting the Community’s Needs Together

Family Service Centre teams recently invited stakeholders from the community come for morning tea, in order to thank our supporters and to build on relationships going into a new year... Read more
What's New at FSC Papakura for 2021?

As we start off the brand new year at Papakura Family Service centre, there are some fresh new faces in the team, as well as new paint and signage at the Centre... Read more

Family Service Centre Stories

Garden Vision: ‘Growing for Good’ at ELC

Papakura Early Learning Centre’s Team Leader has a vision for transforming the centre's unused outdoor spaces into an edible garden, with a worm farm, composting and recycling system to teach the children sustainability... Read more

Meeting the Community’s Needs Together

Family Service Centre teams recently invited stakeholders from the community come for morning tea, in order to thank our supporters and to build on relationships going into a new year... Read more

What's New at FSC Papakura for 2021?

As we start off the brand new year at Papakura Family Service centre, there are some fresh new faces in the team, as well as new paint and signage at the Centre... Read more

A Very Whanau Christmas

Christmas is nearly upon us, so we asked a few members of our Family Service Centres team to share the way their whanau celebrates the season… Read more

More Than Just a Language Class

For many immigrants arriving in New Zealand whose English is limited or non-existent, life can be confusing, overwhelming – and lonely. Takanini Family Service Centre partners with MIT to host an English course to help make a difference in the lives of new Kiwis... Read more

SWiS: Speaking the Lingo in Papakura Schools

Papakura Family Service Centre's enthusiastic Social Workers in Schools (SWiS) team work in five Papakura schools, offering support and assistance to the schools’ children and families who are increasingly facing significant challenges in this community. Read more

Cabin Crew to Community Counsellor

Air New Zealand has had to make more than 6500 staff redundant in the wake of coronavirus and one former flight attendant has found her way to our Great Potentials team. Meet Fiona - our new Lead Professional with the Children’s Team at our Family Service Centres... Read more

Connections that Change Lives

Our Family Service Centres are on the ground in communities, making connections. We offer a hand up along the way, giving people the support and tools they need to meet their own goals and find solutions to their problems... Read more

Latest

How our programmes are functioning under different lockdown levels

Across the country our programmes are still supporting our community, just on different levels depending on the area you live in.
How our programmes have been running during Level Four lockdown

We have been working tirelessly to ensure we are doing everything we can to help children, young people, and families towards brighter futures, whilst we stay safe in our bubbles. Our programmes have been able to transition to supporting people in our communities remotely, similarly to how people connect with their family and friends.
MATES and Merchant Shoes – a Perfect Match

Merchant 1948’s Young Hearts Project has been partnering with MATES Junior since it was launched in 2014. This project was established to assist young people in our community, especially those who are struggling in life.
From the archives: NZ’s first Dad Tutor

Back in 1995, John Grubner made the local newspaper for being New Zealand’s very first “HIPPY dad” tutor. The local community paper said at the time, “Mr Grubner is a rare breed as a HIPPY tutor because it is usually mums who are recruited from parents who have been through the programme...”

HIPPY Programme

HIPPY is a home-based Early Learning programme that helps parents from disadvantaged communities lay the foundation for their children’s success in school and later life...
HIPPY Locations

Locations and contact details for HIPPY sites around New Zealand
Community Funding

We are immensely grateful to all of our supporters who contribute in various ways to Great Potentials Foundation. Your generosity truly impacts the lives of children, young people and families propelling them towards brighter futures.
Become a mentor

If you are a tertiary student in Auckland and are interested in becoming a MATES mentor, please complete the online application form...
MATES Programme

MATES Mentoring and Tutoring programme addresses the underachievement in education of disadvantaged youth in New Zealand, intervening at key transition points to create pathways for success...
Contact Details

Address and contact information for Great Potentials Office and programmes
Our Mission

Working for and with children, young people and families to promote family function, relieve suffering, release potential, reduce disparities in New Zealand society, reduce crime and violence and break the cycle of disadvantage...
Work for us

Situations vacant at Great Potentials Foundation
Family Service Centres

Our Family Service Centres assist the community with housing, food, health care, employment support and wellbeing services as well as offering early learning services, parenting programmes, playgroups, social workers in schools, counselling and more...
Takanini Family Service Centre

Family Service Centre Takanini opened its doors in January 2014. Our warm, colourful new Centre was established in partnership with the Counties Manukau Kindergarten Association, whose superb early learning centre provides a beautiful environment for the local children.