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Latest

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...”
Proud Westie turns Teacher

It has been 7 years since James Tevaga left school and he looks back at his time with MATES as one of his highlights. Now a fully qualified teacher, he believes he wouldn't be where he is today without MATES...
Marissa's Story: "HIPPY gave me confidence"

Marissa was 18 when she had her first baby. Shy and lacking confidence, she thought her working life was over. Until she started her son on the HIPPY programme and her confidence began to grow...

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...”
Marissa's Story: "HIPPY gave me confidence"

Marissa was 18 when she had her first baby. Shy and lacking confidence, she thought her working life was over. Until she started her son on the HIPPY programme and her confidence began to grow...
Creating Connections in Kaikohe - with DIY Deodorant

Group meetings – or ‘whānau hui’ – are an important part of HIPPY, helping build connections and combat isolation. Kaikohe Coordinator, Emily Rogers, recently took her HIPPY whānau to a local drop-in centre/pregnancy hub and did a very cool enrichment activity making DIY deodorant...
A Community Empowered thanks to HIPPY

Back in 1997, Kelston cluster school principals met to discuss how they might better engage with local families and support parents. HIPPY became the catalyst that helped empower and engage the Kelston community...
HIPPY Founder’s New Zealand Legacy

Professor Avima Lombard was HIPPY’s original founder back in 1969, in Israel. When she passed away in 2008, Dame Lesley Max wrote a piece in appreciation of Professor Lombard, giving us a glimpse into the legacy she created for us in New Zealand....
Pathways to Possibilities – Unleashing the Potential of HIPPY Tutors

Great Potentials has partnered with HIPPY Australia to pilot a structured Tutor Development system, "Pathways to Possibilities" launching early in 2021...
From the Archives: MaryAnne Schwenke

When mother-of-three, MaryAnne Schwenke started on the HIPPY programme, she discovered skills she didn't know she had and set out to achieve her dream of becoming a teacher...
New HIPPY Coordinator Dives Right In

Introducing our brand new HIPPY Coordinator for Henderson South, Christine Wang, who started her new role in the middle of lockdown, but didn't let that hold her back from diving right in, and letting her community know all about HIPPY...
From the Archives: Marietta Ulugia

In this series, we are dipping into the archives to share inspiring HIPPY stories from years gone by. Here is the story of Marietta Ulugia, our HIPPY Coordinator in Otara from 2009-2011 - living proof of the success of HIPPY.
Making Ice Cream, Shaping Lives

Through play children solve problems, test out ideas and explore their imaginations. HIPPY helps parents create a fun learning environment at home where creativity is unleashed, bodies get moving and children develop a life-long love of learning...

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
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...
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...
Family Service Centre Team

Meet our Family Service Centre Team...
Work for us

Situations vacant at Great Potentials Foundation
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...
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.