About Us
Every child in Aotearoa deserves to stride into the future with confidence – no matter their circumstances.
But right now, an estimated 20,000 tamariki with a parent in prison face an invisible sentence.
Our justice system acts like a powerful current that sweeps tamariki and whānau toward cycles of hardship and intergenerational offending. Without support, tamariki impacted by whānau incarceration are 10x more likely to go to prison themselves.
Pillars Ka Pou Whakahou supports the tamariki and whānau of people in prison to create positive futures for themselves. We walk alongside whānau, providing wraparound social work, mentoring programmes and youth advocacy.
Our vision is that all whānau of people serving a sentence have the opportunity and support to choose a better future.
Our main objective is to build a community where every child who has a parent or caregiver in prison or serving a community sentence, has access to the necessary support and appropriate services to create a positive future for themselves.
Our programmes range from wraparound social work services for whānau, mentoring for children and rangatahi, and youth-led advocacy. As a charity, we provide free, confidential, and non-judgemental support for families and children who have whānau serving a sentence.
We work in prisons and the community, and have a team of well trained, experienced staff in Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland), Ōtautahi (Christchurch) as well as services in Kirikiriroa (Hamilton) and Waihōpai (Invercargill).
96%
Of children struggle emotionally (e.g. depression, anxiety, withdrawal).
88%
Of families at Pillars have experience family violence or sexual violence
72%
Of families believe the mental health of their whānau in prison impacts their children's wellbeing.
Our Story
Pillars Ka Pou Whakahou was founded by Verna McFelin in 1988 after her husband went to prison. She was left with 4 children and no support. Pillars Ka Pou Whakahou began as a support group for other mothers with partners in prison,
Today, it is a national charity upholding the rights of children of people in prison.
Pillars Ka Pou Whakahou was instrumental in creating the Children’s Bill of Rights for children who have a parent in prison, and its revised version, The Bill of Rights for Tamariki Impacted by Whānau Incarceration. We continues to strongly advocate for the rights of families impacted by a family members sentence with Ara Poutama (The Department of Corrections).
We have are a team of specialist staff delivering wrap-around social work services to families in Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland) and Ōtautahi (Christchurch). A team of incredible volunteers mentor hundreds of children who are facing some of the most challenging and difficult times in their lives.
Our Values
Whānaungatanga
Relationships, Kinship and Connection
Kaitiakitanga
Guardianship
Meet the Team
Please meet our Executive Management Team, dedicated to furthering our kaupapa throughout our practice.
.jpg)
Chief Executive Officer
Tuhi Leef
Operations Manager
Jennifer Harper
National Practice Manager
Jolene Hunter
Meet our Board
The Pillars Ka Pou Whakahou Board brings together a wide range of skills, experience and knowledge which are important for the organisation. They provide governance and strategic guidance to the Executive Management Team.
Chair
Susan Henson
Susan has worked in the IT business for many years in various marketing, consultancy and pre-sales roles, but has recently been using her skills in the arts and heritage sector as fundraising manager for The Arts Centre of Christchurch. She is a computer science graduate and holds an MBA , is a Member of the Institute of Directors, and is a qualified CFRE.
Kaumātua
Vince Hapi
Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, Engari taku toa he toa takitini My strength is not my own. My strength is my family, tribe, tūpuna, and my people. Also, the strength of representing the values of Ka Pou Whakahou. Mahia te mahi hei painga mo te iwi enclosing. Always doing my best to benefit the Kaupapa. Pai marire.
Member
Nova Banaghan
Nova has worked in the government sector for over twenty years, in the child protection and youth justice space. She spent several years working for Ara Poutama and is Chief Monitor at the Independent Children’s Monitor.
Member
Dulcie Tauri
Drawing on over 20 years’ experience in human-centred solutions, Dulcie brings strategic expertise across public, private, and non profit sectors. This portfolio spans research and evaluation, behaviour change initiatives, cultural strategy and community engagement with particular strength in working alongside hāpori Māori.
Member
Nick Burns
Nick has an extensive business background and is a member of the senior leadership group at Jade Software Corporation in Christchurch. Nick has mentored and coached several individuals and organisations, including The Clown Doctors Charitable Trust, which works to bring joy to children and senior citizens in times of need. Nick has been a Pillars Ka Pou Whakahou mentor since early 2020.
Member
Kristen Spooner
Kristen has worked in the sustainability and community development space for over 16 years in NZ and the UK. She holds a Bachelor of Social Science (hons) and a Master of Environmental Planning. A key strength is her ability to translate strategy into action. She excels in the delivery of projects and programmes that achieve tangible positive outcomes for people and the environment. As a Mum of two, Kristen is passionate about the wellbeing of children in Aotearoa.
Member
Sandra McCallum
Sandra has worked in leadership positions in education for 35 years. She was principal of Mt Cook school in Wellington for 15 years. This was followed by being interim General Manager for ChangeMakers Resettlement Forum (an NGO that works with/for Kiwis from a Refugee Background in the areas of Advocacy, Research and Community Development.) Sandra also continues to be involved in mentoring new school leaders and working alongside refugee communities.
Treasurer
Michelle Barclay
Michelle is a chartered accountant and has worked in professional services as an auditor for over 11 years. A people person at heart, she loves using her skills to support a range of organisations, with a strong passion for the nonprofit space and supporting the community.