He awa hou means "A new river," the guiding story of this framework, and it’s a powerful metaphor that emerged throughout the development of this framework. Just as the hei matau (fishhook) symbolises prosperity, strength, connection, and safe passage over water, the river represents the transformative journey of healing, recovery, and resilience that peers, tangata whai ora, whānau, and aiga travel together.

He awa hou represents the collective movement of Lived Experience voices joining professional, cultural, and community streams to create a new current of care.

Every conversation is part of a larger current—when one person heals, the whole community feels the tide shift.

He awa hou reminds us that peer support is collective — a flow of compassion, learning, and courage toward pae ora (healthy futures). Keep learning from each person, whānau, aiga, team, and culture. Return to these guidelines and adapt as new insights flow in.

Whakamana (Empowerment) – Empower yourself as you empower others. Hold boundaries that protect your energy and purpose. Support tangata whai ora, aiga, and families to build confidence and actively engage in their recovery.

Atawhai / Alofa / Compassion – Offer compassion in both directions. Extend warmth, care, and unconditional support to others, and also to yourself. Notice when you are depleted and rest.

Kotahitanga (Unity and Inclusivity) – Stay connected. Reach out to peers, supervisors, and networks. Healing and learning happen in community, not isolation.

Whakaaute / Fa'aaloalo / Respect – Respect your own limits and honour others without judgement. Walk beside others; don't carry them.

Hohourongo (Restoration of Peace) – Take moments to restore balance after hard kōrero. Reflection, nature, whānau/aiga/family time, and spiritual practices help restore inner peace and harmony.

Teu le vā / Relational Spaces (Pacific) – Cherish and nurture the sacred relational spaces that connect people, whānau, ancestors, and communities. Well-being is collective and measured by the quality of these connections.

Purpose of the Role

The peer support worker brings Lived Experience to the heart of harm reduction and recovery, walking alongside tangata whai ora, whānau and aiga affected by gambling harm. This role helps people find safety, balance, and hope through shared understanding.

Why the Role Matters

Gambling harm often lives in silence and shame. Peer support breaks that silence by:​

• Modelling hope: Showing harm reduction and recovery is possible through Lived Experience.​

• Offering practical harm reduction: Helping people manage triggers, set boundaries, and access tools like self-exclusion and budgeting support.​

• Bridging services: Connecting Lived Experience with clinical and cultural support.​

• Reducing stigma: Creating safe, non-judgmental spaces where people feel respected and empowered.​

• Supporting whānau and aiga: Recognising that healing is collective, especially for Māori, Pacific, and Asian families.​

 Principles for Practice

• Central Intent:

  • Model hope and authenticity.

  • Active listening; don’t judge or “fix.”

  • Strengthen self-determination.

  • Bridge Lived Experience and professional worlds.

  • Champion collective well-being—treat recovery as a community journey.

• Boundaries:

  • Share your experience to benefit the other person, not for your own processing.

  • Keep confidentiality except for safety.

  • Maintain clear, purposeful, and time-limited relationships.

  • Never handle money or make financial transactions for others.

  • Seek supervision, especially when cultural or relational boundaries feel unclear.

• Working with Teams:

  • Peer: builds trust, hope, bridges cultures.

  • Clinician: therapy, assessment, risk management.

  • Cultural adviser: upholds cultural and spiritual wellness.

Treat all as paddling the same waka; each role respected.

Atawhai: Compassion with empathy and care for wellbeing. Kindness

Alofa: Love

Cultural Safety: Awareness of how culture affects relationships, making support safe and respectful.

Cultural Attunement: An ongoing relational practice of genuine engagement, ensuring relevance for all communities by tuning into their unique cultural values and practices. (e.g., talanoa for Pasifika, samvda for Asians).

Equality: equal opportunity.

Gambling Harm: The wide-reaching negative impacts of gambling on individuals and families.

Hauora / Mauri Ora: Holistic wellbeing: physical, mental, spiritual, and social health.

He Awa Hou: New River—a metaphor for transformative journeys together.

Hohourongo: Restoring peace and harmony; reconciliation and healing.

Kainga / Aiga: Home or extended family; carries central significance for Pacific and Asian contexts.

Peer Kaimahi: Peer support worker.

Kotahitanga: Unity and inclusivity; collective strength.

Mana-enhancing Practice: Actions that uphold dignity and respect.

Mutuality: The sharing of a feeling, action or relationship between two or more parties.

MVE: Multi-Venue Exclusion for harm reduction.

Pae Ora: Healthy futures for all.

Peer Support: Lived Experience guiding recovery with mutuality and equality.

Reflective Practice: Structured learning from experience for ethical, culturally safe support.

Tangata Whai Ora: Person seeking recovery.

Tikanga Ahurea: Following cultural protocols with integrity.

Tūhono: Connection, Building and maintaining deep relationships.

Whakamana: Empowerment, restoring personal and community dignity.

Whakawhanaungatanga: Building relationships through trust and sharing.

Whānau: Family or deep connections, including all loved ones.