Supporting people into healthy homes with the connections they need to thrive
We are a community housing provider with a focus on supporting people who have experienced homelessness, mental health and addictions challenges.
With whānau at the centre of everything we do, our staff me āta whakarongo, kōrerero, ako, mahia te mahi – carefully listen, dialogue, learn and do the work.
Deeply committed to equity, at LinkPeople we understand that connected communities are healthier and stronger and that a home is a foundation for people to thrive.
We formed as an entity in 2016 after Keys Social Housing and Linkage merged to become LinkPeople.
We are proud to be part of The Wise Group, a family of community organisations sharing a common purpose – creating new opportunities for the wellbeing of people, vulnerable populations, organisations, and communities.
He tāngata manaaki mātou
We are people who uplift and celebrate others
Guiding whakataukī
Hutia te rito o te harakeke
Kī mai ki ahau
He aha te mea nui o te ao?
Māku e kī atu
He tangata, he tangata, he tangata!
If you strip away the heart of the flaxbush
If you were to ask me
What is the most important thing in this world?
I will reply
It is people, it is people, it is people!
If we lay this whakatauki alongside LinkPeople’s overarching belief statement ko ngā tāngata te mea nui o te ao (people are the most important thing in the world) and the four Te Ao Māori principles that guide The LinkPeople Way; Kaitiakitanga, Manaakitanga, Rangatiratanga, and Whanaungatanga, we have a pathway to achieve our greatest imaginable challenge – to provide the right housing support service for Māori and our diverse community experiencing mental health and addiction challenges.
Our visual identity
In 2024, LinkPeople kaimahi worked in partnership with Ngāti Tamaoho kaiwhakairo (carver) and kaiwhakahoahoa (designer) Maaka Potini to co-design visual representations of the LinkPeople Way principles.
Central to each visualisation of the LinkPeople Way principles was a mana whenua reinterpretation of the LinkPeople logo design. This tohu sits across the four designs as tīpuna on the wall of the wharenui, a toanga that adorns the korowai, the heart of the harakeke plant and the moon that gives the light to guide the waka.
Kaitiakitanga
This design represents guardianship, protection, and the responsibility to create environments where kiritaki can thrive.
The wharenui stands as a place of shelter and security, a tūrangawaewae for those in need of stability. The amo, the vertical supports symbolise the foundational strength and responsibility we hold as kaitiaki, ensuring that the spaces we create uplift and sustain kiritaki. The extended hands within the whare express reciprocity, reflecting our role in both giving and receiving care.
Whanaungatanga
This design represents connection, belonging, and shared whakapapa.
The korowai (cloak) wraps kiritaki, providing a sense of security, warmth, and protection. The tāniko patterns at the shoulders acknowledge the intricate relationships that bind us together, while the woven footprints across the cloak illustrate the many journeys taken, symbolising movement, shared experiences, and the bonds that form through whanaungatanga.
Manaakitanga
Rooted in care, respect, and generosity, this design is centred on the harakeke (flax), which symbolises the whānau unit and the importance of nurturing relationships.
The rito (young shoot) at the centre represents kiritaki, surrounded by the awhi rito (protective outer leaves), those who provide support, guidance, and care. The woven tukutuku background speaks to the intergenerational connections that hold communities together, reinforcing the collective responsibility we have in uplifting others. These elements signify continuous growth and renewal, reminding us that in caring for one another, we all flourish.
Rangatiratanga
This design embodies leadership, self-determination, and empowerment.
The waka represents the journey of kiritaki, supported by those who guide and uplift them. In the hands of the kaihautū is the To’oto’o, a Pacific leadership staff that signifies both governance and the deep ancestral ties to our pacifica whānau from Te Moana Nui a Kiwa. Above, the whetū (stars) serves as a celestial marker, symbolising wayfinding, the need for a plotted course, goal plan, and vision to keep our journey on track. The koru within the waka hull speaks to continuous growth, while the intricate patterns reflect the interconnected effort required to uplift, empower, and enable kiritaki to realise their aspirations.
Our logo
With the blessing of Ngāti Tamaoho, LinkPeople adopted this symbol as the central image in our logo. A tohu that anchors our LinkPeople Way principles and our belief that people are the most important thing in the world. The symbol is a taonga gifted to us by mana whenua, and one that we feel represents LinkPeople at this stage of our journey to becoming a truly Te Tiriti-based organisation.
