Who we are

NATINA is a registered charitable trust established on 7th Feb 2023 and is also registered with the Companies Register NZ. The trust was founded with a vision of improving inclusion, equity and wellbeing for children, whānau and communities using a neuroscience and trauma informed lens. While the trustees provide oversight and governance, a core group of NATINA members and the Advisory Rōpū who have been actively involved for about 2 years prior to our formal establishment have been guiding and shaping the strategic direction and initiatives of the organisation. 

Our purpose is to promote, support, educate and advocate for neuroscience and trauma informed approaches to create safe, inclusive, holistic, thriving learning spaces & communities. Our endeavour is to support the adults who care for and educate children so they can be more inclusive, trauma informed, and prevent harm, discrimination and exclusion of children perceived to be 'challenging' when in fact they are simply expressing distressed behaviours due to unaddressed stress and trauma. 

CHARITABLE PURPOSES OF THE TRUST as stated within our Trust Deed:

3.1 Trust Fund Held for Charitable Purposes: 

The Trust Fund, including both capital and income, is to be held and administered by the Board on trust for Charitable Purposes as set out in clause 3.2 (and clause 3.2 is to be interpreted accordingly), pursued for public benefit and not for private profit. Subject to the terms set out in this deed, the Board may use, apply and distribute from time to time so much of the capital and income constituting the Trust Fund as the Board thinks fit in order to advance any one or more of the Trust's Charitable Purposes. 

3.2 Neuroscience and Trauma Informed Approaches: 

The general purpose of the Trust is to promote neuroscience and trauma informed approaches that support and enhance the education and wellbeing of disadvantaged and trauma affected children in educational and other settings in Aotearoa New Zealand. 

In connection with and in furtherance of that general purpose, the Trust's specific purposes include: 

3.2.1 Promotion/Education/Advocacy: 

promoting, advocating, and providing information regarding neuroscience and trauma informed approaches in education aimed at creating safe, inclusive, holistic and thriving learning spaces/communities, by offering evidence based, culturally appropriate information, training, policy guidance, dissemination and development of resources; 

3.2.2 Impacting Learning and Wellbeing of Children: 

supporting and enhancing the education, mental and emotional wellbeing of all children, with a particular focus on those at higher risk of being affected by trauma due to ongoing marginalisation and discrimination because of their lived experiences of disability, neurodiversity, gender identity as LGBTQIA+, socioeconomic disadvantage, and Mäori and Pasifika who experience systemic racism that contributes to intergenerational trauma; 

3.2.3 Strengthening Supporting Communities: 

supporting and enhancing the understanding, capacity and effectiveness of the wider communities that work with, and affect educational and wellbeing outcomes for, trauma affected and other marginalised groups stated above in educational and other settings; and 

3.2.4 Other Approved Purposes: 

subject to approval in writing from the Protector, any other specific purpose that relates to or is connected with the Trust's general purpose and is consistent with the charitable status of the Trust.