Empowering Pacific Women: A Journey of Healing, Creativity, and Transformation
In Southland, New Zealand, Re:Woven Therapy Charitable Trust is pioneering a transformative programme, the Pasifika Women’s Healing Collective, that empowers Pacific women to heal and break cycles of violence.
Re:Woven : Nature and healing found in oneness with the whenua and each other!
Through creative arts therapy, rongoā Māori healing, and ecotherapy, the initiative fosters resilience and addresses intergenerational trauma. Co-facilitated by Ingrid Campbell, a counselling practitioner with lived experience, and Zoe Black, a Rongoā Māori practitioner, this programme has been generously supported by Pasefika Proud and offers a safe space for profound growth and connection.
Connection, collaboration, and community are at the heart of Re:Woven Therapy Charitable Trust. This programme centres on connection, expression, and empowerment, drawing deeply from Ingrid’s years of work with survivors of family violence and sexual harm, as well as her own healing journey. Inspired by her Cook Island heritage, professional expertise, and community ties, Ingrid envisioned a space where women could safely express themselves while reconnecting with their cultural identity and the natural world.
Left: Zoe Black - Rongoa Maori Practitioner | Right: Ingrid Campbell - Founder & Director
“We are connected to each other, through land and sea,” Ingrid says. “The arts, particularly creative expression, can bring us together, heal old wounds, and help us reclaim our identity.”
Through creative arts, women explore the silence surrounding family violence and sexual harm while confronting trauma’s impact on their lives and loved ones. Participants have described profound moments of support and transformation. “The programme aims to use creative arts as a vehicle for self-expression in a non-confrontational way. So far, we’re halfway through our first programme, and the women have been amazing. They’re inspiring,” Ingrid says.
At its heart lies the concept of “one degree of change.” This approach recognises that healing, particularly in complex family dynamics, requires patience and incremental progress. “If you've lived in chaos or dysfunction for a long time, you are just one person within that family dynamic. So, we talk about one degree of change—small, achievable steps that feel reasonable and empowering,” Ingrid explains.
“As we do our self-work, it heals the broken connections with our mothers, with our grandmothers. It's something we need to do as women, to celebrate our connectedness—both forward and backward—so that we honour the past, acknowledge the present, and look forward to the future.”
From the start, participants have embraced vulnerability and the chance to grow. “The women weren’t afraid to be seen. From day one, they brought their vulnerabilities and embraced the opportunity to use their voice and speak truth. This is where discomfort ultimately leads to growth,” Ingrid says.
One participant shared how the programme helped her navigate a challenging situation with her granddaughter:
“One of our women came in quite distressed,” Ingrid recalls. “She raises her granddaughter, who was having difficulties at school and was having to meet with the school board. She shared with the group, and within minutes, the women were saying, ‘How can we support you?’
"A group of us attended the parent meeting at the school to awhi her. Together, we advocated for her and supported her in finding the strength to speak her truth about the situation. Instead of facing the meeting alone, she and her granddaughter were surrounded by a whānau of support, which shifted the dynamics and contributed to a change in the outcome. It was evident the school had initially made up their minds, but our presence made a difference."
This ripple effect extends beyond individual healing to transform relationships and communities. Participants report meaningful shifts in their concept of themselves and making time for themselves, their attitudes, and ability to foster healthier family dynamics.
As the programme continues through December, its impact is a testament to the power of culturally grounded, community-driven initiatives. By fostering creativity, connection, and healing, it offers a pathway to breaking cycles of violence and building a legacy of resilience for Pacific families.
Pasefika Proud’s support has been instrumental in bringing the programme to life. Ingrid credits their commitment as a cornerstone of its success:
“Pasefika Proud seed funding has allowed us to achieve the first step in a number of one degree’s of change that we’ll take to keep empowering individuals and their whānau to grow, to heal, to be all they’d like to be, with all the help that they need to do that, especially our women and young people.”
The partnership extends beyond financial support, reflecting a shared mission to address family violence and sexual harm while fostering community resilience. By providing Pacific women with the tools to heal and thrive, the programme plants seeds of hope for generations to come.
Group circle - A circle of vulnerability & trust