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Our PETRA
Programme

Wāhi offers the Preventative Education and Training for Resilient Adolescents (PETRA) Programme in hopes of being part of the solution to overcoming the overwhelming youth mental health statistics.

Wāhi offers the Preventative Education and Training for Resilient Adolescents (PETRA) Programme in hopes of being part of the solution to overcoming the overwhelming youth mental health statistics.

Testimonials

Te Kura o Te Whānau-A-Apanui

Tarawera High School Students

Te Kura o Te Whānau-A-Apanui

Tarawera High School Teacher Testimonial

  • Just a big thank you, this programme made me less suicidal I guess but thank you for coming to these sessions. Helped me a lot.

    Rangatahi Participant

  • [He] is my son, and I feel he uses a lot of what he has learnt at home which I love. Thank you!

    Parent

  • I think that this kaupapa should go out to all of NZ, for all rangatahi.

    Rangatahi Participant

Just a big thank you, this programme made me less suicidal I guess but thank you for coming to these sessions. Helped me a lot.

Rangatahi Participant

[He] is my son, and I feel he uses a lot of what he has learnt at home which I love. Thank you!

Parent

I think that this kaupapa should go out to all of NZ, for all rangatahi.

Rangatahi Participant

Proven Impact in 2025.

Independent participant feedback showing measurable growth in wellbeing and resilience.

99%

Positive Impact Reported

Participants reported increased confidence, resilience, emotional skills or maintained strong wellbeing.

48%

Improved Mental Health Understanding

Increase in understanding of mental health and wellbeing concepts.

43%

Greater Resilience

Increase in ability to bounce back after challenges.

38%

More Willing to Reach Out

Increase in confidence to ask for help when needed.

More Than Just Conversations.

Clear, measurable shifts in confidence, emotional skills and connection.

93%

Found the Programme Helpful

89%

Learned Practical Coping Tools

923

Learners Reached in 2025

38%

Improved Emotional Skills

The PETRA programme includes 6 activities-based sessions around building resilience, emotional regulation and coping.

Using activities in our sessions, we help youth to engage with topics that are not always easy to learn or discuss in other ways, such as youth mental health. Throughout the PETRA Programme, we explore the concepts of Te Whare Tapa Whā as well as the Zones of Regulation to help us develop resiliency and knowledge around different aspects of our well-being.

Find a breakdown below with descriptions of what we do and aim to achieve in each of the 6 sessions. 

Session 1

Whakawhanaungatanga - Connection

In this session, we will be exploring connection. We explore connection to the whenua and the area as well as each participant's pepeha. We explore why it is important to understand mental health and well-being and how relevant it is to young people in this day and age. This session will allow youth to:

  • Develop group rules together to ensure that it is a safe space to engage with difficult concepts over the next six weeks

  • Allow youth to explore mental health and well-being in a safe space

  • Develop connection and cohesion within the group through games, activities and local pūrākau (Māori stories)

  • Gain an understanding of why well-being is important to understand and manage

  • Gain an understanding of mental health for youth

Session 2

Foundation

In this session, we will be exploring foundation. To develop a healthy and solid foundation, it helps to understand our identity and emotions. We will be exploring identity through Te Whare Tapa Whā, which explains that a whare (house) is healthy when the four walls are healthy. This is the same for us, when the four walls of our health are strong, we are well. These areas of a persons health are Taha Wairua (Spiritual), Taha Tinana (Physical), Taha Whānau (Family/Social) and Taha Hinengaro (Mental). We understand that to have a strong house, we must also have a solid foundation. Values help us to make up a part of our identity and foundation, so knowing what our values are is important. This session will allow youth to:

  • Develop an understanding of holistic health

  • Explore their values and identity

  • Develop their emotional vocabulary

  • Engage in activities that bring concepts to life

  • Develop understanding of the Zones of Regulation

Session 2

Foundation

In this session, we will be exploring foundation. To develop a healthy and solid foundation, it helps to understand our identity and emotions. We will be exploring identity through Te Whare Tapa Whā, which explains that a whare (house) is healthy when the four walls are healthy. This is the same for us, when the four walls of our health are strong, we are well. These areas of a persons health are Taha Wairua (Spiritual), Taha Tinana (Physical), Taha Whānau (Family/Social) and Taha Hinengaro (Mental). We understand that to have a strong house, we must also have a solid foundation. Values help us to make up a part of our identity and foundation, so knowing what our values are is important. This session will allow youth to:

  • Develop an understanding of holistic health

  • Explore their values and identity

  • Develop their emotional vocabulary

  • Engage in activities that bring concepts to life

  • Develop understanding of the Zones of Regulation

Session 3

Recognise - Our Emotions and Others

In this session, we will begin to deepen our understanding of emotions and what that feels like in our body. We continue to explore the four Zones of Regulation and how a some of the different emotions can look and feel in our bodies. This allows young people to recognise what they are feeling in themselves so they can implement ways to get into a space where they can feel relaxed and focused. We also explore the CHUR Model which is a way to help out our mates when they are feeling down. We reassure the youth that all the pressure is not on them to know all the answers. This session will allow youth to:

  • Deepen understanding of emotions and widen emotional vocabulary

  • Explore why it is important to recognise our emotions

  • Develop skills to talk to mates that are going through a rough patch

  • Know that there is support to help them through tough times

Session 3

Recognise - Our Emotions and Others

In this session, we will begin to deepen our understanding of emotions and what that feels like in our body. We continue to explore the four Zones of Regulation and how a some of the different emotions can look and feel in our bodies. This allows young people to recognise what they are feeling in themselves so they can implement ways to get into a space where they can feel relaxed and focused. We also explore the CHUR Model which is a way to help out our mates when they are feeling down. We reassure the youth that all the pressure is not on them to know all the answers. This session will allow youth to:

  • Deepen understanding of emotions and widen emotional vocabulary

  • Explore why it is important to recognise our emotions

  • Develop skills to talk to mates that are going through a rough patch

  • Know that there is support to help them through tough times

Session 4

Options

In this session, we will be exploring triggers and options. Understanding that each of us have different triggers that contribute to our mental well-being is important. It is also important to understand that we have options and do not have to act out of emotion. Through engaging in games and activities we will start to recognise the tools we can use to overcome difficult emotions and situations. Participants will start to grasp that they have the ability to manage their emotions so that they can make well-informed decisions in a calm state rather than making decisions as a result of their emotions. This session will allow youth to:

  • Recognise their individual triggers

  • Recognise how these triggers affect our ability to manage ourselves and the way we respond

  • Build sensory tools that can help them to manage their emotions 

  • Develop understanding around when we can use different tools

Session 4

Options

In this session, we will be exploring triggers and options. Understanding that each of us have different triggers that contribute to our mental well-being is important. It is also important to understand that we have options and do not have to act out of emotion. Through engaging in games and activities we will start to recognise the tools we can use to overcome difficult emotions and situations. Participants will start to grasp that they have the ability to manage their emotions so that they can make well-informed decisions in a calm state rather than making decisions as a result of their emotions. This session will allow youth to:

  • Recognise their individual triggers

  • Recognise how these triggers affect our ability to manage ourselves and the way we respond

  • Build sensory tools that can help them to manage their emotions 

  • Develop understanding around when we can use different tools

Session 5

Self-Talk: Coach or Critic

n this session, we will be exploring healthy and unhealthy self-talk. Through this session, rangatahi will gain an understanding of positive and negative feedback loops, which come from others. They will also begin to recognise the types of self-talk that they have with themselves. These are put into two groups, the Inner Critic, which is responsible for negative self-talk and the Inner Coach, which is responsible for positive self-talk. Through engaging in activities, rangatahi will develop skills to overcome the Inner Critic and utilise the Inner Coach to overcome challenging situations that may arise. This session will allow youth to:

  • Understand positive and negative self-talk

  • Explore why it is important to recognise the self-talk we are using

  • Develop ways to use the Inner Coach

  • Build a Sensory Tool

  • Develop an understanding of how to use mindfulness

Session 5

Self-Talk: Coach or Critic

In this session, we will be exploring healthy and unhealthy self-talk. Through this session, rangatahi will gain an understanding of positive and negative feedback loops, which come from others. They will also begin to recognise the types of self-talk that they have with themselves. These are put into two groups, the Inner Critic, which is responsible for negative self-talk and the Inner Coach, which is responsible for positive self-talk. Through engaging in activities, rangatahi will develop skills to overcome the Inner Critic and utilise the Inner Coach to overcome challenging situations that may arise. This session will allow youth to:

  • Understand positive and negative self-talk

  • Explore why it is important to recognise the self-talk we are using

  • Develop ways to use the Inner Coach

  • Build a Sensory Tool

  • Develop an understanding of how to use mindfulness

Session 6

Tuia - To Weave

Our final session is about how we can weave in the lessons we have learned throughout the PETRA Programme and use these lessons to help us in our everyday lives. We will explore how using these tools can assist us to overcome challenging situations and emotions in a safe and healthy way. We also explore what role models are and use the tools that we have learned to encourage one another. In completing these sessions, youth have developed skills, understanding and tools to be able to manage their wellbeing and this session is a time to celebrate those achievements. This session will allow youth to:

  • Feel a sense of achievement and encouragement

  • Feel equipped to face challenges in the future

  • Practise the Inner Coach by encouraging others

  • Understand that they are not alone and they can access support in their community

  • Feel a sense of empowerment over their ability to manage well-being

Session 6

Tuia - To Weave

Our final session is about how we can weave in the lessons we have learned throughout the PETRA Programme and use these lessons to help us in our everyday lives. We will explore how using these tools can assist us to overcome challenging situations and emotions in a safe and healthy way. We also explore what role models are and use the tools that we have learned to encourage one another. In completing these sessions, youth have developed skills, understanding and tools to be able to manage their wellbeing and this session is a time to celebrate those achievements. This session will allow youth to:

  • Feel a sense of achievement and encouragement

  • Feel equipped to face challenges in the future

  • Practise the Inner Coach by encouraging others

  • Understand that they are not alone and they can access support in their community

  • Feel a sense of empowerment over their ability to manage well-being

Get in Touch.

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Creating Space to Kōrerō
Home
YOUth service map
About
Services
PETRA PROGRAMME
ALL GOODS?
COMMUNITy
INSTAGRAM