ʻOku tau ki he ngalu; ʻoku ʻi lalo ʻa e tahi
We face the waves, the ocean lies beneath
Rainbow Fale recognises the strength, resilience, and beauty that exists within Pacific rainbow+ communities. Grounded in Pacific values, relationality, and collective care, Rainbow Fale exists to support MVPFAFF+, LGBTQIA+, and rainbow+ young people, adults, and whanau to navigate life with confidence, connection, and belonging. We recognise that wellbeing outcomes improve when young people see their cultures, identities, languages, values, and lived experiences reflected within the spaces they engage with.
Drawing on Pasifika understandings of va, identity, culture, and wellbeing, Rainbow Fale creates culturally affirming spaces where young people can safely explore who they are while strengthening connections to community, leadership, and self-determination. Through talanoa, peer support, creative expression, capability development, and holistic wellbeing approaches. Rainbow Fale supports individuals and communities to move beyond survival and toward thriving.
Co-designed alongside Pacific Rainbow+ Communities
Our programmes are co-designed alongside Pacific rainbow+ communities and are informed by: - The New Zealand Health & Physical Education Curriculum. - Fonofale Framework (Fuimaono Dr Karl Pulotu-Endemann). - Pacific models of wellbeing and relational practice. - Lived experience and community voice. - Rainbow+ affirmative health and youth development approaches. - Research including the Manalagi Report and Pacific rainbow+ wellbeing research. Programmes continue to evolve through ongoing talanoa, lived experiences, community feedback, emerging wellbeing needs, and collaborative relationships with young people, families, schools, and communities.
Rainbow Fale Support
Rainbow Fale supports communities to: - Strengthen identity, belonging, and cultural pride. - Build safe and affirming spaces for Pacific rainbow+ people. - Develop leadership, confidence, and life-positive skills. - Strengthen mental health and emotional wellbeing. - Support healthy relationships, allyship, and community connection. - Increase access to culturally safe support services. - Build understanding and responsiveness within organisations and professionals. - Nurture va through collective care, respect, and inclusion.
Sei Lelei Approach
Through Sei Lelei, Rainbow Fale also delivers Pacific Access & Choice mental health and wellbeing support for Pacific rainbow+ young people and their families across Tamaki Makaurau. Sei Lelei is grounded in the belief that Pacific rainbow+ communities deserve spaces where they are protected, affirmed, connected, and able to flourish. Together with our Health & Wellbeing Clinic, Sei Lelei provides free culturally grounded support through talanoa therapy, peer support, family programmes, workshops, and community initiatives that strengthen wellbeing for both individuals and their wider village.
Rainbow Fale programmes can be delivered across schools, community organisations, churches, workplaces, tertiary settings, and community events through flexible in-person, outreach, and online delivery models.
Programme Overview
Sei Lelei
Programmes can be adapted across schools, alternative education, tertiary settings, churches, sports groups, workplaces, youth organisations, community spaces, and outreach settings through flexible in-person, online and community-based delivery approaches.
Session Menu
Lata'anga
Lata’anga supports Pacific rainbow+ young people to strengthen emotional wellbeing, resilience, identity pride, and connection through culturally grounded and rainbow+ affirming approaches. Participants are supported to build emotional literacy, coping strategies, self-soothing tools, and recovery skills while strengthening confidence, self-acceptance, and a sense of belonging within their identities, cultures, and communities. The programme also encourages young people to strengthen peer support networks, trusted adult relationships, chosen family connections, and confidence in accessing wellbeing and support services. Through reflective activities, talanoa, and strengths-based learning, Lata’anga supports participants to build hope, leadership, future pathways, and positive wellbeing outcomes that support them to navigate life with greater confidence and connection.
Lata’anga supports: mental health and emotional wellbeing, identity, belonging, and self-worth, resilience and healthy coping strategies, relationships with others, communication and emotional literacy, help-seeking and support systems, hauora and holistic wellbeing, self-management and reflective practice, community connection and belonging.
Building the Vā
Introduces group agreements, confidentiality, cultural safety, and collective care while creating safe spaces for connection, trust, belonging, and relationship-building.
Identity as Strength
Supports participants to explore identity, culture, spirituality, sexuality, gender, and belonging through strengths-based talanoa and self-reflection activities. Youth & Young Adults In-person or Online 45–90 mins.
Accessing Acceptance
Explores emotional wellbeing, acceptance, self-compassion, coping strategies, and grounding tools that support participants to navigate stress, anxiety, and emotional overwhelm.
Shielding Minority Stress
Supports young people to understand and navigate bullying, discrimination, internalised shame, and minority stress while strengthening resilience and protective strategies.
Flowering with Others
Explores relationships, communication, boundaries, consent, family dynamics, and choice-based disclosure while strengthening healthy relationship skills and relational safety.
Seeking Out Support
Supports participants to identify trusted people, support pathways, help-seeking tools, wellbeing maintenance strategies, and future-focused goals while celebrating growth and connection.
Matala
Matala supports Pacific rainbow+ young people to strengthen identity pride, belonging, emotional wellbeing, resilience, and connection through culturally grounded and rainbow+ affirming approaches. Participants are encouraged to build confidence, self-acceptance, and a stronger sense of safety within their identities, cultures, and communities while developing coping strategies, resilience, and positive self-worth. Through talanoa, peer connection, creative expression, and strengths-based learning, Matala strengthens support networks, trusted adult relationships, chosen family connections, and community belonging while increasing confidence in help-seeking and accessing support. The programme also supports young people to build leadership, advocacy, communication, and future-focused life skills that empower them to navigate life with confidence, purpose, and stronger wellbeing outcomes.
Matala supports: Identity, culture, and belonging, Diversity, inclusion, and representation, Mental, emotional, and social wellbeing, Healthy relationships and communication, Leadership and self-expression, Advocacy and community participation, Resilience and self-management, Help-seeking and wellbeing practices, Interpersonal skills and relational wellbeing.
Culture, Identity & Pride
Supports participants to explore identity, culture, spirituality, sexuality, gender, and belonging while strengthening confidence, cultural pride, and self-expression.
Identity & Belonging
Encourages young people to reflect on who they are, what shapes them, and how culture, relationships, values, and lived experiences influence identity and wellbeing.
Vā & Community Connection
Introduces Pacific concepts of vā, collective care, relationships, and belonging while strengthening respectful and supportive community connections.
Rainbow+ Visibility & Representation
Explores Pacific rainbow+ histories, stories, representation, leadership, and resilience while strengthening identity safety and visibility.
Emotional Wellbeing & Resilience
Supports participants to strengthen emotional literacy, coping strategies, confidence, resilience, and self-compassion through culturally grounded wellbeing approaches.
Healthy Relationships & Boundaries
Explores communication, relationships, consent, trust, emotional safety, and boundaries through talanoa and interactive activities.
Navigating Bullying & Discrimination
Supports participants to understand and navigate bullying, discrimination, shame, and minority stress while strengthening protective factors and support strategies.
Support Systems & Help-Seeking
Encourages young people to strengthen peer support, trusted adult relationships, chosen family connections, and confidence in accessing support services.
Leadership & Advocacy
Supports participants to strengthen leadership, confidence, storytelling, advocacy, and community engagement skills through youth-led learning approaches.
Creative Expression & Storytelling
Encourages self-expression, creativity, storytelling, art, movement, and identity exploration through strengths-based and collaborative activities.
Goal Setting & Future Pathways
Supports young people to reflect on aspirations, leadership, education, wellbeing, and future planning while building hope and positive pathways forward.
Mafutaga
Mafutaga supports Pacific rainbow+ young people to strengthen identity pride, belonging, confidence, connection, and wellbeing through culturally grounded and rainbow+ affirming approaches. Participants are encouraged to build cultural pride, self-acceptance, and a stronger sense of belonging within Pacific rainbow+ communities while developing meaningful friendships, trusted relationships, chosen family support, and stronger community connections. Through talanoa, peer connection, creative activities, leadership opportunities, and strengths-based learning, Mafutaga supports young people to strengthen communication, teamwork, leadership, resilience, and life-positive skills that support wellbeing and future aspirations. The programme also encourages emotional wellbeing, motivation, confidence, and hope while empowering young people to navigate life, relationships, and future pathways with greater confidence, connection, and purpose.
Mafutaga supports: Identity, culture, and belonging, Community participation and connection, Leadership and teamwork, Communication and relationship-building, Mental, emotional, and social wellbeing, Self-expression and creativity, Confidence and self-management, Goal setting and future pathways, Hauora and collective wellbeing
Identity Pride & Self-Expression
Supports participants to explore identity, culture, sexuality, gender, spirituality, and self-expression while strengthening confidence, belonging, and pride in who they are.
Culture, Community & Connection
Encourages connection to Pacific identity, values, culture, and community while strengthening relationships and collective care through talanoa and shared experiences.
Vā & Safe Spaces
Introduces Pacific concepts of vā, relational safety, respect, and collective responsibility while creating culturally affirming and emotionally safe environments.
Rainbow+ Visibility & Representation
Explores Pacific rainbow+ stories, representation, leadership, resilience, and lived experience while strengthening identity safety and empowerment.
Emotional Wellbeing & Connection
Supports participants to strengthen emotional wellbeing, confidence, coping strategies, and positive peer connection through strengths-based and culturally grounded approaches.
Healthy Relationships & Boundaries
Explores communication, trust, relationships, boundaries, consent, and emotional safety through talanoa and interactive activities.
Support Networks & Help-Seeking
Encourages stronger peer support, trusted adult relationships, chosen family connections, and confidence in seeking support when needed.
Movement, Activity & Wellbeing
Explores the importance of movement, activity, creativity, and connection in supporting mental health, wellbeing, and resilience.
Leadership & Confidence Building
Supports participants to strengthen leadership, confidence, communication, advocacy, and teamwork skills through youth-led learning and participation.
Goal Setting & Future Aspirations
Encourages young people to reflect on aspirations, education, work, wellbeing, and future pathways while building hope and motivation.
Community Participation & Events
Provides opportunities for young people to participate in community outings, workshops, events, and collective experiences that strengthen belonging and connection.
Alofa in Action
Alofa in Action supports young people, organisations, and communities to strengthen communication, empathy, inclusion, accountability, and collective care through culturally grounded and relationship-focused approaches. Participants are encouraged to build healthier relationship practices, emotional awareness, listening skills, and confidence in navigating conflict and difference with respect and alofa. Through talanoa, reflection, collaborative learning, and restorative approaches, the programme strengthens allyship, belonging, accountability, and safer community practices while encouraging participants to critically reflect on social media, peer influence, and the ways online and offline behaviours impact the vā. Alofa in Action ultimately supports communities to create safer, more inclusive, and more connected environments grounded in fa’aaloalo, collective responsibility, and wellbeing.
Alofa in Action supports: Relationships with others, Communication and empathy, Diversity, inclusion, and belonging, Conflict resolution and restorative practice, Digital wellbeing and online safety, Identity and community connection, Leadership and collective responsibility, Critical thinking and social influences, Hauora and relational wellbeing
Speaking with Alofa
Supports participants to strengthen respectful communication, active listening, empathy, patience, and open dialogue while exploring ways to navigate conflict and misunderstanding with care.
Understanding Perspectives & Collective Care
Encourages participants to reflect on external pressures, trauma, media influence, accountability, allyship, and collective responsibility while strengthening empathy, fa’aaloalo, and safer relationship practices.
Building Inclusive Communities
Supports participants to strengthen inclusion, challenge bullying and segregation, protect bystanders, and create safer environments grounded in respect, belonging, and collective care.
Protecting the Vā
Explores accountability, relational responsibility, consent, boundaries, personal space, and practical approaches to responding to harm in safe, respectful, and restorative ways.
Digital Wisdom & Social Media
Encourages participants to critically reflect on social media behaviour, online influence, hype culture, algorithms, and how online actions impact relationships, wellbeing, and community safety.
Fostering Belonging & Community Connection
Strengthens whakawhanaungatanga, allyship, collaboration, inclusion, and positive community participation through shared activities, projects, and collective learning approaches.
Communication, Empathy & Relational Skills
Supports participants to strengthen respectful communication, empathy, emotional awareness, listening skills, and healthier relationship practices through culturally grounded approaches.
Inclusion, Accountability & Collective Care
Encourages safer and more inclusive environments by strengthening allyship, accountability, belonging, digital awareness, and collective responsibility within schools and communities.
