This kaupapa began on the whenua of Ngaati Hauā in Waikato. It was a deliberate and heartfelt decision to plant the first seed of Kaitiaki Niho there, on our papa kāinga, among our whānau and kaumātua who nurtured the values that ground us. For a kaupapa centred on whānau wellbeing, it could only begin where the whakaaro of Hauora, Manaakitanga, and Whakapapa are part of the soil itself. From the outset, the vision was clear: To protect our people from avoidable pain, and to restore Hauora Niho in a way that reflects who we are as Māori.

Our guiding whakataukī, “Mā te aukati, ka whai oranga”, reminds us that true wellbeing comes through prevention. It is not just a philosophy, it is a tikanga, grounded in Te Ao Māori. It speaks to the wisdom of our tūpuna, who knew that care begins long before crisis, and that healing is most powerful when it uplifts mana and whānau.

Now rooted in Murihiku / Southland, Kaitiaki Niho has grown into a kaupapa Māori oral health service dedicated to whānau-centred care. Our mahi is shaped by the enduring principles of:​

​

• Kaitiakitanga – protecting and nurturing the wellbeing of future generations

• Manaakitanga – delivering care with compassion, dignity, and cultural integrity

• Whanaungatanga – fostering genuine connections grounded in trust and whakapapa

We blend modern dentistry with Māori values to create a model of care where prevention is not an afterthought, it is the foundation. Our mission is to make dental care accessible, mana-enhancing, and firmly rooted in the cultural realities of our patients. Nau mai, haere mai. Step into a space where oral health is grounded in whakapapa, uplifted by aroha, and guided by a kaupapa that begins with prevention.