Joey’s story 

 “I still have my Santa bag.” 

Joey was just 14 years old when she found out she was pregnant. She was accepted to the Taonga Teen Parent Unit in South Auckland not long before her baby was born and completed their induction programme just before leaving to have her son, Te Uarangi. 

Two years later, and Joey has not only made the honours board at the Teen Parent Unit, but is also well on her way to completing her Level 2 NCEA qualification. 

Joey grew up in a violent household and was often homeless during her childhood. “We would sleep in the car with Mum or stay at other people’s places. I don’t want my son to grow up around violence. I’m trying to get all the help I can to change that for him,” she says. “We come to school every day and Te Uarangi goes to the day care centre next door.” 

Joey and her son live in one of the safe houses provided by the Taonga Trust with four other mums. There, they learn skills to manage the house such as budgeting, cooking and cleaning. “It’s great living there. It’s safe and the house is nice,” says Joey. Taonga also teaches the girls parenting skills and provides them with social work support, housing and transport to and from school every day. 

“We’re doing really well, she says. “I’m not alone, I have people here for me and that makes a big difference.” 

Joey is a diligent student who would like to train to be a hairdresser when she graduates. “When I became pregnant all my plans for the future disappeared, but now I have plans again, thanks to Taonga,” she says. 

One of her treasured childhood memories was her first Santa bag. “When I was about 10 years, I was fostered by a couple over Christmas and they gave me a Santa bag. I still have that Santa bag, because I’d never had one before.” 

Joey is a keen sewer and made masks for all the students and teachers at Taonga during lockdown. She has now moved on to making earrings and clothes. “I find it really relaxing and I like being creative,” she enthuses. This year she is going to make a Present for You Santa bag for Te Uarangi, with his own name on it. 

She’s looking forward to taking it with her when she goes to her Nan’s for Christmas this year – her first very special Christmas with her son. 

Well done Joey for turning your life around for your son – and we hope that Te Uarangi enjoys his first ever Christmas and Santa bag.