Since opening with a pōwhiri in July 2024, Waatea has become the shared base for Ember’s Waikato services. Over the past year, it has brought teams that were previously spread across different locations together under one roof, making it easier to work as one and provide coordinated support.
Waatea is now home to the Community Mobile Team and the Community Intensive Team. Around 25 kaimahi support approximately 40 whaiora, delivering services 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Being based together has improved day-to-day communication, reduced duplication, and strengthened how teams work alongside one another.
The hub reflects a shift in how services are delivered in Waikato. Over time, Ember has moved away from residential models toward individualised community-based programmes. Waatea provides a single operational base to support that approach, allowing services to respond more consistently while remaining flexible to individual needs.
Whaiora supported through Waikato services live in a range of settings. These include Ember-owned homes with 24/7 staffing, Kāinga Ora or LINK housing, private rentals, whānau homes, and homes they own themselves. Waatea supports this mix by providing a central point for planning, coordination, and connection.
Chief Operating Officer Ruth Borrett says bringing Waikato services together under one roof has strengthened how teams work and how support is delivered. Having a shared base allows staff to work more closely across services and support tangata whaiora in ways that reflect their individual goals and circumstances.
