More than 30 years of growing together
ConneXu began in 1989 as the Te Awamutu Residential Trust, created to support 10 people leaving Tokanui Hospital to live in homes within their community.
Since then, we’ve grown — together.
From a small team of seven to a diverse organisation of more than 300 team members, and from those first 10 people to over 200 partners today.
As we’ve grown, so has our understanding. We now partner with people with a wide range of lived experiences — including physical, cognitive and sensory disabilities, traumatic brain injuries, and chronic health conditions.
What hasn’t changed is how we work: alongside each other, building lives of choice, connection, and possibility.
ConneXu Office Team 2025
Evolving to meet your needs
As the world has changed, so have expectations — and so have we.
We’ve shaped our approach to be more flexible, more personalised, and led by what matters most to each person. From 24/7 support through to highly independent living, we adapt as life changes.
We’re guided by the principles of Enabling Good Lives, supporting choice, control, and everyday lives that feel meaningful.
A shared journey
Everyone brings their own vision of a good life.
At ConneXu, we don’t define that — we walk alongside each other to make it possible. Together, partners, whānau, and team members shape what support looks like, in a way that feels right.
Relationships that matter
A good life is built on connection.
We support people to build meaningful relationships — with their communities, their whanau, and the people around them. Our team becomes part of that journey but never replaces the natural connections that matter most.
Our Values
Manaaitanga
Kotahitanga
Whaaia Te Huarahi
Kia Kaha
Our Purpose
Created by the People We Partner With, their family/whanau and Team Members.
Meet our team
Our team are totally committed to achieving our vision. What we each individually contribute is what makes us so strong as a team.
Visit our Team page to meet more of our team.
Stories from connexu
We all bring our own vision of a good life.
Together — partners and team members — we learn, grow, and support one another to make those visions real.
Visit Stories to read about other members of the ConneXu community.