Until recently, residents of Northland were unable to access the life-changing benefits of music therapy – a fact that has changed with the official opening of Raukatauri’s Northland Regional Centre on the 9th of March, an initiative supported by Foundation North.

Raukatauri has found the perfect home for its Regional Centre - the beautiful Old Library right in the middle of Whangarei. Registered Music Therapist Katie Boom offers music therapy sessions here on Wednesdays and Saturdays in a beautiful sunny room stocked with instruments, thanks to the amazing generosity of KBB Music and Remo Inc. As at all of Raukatauri’s locations, sessions in Northland are goal-oriented and strengths-based, and use music to aid in the growth and development of children and adults with special needs.

Katie is familiar to many members of the Raukatauri whānau, as she has been working with us in Auckland since 2017. As a Whangarei native, she is particularly excited to be the first music therapist working in Northland and sees many opportunities for music therapy there, both at the Old Library and through work directly in the community. The Northland community clearly agrees with Katie, as since announcing our opening date we have been receiving enquiries almost daily from families and community organisations from Dargaville to Kawakawa!

You can read more about the Northland Regional Centre in this recent article from the Northern Advocate. If you would like to refer a child or adult for music therapy sessions in Northland, you can use our online referral form found here. If you would like to enquire about music therapy for your organisation, or have questions about any of our locations, you can reach us at info@rmtc.org.nz or on 09 360 0889.

Photos below were taken at our Opening Celebration which took place on the 9th March.