Taumaranui community Whānau Resilience vision

The vision for the Whānau Resilience service has been designed by Taumaranui Community Kokiri Trust and centers on men experiencing positive, community-based role models. “Kia tu tangata, kia tu maia, kia tu manawanui - For men to stand tall and confident, to stand informed, to stand with compassion and kindness.”

When Kaawhia te Muraahi and Catley Edwards, the two kaimahi from Taumaranui Community Kokiri Trust, started the design phase of Whānau Resilience they spoke with different whānau and a range of organisations (including other providers) to understand where the gaps were that could be met through Whānau Resilience. What they heard repeatedly from whānau and others was that there was nothing for men.

Kaawhia says, “It was clear from what we heard that doing more of the same wasn’t going to deliver the results whānau want. We saw programmes using Māori words but nothing in our area with tikanga kaupapa at all. Zero. We asked, ‘What fundamentally needs to change?’ Status quo is a bad word in my dictionary.

“Whānau Resilience has been a valuable planning process. Often we have people designing services in Wellington from research and data without understanding the people they are designing for. This is a more collaborative approach that has more integrity to it, a more robust process to get the results we all want.”  

Whānau voice 

Reflecting on the experience of collecting whānau voices and what he learnt, Kaawhia says, “We made a concerted effort to listen to whānau voices — we couldn’t assume anything, that was a fundamental starting point. We heard about the many challenges people are facing. Their problems are complex, deep and intergenerational. Whānau were pleased to be asked about the challenges they’re facing and what matters to them. Men want to be good dads and good partners but many don’t know what a good dad or partner is. They’re just doing the best they can.”

The quotes below are examples of the whānau voices that informed the design of Te Hoi Manuka. We acknowledge the whānau who gave their time, energy and words for this Kaupapa.

“Today’s young people have lost the road that holds their wairua and this is having devastating consequences.”

“Those who’ve witnessed domestic violence, particularly boys, they see their mothers at risk, they lack control, lack efficacy, they are at the highest risk of suicide.” 

“Resilience is about standing strong as whānau. E tū — manaakitanga, wairuatanga, whakapapa, whanaungatanga, kotahitanga, rangatiratanga and kaitiakitanga.” “It would be wonderful to see healing take place on the marae, with kaumatua and kuia sharing their knowledge; we need to promote Maniapoto-tanga.” 

“Reconnecting with the environment and tikanga, that’s the thing - knowing where we belong and how we fit, that we have mana, that inside us we have the ability to make good choices and become resilient … If we can do that for children, for rangatahi, for adults, for our elderly, I think that would make a huge difference.” 

Service Concept 

The service that has been designed by Taumaranui Community Kokiri Trust, Te Hoi Manuka - Men leading men on the path of non-violence, is a multi-day live in wānanga that draws on positive, community-based role models; spending time in the outdoors; understanding how the mind works in relation to the way we behave; and exploring Māori strengths including whakapapa and tūrangawaewae. 

“We need to strengthen participants’ knowledge of themselves,” Kaawhia says, “It’s not just about making people feel good, it’s about giving them the tools and creating the space for them to be reliable, trustworthy, disciplined and empathetic men – for themselves, their partners, their children, their whānau. To be a man who knows himself.” 

Image: Taumaranui Whānau Resilience in action.