Waihopai Rūnaka share whānau voices

Waihopai Rūnaka are based in Southland with Murihiku Marae in Invercargill.

During their design phase, their Whānau Resilience kaimahi, Karen Pivott, spoke with 165 whānau. Karen says the experience of hearing from whānau about what is important to them affirmed what people on the marae knew. It also gave whānau a chance to explain why current approaches aren’t working for them.

Whānau voice

Here are a few things that whānau shared through the Whānau Resilience design process:

“Not to be judged. Stop pushing them. Have longer time frames to complete programmes. Accept that while things are changing that is success for that whānau. Be there much earlier when whānau are asking for help. Waiting lists and times do not work for whānau. Be available if there are changes to respond to and continue to be engaged with whānau, if whānau are asking for that. Be prepared to leave whānau alone, if whānau are asking for that. Listen to whānau. Don’t just go off what has been written. Things have been written with no context so what has been recorded is correct but not accurate. A big part of the story is not there. This makes things look worse for whānau. Work with whānau for outcomes that will work for whānau. It is not a tick the box exercise. Make sure whānau are ready before referring on, if they need a specialist service, and keep walking beside them while that issue is being addressed. Make outcomes realistic for whānau. Acknowledge that change for change’s sake does not always get a good result for whānau.”

Service Concept

Building on the key findings from gathering whānau voices, Waihopai Rūnaka have developed Safer Places. Safer Whānau. This is a journey of self-re-discovery for whānau, made up of cultural therapy healing approaches, advocacy services, and tailored one-to-one, wraparound whānau-centred support sessions with skilled kaimahi.

Kaimahi identify with whānau any specialist support that might be needed. Each component is key to promoting and advancing contexts for whānau ora, whare ora and wairua pai. This is an opportunity for whānau to re-learn how to heal mamae (wounds or pain), reawaken self-love, establish whānau kawa (practices or habits) and use their new kawa to navigate dynamic/s and maintain mā (cleanliness of mind, body, soul and heart). These are all key ingredients for the protection and preservation of whakapapa to ensue.

Karen says, “Waihopai Rūnaka has the advantage of being able to deliver services from their marae, which is a healing space for whānau. Here whānau can, as a result of their orangatanga journey, be agents for wider change; not only within their own lives but also within those of their whānau whānui.”

Image: Murihiku Marae in Invercargill where Whānau Resilience is delivered.