New community whānau-based approach to wellbeing and harm prevention: research and resources

The Kei roto tō tātou rongoā project was led by Professor Denise Wilson at AUT's Taupua Waiora Research Centre and funded by the Health Research Council of New Zealand. The aim of the research was:

"To produce a uniquely Māori, holistic prevention approach that optimises oranga whānau with a focus on harm elimination, acknowledging that whānau have aspirational and successful futures."

The project team worked in partnership with whānau and communities in seven locations across Aotearoa, to design a prevention approach to improve whānau ora and reduce whānau harm from violence and the unnecessary removal of mokopuna from whānau. They conducted wānanga in Kaikohe, Tāmaki Makaurau, Kirikiriroa, Taranaki, Te Oranganui, Te Tari o Heretaunga and Ōtautahi. From these wānaga the researchers gathered insights into the lived experiences of whānau and kaimahi, their needs and and their aspirations for the future. These insights were then used to co-create a series of rauemi | resources for whānau, service providers, policymakers and the media. They include:

• Advocacy plans for service providers,  government and policy makers and media;
• Journey maps designed to help whānau understand the legal processes around protection orders and navigating interactions with Oranga Tamariki;
• A cards-based resource designed to support taitamariki and their understanding of healthy relationships;
• A glossary of everyday and sacred terms in te reo Māori to help whānau and providers speak to experiences of violence, resilience, and healing;
• Ahi - The Fire Within: A retelling of Mahuika’s pūrākau, honouring her fire, sacrifice, and enduring gift of transformation as a guide for resilience and change;
• ‘Shifting Perspectives: Whānau Violence’ - three sets of cards that outline the journey of Marama and Jack, a wahine Māori and tane Māori experiencing whānau violence;
• Illustrated spreads drawn from wānanga kōrero that give form to whānau voices, celebrating hidden strengths and ensuring mana is acknowledged and uplifted;
• A narrative-based project that revisits a traditional whānau framework and makes it visible to promote whānau ora; and
• Aroha' - a storytelling resource which communicates the complex layers of whānau violence reimagined as a flat pack set that whānau and kaimahi can build for themselves to use as a learning tool and healing taonga.  

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These resources and the summary of research findings can be downloaded from the Kei roto tō tātou rongoā website. A limited number of printed resources are available through an expression of interest process.

Reflecting on the project, lead researcher Professor Denise Wilson says that:

"it has been a privilege and honour to sit with whānau and kaimahi over a period of three years, to engage in whakarongo and kōrero, and take back findings to discuss and develop these resources. I have learnt that whānau affected by violence have aspirations for their tamariki – they have incredible potential but need support and tools in their kete. This project provides a koha to whānau, kaimahi, and communities to support whānau journeys to recovery."

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Researchers:

• Professor Denise Wilson
• Huri Campbell
• Dr Tanya Allport
• Dr Leland Ruwhiu
• Associate Professor Alayne Mikahaere-Hall
• Dr Nicole Coup
• Professor Tania Ka’ai
• Rolinda Karapu
• Professor Stephen Reay
• Dr Moana Eruera
• Dr Te Wai Barbarich-Unasa
• Jordan Tane
• Cassie Khoo
• Bryre Dowling
• Emma Marie Buitenhek