Child Youth and Family (CYFS) and Whakatu Marae

Purpose

The purpose of this relationship is the improved coordination of social services between the Whakatū Marae whānau and CYFS. The relationship aims to address, restore and enhance the mana and tapu of whānau in Whakatū (Nelson) and improve the targeting of CYFS resources and build their capability to better meet community needs.

Background

Whakatū Marae and CYFS have had a strong working relationship for a number of years.

In 2009, Maree Meechang, the site manager of CYFS in Nelson, approached the Pouwhakahaere of Whakatū Marae with the intention of offering a Māori social worker to the marae for a six month secondment. The intention was to give the social worker experience working in a Māori based organisation and provide a highly trained social worker to the Whakatū community.

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed for the six month period of July to December 2009 for a CYFS social worker to be seconded to Whakatū marae to support whānau and the marae social services team.

The social worker continues to work at the marae. She is no longer on secondment but is a full time employee.

Roles

Both groups’ aim was to create a more cohesive relationship between the two organisations and whānau, based on an understanding of best practise for Māori whānau.

CYFS look to build partnerships with iwi and Māori social services groups and communities. Meechang says, “We help families help themselves. We believe all children belong in families that will love and nurture them. We team up with many different groups and people so that families have the support they need to help their children thrive.”

The Whakatū Marae of today began development in the 1960′s. Nelson’s Māori community  identified the need for a place that would allow them to look after their whānau and practice tikanga.

An innovative example of a tikanga Māori approach to health service provision and promotion is the Wahine Hui. Participants were invited from the Whakatū Marae community and other community service providers to attend a weaving and kete making workshop, at a venue arranged with Nelson Radiology. Transportation to the workshop was provided by Whakatū Marae Health and Social Services. During the workshop health information was shared with participants, who then had the opportunity to have a mammogram and cervical smear test. At the end of the workshop, participants were given a kete of gifts that they could share, to encourage establishing whānau health plans, including promoting healthy lifestyles and practises to best assist minimising illness within whānau.

“Ko tō oranga, te oranga mo tō whānau”
Your wellbeing is wellbeing for your family.

The marae umbrellas six Mana Whenua:

  • Ngāti Koata
  • Ngāti Kuia
  • Ngāti Toa Rangatira
  • Ngāti Rarua
  • Ngāti Tama
  • Te Ati Awa.

Whakatū Marae now has, on site, a registered nurse, social workers, counsellors, group facilitators, anger management facilitators,a quit smoking coach, rangatahi worker, health promoter, gym instructor, doctor by appointment and palliative care co-ordinator.

What happens

The social worker joined the existing social services team at Whakatū Marae. The team provides total family services to whānau. The social worker works with children and young people in an environment that helps them reconnect to their whakapapa, language and culture with an emphasis on whānau. The kaupapa is clearly Māori and aimed at enhancing whānau well-being.

What is working well

The secondment has worked well for Whakatū Marae, CYFS and the whānau of Whakatū. CYFS valued the importance of matauranga Māori and wanted to learn from it. Importantly, both organisations displayed good levels of trust in each other.

It also helped CYFS by strengthening existing relationships with Whakatū Marae and tangata whenua. CYFS gained hands on practical experience of working with Māori whānau in a kaupapa Māori way. They also were able to enhance their learning of te reo and tikanga Māori.

Whakatū Marae benefited by having an experienced and trained social worker on staff as well as a direct link with the CYFS local office. They learnt about CYFS practice, policies and procedures while having access to CYFS networks.

Maree Meechang, “I would definitely do this again, as all parties benefited from the experience. Even though Ange (the social worker) is working at the marae full time, CYFS still benefits as we now have a stronger link to Whakatū Marae.”

The collaboration between the two organisations is ongoing and the Marae has picked up a CYFS contract to implement services in the community.

United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

This case study illustrates whānau making decisions about their own development to enjoy the highest possible standard of physical and mental heath.

The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples states:

“Indigenous peoples have the right to participate in decision-making in matters which would affect their rights, through representatives chosen by themselves in accordance with their own procedures, as well as to maintain and develop their own indigenous decision- making institution.” Article 18

“Indigenous individuals have an equal right to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health. States shall take the necessary steps with a view to achieving progressively the full realization of this right.” Article 24.

Looking ahead

This was a unique situation that evolved as the relationship between CYFS and Whakatū Marae developed. It required willingness, openness and commitment to provide the best possible care for Māori whānau – even if that meant working outside your organisation. A six month secondment has led to full time employment at the marae for the social worker, and the relationship between the two organisations continues to grow.

Documentation

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