I am passionate and optimistic about whanau ora. U-Turn Trust is a member of the Takitimu Ora Whanau Ora Collective. A collective formed under the new commissioning agency Te Pou Matakana.
We were formed before Christmas. Representatives include Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga, CEO George Reedy and Lewis Ratapu, Waimarama Marae Bayden Baarber, Te Whare Tapare O Takitimu Narelle Huata, Whakatu Community - Whanautahi Trust, Nga Marae o Heretaunga representing 18 marae in Heretaunga and Des Ratima. Right from the inception of our collective we agreed that our core value was trust.
Whanau Ora has had a bumpy journey since it was originally set up under Te Puni Kokiri. One of the strands was to enable whanau to access the whanau integration innovation and engagement (WIIE) fund. This fund provided the opportunity to bring families together to develop a plan. Although there was obvious bureaucracy, it provided a mechanism for families to fund a plan based on whanau aspirations. I was aware of some fantastic outcomes from relatively simple things such as learning whakapapa, connecting and strengthening whanau connections.
Another strand is Whanau Ora navigators. Navigators support whanau to access services they need and also to co-ordinate the various services that are trying to access whanau. They are there to walk families through those systemic barriers
We believe that often government funding does not achieve good outcomes for whanau. How can we challenge this funding and apply it differently?
Our facilitators Rachel and Tahi from Clear Line of Sight Group Limited walk us through a "collective impact" framework that all whanau ora collectives are currently developing. This is based on a common agenda, shared measurement systems, continuous communication, a backbone infrastructure and mutually reinforcing activities.
We discuss how current Government contracts often fund programmes based on negative activities such as truancy, alcohol abuse, unemployment, unintended pregnancies.
Funding is based on risk factors not protective factors such as aspirations of whanau. How could we turn this funding around so that funding supports result areas such as education, employment, social connection, a home - a place to be? There are so many areas that we could focus on - how do we make that decision? Housing, rangatahi, best start to life - tamariki. And how do we know when we have made a difference? We agree to result areas for rangatahi such as economic independence, feeling safe, strong identity and contribution to society - social connection.
So often conversation draws back to people's memories of growing up. Many of us have positive memories of employment, particularly working at Whakatu or Tomoana Freezing works. The connectivity and resilience from meaningful employment vs just having a job. JB shares he was paid $50,000 in the 80s when he worked at Takapau Freezing Works.
The implementation of the whanau ora policy has had its challenges as the structures change, contracts shift and providers change. Despite these challenges, Takitimu Ora is focussed on outcomes that are whanau driven and innovative.
We see the potential. We need to challenge the status quo of current funding. If we carry on funding the same as we are now, we will just receive more of the same.
-Ana Apatu is chief executive of the U-Turn Trust, based at Te Aranga Marae in Flaxmere
