Nancy Tuaine: Help needed to advance whanau

Nancy Tuaine shares her personal view about the upcoming election and her vision for the future of our community

As I sit here awaiting the upcoming election, I ponder what wonderful promises await us over the next few months. Pre-election time is always filled with guarantees of change and proclamations of a better future. But really, when I assess the state of our economy, the living standard of some of our communities, and the policy development processes in this country, I really wonder how bright that future is.

When we were developing the Whanau Ora Report, the taskforce members were asked what were some of the things we wanted for our whanau. One of my biggest aspirations was for them to be free from struggle: the struggle to pay the bills, the struggle to have enough food, let alone eat healthily, the struggle to keep warm, and the struggle to have sufficient clothing and pay the rent.

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs is a good gauge to determine wellbeing. Maslow states that people will not reach self-actualisation or the fulfilment of their potential unless all of their basic needs are met. The creation of employment opportunities and improving the wealth of whanau is a critical component of being released from the struggle.

A quick view of the family income levels in our community provides a good snapshot of the vast differences - unfortunately old due to no recent Census, but still relevant: in 2006 the highest median family incomes were recorded in St John's Hill ($70,300), Blueskin ($66,200) and Otamatea ($65,500). Balgownie had the lowest median family income, at $22,100. The next lowest were recorded in Gonville West ($28,900), Wanganui Central ($32,100) and Mosston ($32,200).

Whilst these may have changed since then, there will still be families living on $22,100 in 2011. A meagre $425 per week, with house rentals averaging $180 to $260, add food, power and petrol costs. There is no room for clothes, education or health costs.

So we know the situation; what are we doing about it? Who is doing the dreaming for our community? Well, probably a lot of people, but do they do it together and do they do it well? The sectorial nature of the decision-making processes in this country do not help us develop robust solutions.

Collective strategic thinking does not happen locally or nationally. As a member of the Whanau Ora Governance Group I see firsthand the continuous development of policy in isolation, the lack of collectivity at a national level with key ministries not participating. While I believe wholeheartedly in the Whanau Ora kaupapa, it will struggle to implement change against the continuous individualised policy development of government.

This same predicament is faced by our community. We need a strategic thinktank of people who can look at the overall advancement of Whanganui and devise strategies that create employment and increase the wealth of whanau, someone focused on the self-actualisation of our city. Yes, we need the policies of the next government to assist and support this, but actually we need to take control of it ourselves. We need someone with strong leadership to bring together a small but strong group of movers and shakers, to pool our knowledge and resources to create the best place to live in New Zealand.

Dreams are free, but I truly believe a team is only as strong as its weakest link. If we do not improve the weaker parts of our community, we will never be the best place to live.

Nancy Tuaine is manager of the Whanganui River Maori Trust Board, past electorate chair of Te Taihauauru electorate of the Maori Party, a member of the Whanau Ora Governance Group, a member of the Taskforce for Youth Wellbeing and a member of the Whanganui District Health Board.