Oranga Whānau is one of three Whānau Social Assistance Programmes run by Te Puni Kōkiri. This feature focuses on a whānau receiving support from Ruapotaka Marae in Glen Innes; one of three Oranga Whānau providers in the Tāmaki Makaurau region. Ruapotaka is a base for a range of programmes and initiatives including Oranga Whānau and Kaitoko Whānau; two of the three Whānau Social Assistance Programmes run by Te Puni Kōkiri. It was one of the seven service providers selected nationally to pilot the delivery of Oranga Whānau.

“NOW; NOBODY CAN RUN US DOWN, OR PUT US DOWN, OR DRAG US DOWN.”

After more than 10 years trying to sort out their problems with drugs and alcohol, Glen Innes husband and wife, Anaru and Janine credit Oranga Whānau kaimahi with helping them towards a better future for their children.

“They gave us support, knowledge, truth; they’re very wise,” 51-year-old Anaru Ratahi (Waikato) says of the three Oranga Whānau kaimahi at Ruapotaka Marae in Glen Innes.

Both Anaru and Janine struggled with alcohol and drug addiction for years. “I put drinking over my children,” Janine says. “My parents ended up with our children for a year,” she adds. Eventually, their children were put under CYFS monitoring.

Anaru entered rehab for his drug problem and when he came out lived with his case manager for one year. “I was scared to leave in case CYFS said ‘you didn’t do enough’; so I stayed with him.”

The family were referred to Margaret Ngapera after Anaru visited Ruapotaka Marae looking for help for his whānau. “We’d been trying to sort out our lives for 10-11 years,” he says. “I wanted whānau help. I wanted to give up smoking and drinking.” Anaru is clear the couple needed help “for our relationship and our children.”

Although the family had been living in Manurewa when they first started working with Margaret through Oranga Whānau; Anaru knew Ruapotaka Marae through an Uncle who had lived in “GI for years”. So they moved there.

Over the years, the couple had tried various counsellors from numerous social service agencies. “We tried our hardest,” Anaru says. “We were having problems; we couldn’t talk by ourselves,” Anaru remembers about those dark days.

When asked what makes Oranga Whānau different, the couple instantly respond; “the way they run the programme.”

Anaru explains that the tikanga applied throughout the programme is important. “It was the fact that you knew everything was tika, they did karakia all the time...and they’re strict about being honest – you gotta be honest.” Janine says simply that it is “the love that they shared.”

Both are now clean. Janine for four years while Anaru has been off drugs for fourteen years. Working with Margaret through Oranga Whānau has strengthened the couples resolve to stay clean, get work, support their community and their children.

“We’re just trying to bring our children up right, make sure they have a good education and learn that drugs and alcohol are not a good path,” Anaru says.

Just last year, CYFS signed the couples’ children back to Anaru and Janine.

Their 13-year-old daughter is now dux of her Intermediate school and team leader of kapa haka. “If not for Oranga Whānau, we wouldn’t have our kids,” the couple say.

Anaru is also employed by a local church as their caretaker; a job that Margaret supported him to get. He also keeps busy doing mixed martial arts at the church. “I can’t skip so I run on the spot for 20 minutes, do sit ups, push ups – been doing it for four months now. Everyone laughs but I don’t care.”

The couple are clear that after years of frustration working with various social service agencies; Oranga Whānau has made the most difference to them.

“Now, nobody can run us down, put us down, or drag us down,” Anaru says with a smile. “I definitely know our children are going to have a better future.”